Planting and Care of the Pecan Orchard 115 



ground, it may be necessary to use a small-mesh wire for 

 wrapping. 



PRUXIXG 



When the young pecan tree first starts into growth, it should 

 be pruned carefully so as to produce a nniform top at the 

 desired distance from the ground. Unless live-stock are to be 

 run in the orchard, which is a doubtful practice, the trees 

 should be headed from two and one-half to three feet from 

 the ground. 



The low-headed pecan tree has the advantage over one 

 headed high as it does not suffer as severely from wind storms 

 and is more easily sprayed and pruned. The harvesting of 

 nuts on low-headed trees is a much simpler problem than 

 when the first branches start at a height of fifteen to twenty 

 feet above the ground. The question of spraying pecan trees 

 will become of more and more importance, especially when 

 the great damage done by the case-bearer and the pecan-scab 

 is fully realized. Heading trees high adds greatly to the 

 difficulty and expense of spraying, as well as of harvesting 

 the crop. 



After pecan trees have been given the proper form, the 

 only pruning required is when a limb obstructs cultivation or 

 when two limbs interfere with each other. 



CULTRWTIXG THE ORCHARD 



There are two general methods of caring for the pecan 

 orchard, until the trees occupy all the land: Giving it clean 

 cultivation : planting crops between the trees. 



Pecan trees should be thoroughly cultivated, regardless of 

 their ages, unless they are to be mulched carefully with straw 

 or weeds. The authors do not consider culching practical 



