108 Pecan-Growing 



obtain them from the nearest reliable nurseryman. Pecan 

 trees should not be purchased through agents unless they are 

 known to be trustworthy and competent. It is difficult for 

 an amateur to tell a seedling from a budded tree. He should, 

 therefore, take no chances on planting seedlings, for he will 

 often have to wait from six to eight years before discovering 

 his mistake. Trees should not be selected because they are 

 cheap. They should be healthy vigorous specimens ha^dng 

 the characteristics of the desired variety. 



Nursery trees range in age from three to four years from 

 the seed, and from one to two years from the budded or 

 grafted portion. They are usually graded by height or length 

 of the budded or grafted part. The standard grades are one 

 to two feet, two to three feet, three to four feet, four to five 

 feet, and five to seven feet. The most desirable height for 

 average planting conditions is from three to five feet. Trees 

 under three feet are slow in developing, while those over five 

 feet are expensive to transport and difficult to transplant. 



The best time for planting pecan trees is from December 

 1st to February 15th, although occasionally they can be set 

 with good results as late as March 1st. Early trees have a 

 decided advantage over those planted late as they are not so 

 severely affected by excessive drought or rainy spells in early 

 spring and they always start into a more healthy and ^^gorous 

 growth. 



LAYING OUT THE ORCHARD 



There are three principal methods or forms for laying out 

 the pecan orchard : the square, the hexagonal or triangular, 

 and following the contour of the land where it is rolling and 

 terraced. 



