OPPORTUNITIES IN PECAN CULTURE. O 



growing districts who have had experience in orchard culture. Re- 

 plies were received from 17 growers in the States of Georgia, Florida, 

 Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The questions asked and the 

 replies made were both limited in number and brief, but as they brought 

 out the opinions of some of the most prominent and successful pecan 

 growers, the questions and a summary of the replies are here presented. 



(1) At about what price per acre can cleared land in your section suitable for pecan 

 planting be purchased? 



The estimates made were mostly from $20 to $40 per acre; one 

 was $40 to $100, one $75, and one $200. 



(2) At what price can uncleared land be obtained? 



One estimate was $5 to $15 per acre. Most were from $10 to $30. 

 One was from $20 to $50, and one $125. 



(3) About what ought it to cost to put uncleared land into shape for planting? 



In some instances the estimates made included the cost of removing 

 stumps, stating that frequently the value of the standing timber was 

 sufficient to pay for clearing. The estimate for clearing, removal of 

 the stumps included, ranged from $18.21 to $28.21 per acre. 



(4) About how much per acre has it annually cost you thus far for fertilizer in your 

 pecan orchard? 



The kind and quantity of fertilizer pecan trees should receive vary 

 greatly, depending upon local conditions. Some orchardists use no 

 commercial fertilizer, relying entirely upon leguminous crops and 

 stable manure. Others feed the trees by fertilizing the crops grown 

 between the rows, while some rent the land between the rows, reserv- 

 ing a strip along the row which they (the owners) cultivate and 

 fertilize independent of the rest of the land. Estimates as to the 

 actual cost of fertilizing the trees alone are very difficult to obtain. 

 Some replies indicated that from $10 to $25 per acre was paid annu- 

 ally for fertilizer for the land, including both that given the trees and 

 the intercrops. Others showed that to apply 2 pounds of fertilizer 

 to each tree during the season of its planting and to increase this by 

 1 pound per tree each year thereafter had cost thus far from $1.50 

 to $2 per acre. 



(5) Have you found the growing of other crops between the trees to be practicable; 

 and, if so, about how much per acre have been the annual gross returns from such 

 crops? 



(6) What crops have you found to be most practicable for growing between pecan 

 trees? 



The invariable reply to these inquiries was in favor of growing 

 intercrops. Cotton, corn, and leguminous crops were most com- 

 monly recommended, although a few from truck-growing districts 

 reported much better returns from vegetable production. One or 



[Cir. 112] 



