128 Pecan-Growing 



been carried a step further by putting coloring matter in 

 the revolving churns which paints the entire surfaces of the 

 nuts a uniform reddish-brown color. 



The polishing or burnishing of pecans so as to destroy their 

 natural color and markings should be discouraged, as these 

 furnish a part of the distinguishing characteristics and beauty 

 of each variety of seedling nut. The use of coloring matter 

 on pecans is so objectionable, on account of the coloring 

 rubbing off on any object coming in contact with the nuts, 

 that the practice has met with disfavor by the general public 

 and cannot be of long duration. 



Pecans passing through either type of grader will have a 

 uniform minimum diameter, but all nuts of the same bin will 

 not necessarily have the same length nor be of the same 

 weight. Suction machines have been devised for separating 

 the light weight or chaffy nuts from heavy ones, but no 

 machine has been constructed that will separate the nuts with 

 diseased or defective kernels, such as those affected by kernel- 

 spot, that are normal in weight. To meet this condition, a 

 cracking test should be applied, similar to that adopted by the 

 1919 convention of the National Nut Growers' Association, 

 as follows: '^In a first-class grade of any of the 'Prime' 

 varieties, the kernels of not more than four shall be wholly 

 defective or not more than six one-half defective or eight 

 one-quarter defective, or a total of eight nuts shall not be 

 more than one-quarter defective per hundred by count. All 

 less well known varieties should be given a guarantee by the 

 grower or seller as to percentage of defective kernels as deter- 

 mined by count." 



Attractive pecans, even with defective kernels, will sell. 



