CHAPTER VII 



PLANTING AND CARE OF THE PECAN ORCHARD 



In planting a pecan orchard it should be borne in mind 

 that one is not dealing with a crop that is to be removed in 

 one, two, or even a dozen years, but one that in all probability 

 will occupy the same land for a lifetime. Every possible pre- 

 caution should, therefore, be taken to guard against making 

 mistakes, because they are usually costly and often cannot be 

 overcome except by beginning all over again. The successful 

 development of a pecan orchard requires an unusual amount 

 of patience, care, skill, and expense. 



LOCATION OF THE ORCHARD 



The pecan orchard should be located on deep rich soil, or 

 soil capable of being made fertile, w^hether it is on upland or 

 bottom land. A soil should be selected that retains its fertility 

 well and that will not wash, and such as will produce one-half 

 to a bale of cotton to the acre and from thirty to forty bushels 

 of corn. The pecan is a deep-rooted and long-lived tree. In 

 planting the orchard, it should be borne in mind that the tree 

 is to draw its nourishment from the same area over a long 

 period of time, perhaps for eighty to a hundred years. Only 

 a deep rich soil will furnish this nourishment without becom- 

 ing depleted, unless plant-food is added at regular intervals 

 during the life of the orchard. 



The pecan blossoms late in the spring. Contrary to the 



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