Soils and Fertilizers for Pecans 81 



pecan plantings, but which is beginning to receive some at- 

 tention for this purpose. Heretofore, it has been generally 

 agreed that as the mountains were approached congenial con- 

 ditions for growing the pecan were left behind. For this 

 reason, practically all commercial plantings of pecans in the 

 southeastern states w^ere confined almost entirely to the coastal 

 plains soils. The soils of the piedmont range from gray to 

 red with a red clay subsoil and are grouped generally as Cecil 

 soils. They are well drained and retentive of moisture when 

 properly managed. The limited number of plantings made 

 thus far have given surprisingly good results. The trees 

 begin bearing early, are usually prolific, and the nuts, in some 

 instances, fill better than those of the same variety grown 

 near the coast. With the constant improvement of varieties 

 and the rapid development of the pecan industry it is ex- 

 pected that more commercial plantings will be made on the 

 piedmont soils. 



In west Texas the well-drained alluvial soils along the 

 inland streams seem best adapted to pecans. These are de- 

 rived from the various formations through which these streams 

 pass and are composed chiefly of silt loams, very fine sandy 

 loams, silty clay loams, loams, fine sandy loams, and clays. 

 These soils are rich in plant-food and require very little if 

 any fertilizing. 



Soils poor in fertility, lacking in humus and moisture-hold- 

 ing capacity should not be planted to pecans unless they can 

 be improved and maintained economically. Deep porous 

 sandy soils which leach and oxidise their humus and plant- 

 food very rapidly can sometimes be built up to support satis- 

 factory growth ; but the expense of the soil building exceeds 

 the value of the orchard. Pecan trees planted on this type 



