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J. STECKLER SEED CO., LTD., ALMANAC AND 



Tobacco Stems. 



Next to our fine Tobacco Dust the stems 

 are also extensively used as an insecticide 

 by thoroughly [^boiling them down to a 

 strong decoction, thus extracting all the 

 strength in tbem, using the liquid for spray- 

 iag. The stems are also strewn around the 

 plants, permitting the rain and sun to strike 

 them, I which causes a kind of suffocating 

 steam to emanate^from them, killing all in- 

 sects infecting the plant. Price, Si. oo per 

 sack. 



Christmas Trees and Ornaments — 



We beg to notify our many patrons that we 

 carry the largest stock of Christmas Trees 

 of any house in the South. Prices ranging 

 from 50c. to $10. Trees averaging from 4 

 to 25 feet, of the finest Spruce Pine. Also 

 Holders for same, as well as all the neces- 

 sary ornaments, gold and silver Tinsel, Can- 

 dles, etc. Send in your orders early next 

 season. Trees on hand from December 15th. 



Upland snd Lowland Seed Rice.— 

 These are the only varieties for our South- 

 ern sod. Genuine Imported Honduras 

 Seed Rice, 75c. per peck; $2.50 per bushel; 

 $7.00 per barrel. 



Imported Choice Carolina Seed Rice, 75c. 

 per peck; $2.50 per bushel; $7.00 per barrel. 



Galbreath's Pecan Tree Budder— 

 Price, #3.75. 



Letter on Pecan Culture. 



The trees, as far as my observation goes, are 

 subject to no disease, and have but few insect 

 pests to contend with. Tbey will grow in almost 

 any soil, on high or low land, no cultivation, no 

 draining, no pruning required. The reverse of all 

 tkis is true of the orange; yet how many have 

 spent much money in trying to establish orange 

 groves, and so few to plant pecan trees. The re- 

 tarns from the first so uncertain, from the last ab- 

 solutely sure. 



The pecan nut tree, "Yuglans Carya Olivasfor- 

 »iis," grows wild in many of the Southern States, 

 and is said "to be indigenone, along the Missis- 

 sippi river as far north as Southern Iowa." 



The bulk of the nuts on the market are from 

 wild self-sown trees. Prices vary from 5c. to 50c. 

 per pound, showing conclusively there is a great 

 difference in quality. The rich, sweet, oilv nuts of 

 thin shell and large size are the best. I have some 

 now before rue, some small ones, % of an inch 

 long by % of an inch in diameter, and others lh 

 iach in diameter by 2> g ' inches long. These last 

 are ten times the value of the first, because of 

 superior quality, thin shell and large size. These 

 nuts are all from self-sown trees. The yield from 

 full grown trees varies from one to seven barrels, 

 weighing 100 pounds per barrel . 



In no other class of wild fruit or nut trees is 

 tkere a greater chance for improvement, or rather 

 so great an improvement so easily effected. We 

 have only to select the best sorts nature has pro- 

 dded, and bud or graft them on the common kinds. 



The most successful method is by "annular bud- 

 ding." Itmaybe done any time from the end of 

 May up to the first part of August, varying as sea- 

 sons and the localities differ, the earlier it can be 

 done the better 



With a sharp budding knife make two cuts com- 

 pletely around the stock about one inch apart, cut 

 only through the bark, cut from the top circle to 

 the lower one a straight cut down, now slip off 

 from the stock this piece of bark which is tojbe 

 used as a pattern, that is, place it around the scion 

 (or piece of branch on which are the buds you 

 wish to use), covering a well developed eye; make 

 the same cut as before on the scion, throw the first 

 piece of bark away, fit the last piece from the 

 scion to its place on the stock, wrap firmly (leav- 

 ing the eye uncovered) with wax cotton, bass, or 

 like soft "material. To have the buds fit well the 

 scion should be as large or larger than the stock. 

 If the operation is well done the buds will start in 

 about fifteen days ; when the buds have taken well 

 take off the ties and cut back the stock to within 

 six inches of the bud. When they have grown out 

 a foot or more, cut back again to within a half inch 

 of the bud. Thereafter allow nothing but thebud 

 to grow. Pecan trees may be grafted in the ordi- 

 nary way, but I have never succeeded in budding 

 them by the common method. 



Budding or grafting will cause the trees to come 

 into bearing much earlier than from seed to pro- 

 duce more regular and more abundant crops, be- 

 sides perpetuating the improved kinds, which is 

 the most important, as they do not always come 

 true from seed. 



Pecan seedlings should be transplanted soon 

 after the leaves fall; it must be done before they 

 start growing in the spring. As they grow to be 

 large trees, they must be planted from fifty to sev- 

 enty feet apart." Though on sandy poor land they 

 may be planted closer. Keep down the weeds 

 from around the young trees for the first year or 

 two; afterwards "they" will take care of them- 

 selves. 



I wish to impress the farmers with the impor- 

 tance of planting only the very best and finest 

 nuts obtainable. To bear in mind the fact that 

 the tendency of such seedling is not toward an 

 improvement on, but towards a kind of inferior t» 

 the parant tree. That some only, even of the best 

 selected nuts, reproduce their" kind. (It is said 

 about sixty per cent. -of the seedlings from goo* 

 nuts produce good fruit ) That there is no way !• 

 , select the best of such seedlings but bv waiting 

 p until they fruit, which may be eight to fiftee» 

 years. 



Now, as there are many advertisements of 

 "Large Soft Shelled Pecans*" for sale for seed, I 

 would advise all buyers to be very particular as to 

 the source from whence they get their nuts or 

 planting, otherwise they will certainly be disap- 

 pointed in results, and incur an irreparable loss of 

 years of time. 



It is best to raise trees in nursery before plant- 

 ing in orchard. Plant the nuts in rows three or 

 four feet apart, drop the nuts in the row, sow four 

 inches from each other, cover two inches deep, 

 and keep the ground clear of grass and weeds. 

 The seed maybe planted any time after the nuts 

 ripen until growth starts in the spring. When two 

 years old the seedlings may be easily and safely 

 transplanted to the orchard. 



In my opinion the transplanting of the trees 

 while young is advantageous, inasmuch as it 

 causes them to make a more spreading head, and t» 

 come earlier into bearing. 



In adopting for propagation the three kinds 

 which, on our joint investigation, we' concluded t# 

 be the best, I have named them the "Frotscher," 

 "Rome" and "Centennial." As you know, they 

 are phenomenal in size, thin shell, of rich, sweet 

 quality and finest flavor. 



That you have made a long step toward improve- 

 ment bv selecting only such nuts as these for seed, 

 cannot' be disputed; but as they do not alway* 

 come true from seed, perpetuating the good kinds 

 can best be done by budding or grafting. 

 Yours respectfully, 



WM. NELSON. 



STICKLER SELLS THE BEST SEEDS. 



