4 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
the demand as well as allow other states 
to do it. 
Strawberries 
Strawberries are unlimited as to ter- 
ritory and variety of soil. If the soil is 
well drained and contains some humus 
strawberries grow well and are very 
profitable, and come at a season when a 
farmer has no other crop to put on the 
market. They will produce about 100 
crates per acre, and net $1.95 per crate, 
which makes a net profit of $195 per 
acre. Twenty to thirty cents per quart 
can be realized for the first berries, if 
first-class. A large number of farmers 
have already engaged in growing straw- 
berries and find it very profitable. The 
crop comes in several weeks earlier in 
this state than it does in the northern 
states; consequently there is less com- 
petition. In 1908 and 1909 over 5,000 
crates were shipped out of Cullman; 1910, 
100 carloads. 
Oranges 
The Satsuma orange does well in the 
southern part of the state. Considerable 
territory is well adapted to orange cul- 
ture in Mobile and Baldwin counties. 
About 134 trees can be grown per acre, 
18x18 feet. In Mobile county two-year 
trees produced from 100 to 200 fruits and 
four-year trees produced from 400 to 
500 fruits. A grower in Baldwin county 
in 1909 gathered 90 dozen fruits from 
one tree. The same grower sold $1,400 
worth of fruit from two and one-half 
acres. His fruit averaged $18 per bar- 
rel. The trees are hardy in the above 
section and have withstood cold as low 
as 18 degrees above zero. There is such 
a demand for Satsuma oranges that very 
few of them are shipped any distance, 
being consumed near the place where 
grown. A grower in Mobile county net- 
ted $700 per acre the 1912 season. 
Pecans 
The pecan is another fruit that is un- 
limited in this state as far as climate 
is concerned, and bears a fair crop, while 
in the southern half of the state it is 
very profitable as a commercial crop. 
If furnished with a good soil and proper 
culture the pecan will do the rest. Some 
growers near Selma state that their pecan 
grove yielded the first commercial crop 
at the age of 10 years, and they har- 
vested one bushel of nuts per tree. A 
bushel of pecans weighs 40 pounds, and 
as low as 25 cents per pound would bring 
$10 per bushel or tree. This is a very 
low price for pecans, as grafted and 
budded nuts never sell for less than 50 
cents per pound and as high as $1.25 
per pound. The choice nuts are con- 
sumed locally, leaving none for export. 
The yield will increase as the trees 
grow older, and the grove will prove a 
big money-making crop for a number of 
years to come. Trees in full bearing 
yield from 100 to 200 pounds of nuts. 
Selling at 50 cents per pound would be 
from $50 to $100 per tree, and at $1 per 
pound would be from $100 to $200 per 
tree. A large number of people have en- 
gaged in the industry. One company has 
2,400 acres in pecans. 
Persimmons 
Japanese persimmons can be grown in 
nearly all parts of the state. About 150 
trees can be grown on an acre, and the 
trees will produce from 200 to 500 fruits 
per tree. The fruits sell for 2 cents 
a piece, and find ready sale on the local 
markets, as the production is not suf- 
ficient to require shipment except at a 
few points. The trees are hardy and re- 
quire but little care. An acre will net 
from $200 to $500. 
Pomegranates 
Pomegranates grow well in all parts 
of the state and require but little atten- 
tion. The trees bear heavily, and the 
fruits sell for $2 per 100, finding a grow- 
ing demand on the market. 
Figs 
The figs thrive on a great variety of 
soils, and can be grown in the greater 
part of Alabama. The trees are quite 
hardy in the southern half of the state 
and very productive. A tree in full bear- 
ing will produce from two to six bushels 
of fruit. The fruit sells readily, bring- 
ing from 80 cents to $1 per bushel. The 
trees will stand more neglect than any 
other class of fruit and will respond to 
good culture just as quickly. From 150 
