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



The pecan nut tree, "Yuglans Carya Olivaefor- 

 mis," grows wild in many of the Southern States, 

 and is said "to be indigenous 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, oily nuts of 

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

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

 long bv % of an inch in diameter, and others IX 

 inch in diameter by 2y 6 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 

 there 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- 

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



The most successful method is by "annular bud 

 ding." It may be 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 



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 aiound the young trees for the first year or 

 two; afterwards they will take care of" them- 

 selves. 



In looking over my letter in your "Garden Man- 

 ual," it struck me that I wouid like to say a few 

 words more to those desirous of planting a grove 

 of seedlings, if you think it worth while to make 

 room for it. I wish to impress them with the im- 

 portance 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 im- 

 provement on, but towards a kind inferior to the 

 parent tree. That some only, even of the best 

 selected nuts, reproduce their kind. (It is said 

 about sixty per cent, of the seedlings from good 

 nuts produce good fruit.) That there is no way to 

 select the best of such seedlings but by waiting 

 until they fruit, which may be eight to fifteen 

 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- 



Ronie Pecans. 



the lower one a straight cut down, now slip off 

 from the stock this piece of bark which is to be 

 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 the bud 

 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 as they do not always come 

 true from seed. 



pointed in results, and incur an irreparable loss 

 of years of time. 



The tendency of this tree to sport or produce 

 varieties is amply proven by the numberless kinds 

 we now have. I have never seen two trees in a 

 grove produce nuts exactly alike in size, shape 

 and quality. Where it is possible to get nuts from 

 a tree growing at some distance from others (the 

 further the better) such nuts would certainly be 

 the best to plant. The chances that they would 

 reproduce this kind are greater, because the pollen 

 from other trees would not be so likely to reach it 

 at the time of flowering. In this connection, and 

 while I think of it, 1 certainly advise any one 

 against buying seedling trees, unless from a re- 

 sponsible and reliable nurseryman. There are 

 thousands of such trees being offered for sale, 

 professedly grown from good pecans, but I know 

 of barrels of almost worthless pecans to have been 

 sown ostensibly to make stocks for budding, but 

 doubtless many thousands of these will be sold to 

 supply the demand for cheap trees. Far better to 

 plant a nut of good quality which you can see be- 

 fore it goes into the ground, and" wait one year 

 longer, than to plant such trees, even if they cost 

 nothing. 



