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Some Questions Answered 
Regard t6 Pecan Trees 
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BY J. B.. WICiHT 
CAIRO, CiEORtilA 
The beginner in pecan growing has many questions which he wants answered. 
Some of the most important of these are here briefly discussed. My pecan groves, 
aggregating one hundred and fifty acres, and my nurseries of sixty acres, devoted 
exclusively to pecans, are always open to visitors. A visit to these will answer 
some of your questions. 
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EXPERIENCE: WHAT IT HAwS TAUGHT 
IN December, 1886, I planted my first pecan nuts. I 
then knew nothing about them except what I had read. 
Thirty-one years of mingled success and failure, of 
things done correctly and those done incorrectly, have 
brought valuable lessons that, had they been known in the 
beginning, would have been almost invaluable. Experience 
is the best teacher. Some things have been learned; and 
while much remains yet unknown, it is to guard others 
against like mistakes that this is sent out. 
-.^.1 WILL PECANS PAY? 
This i^'.u! fl^st question asked by those who want to 
set trees. ^1 unhesitatingly answer, YES, provided the 
conditions necessary to success are complied with. In a 
general way these are: (a) Strong, vigorous trees prop- 
erly handled, (b) set on good land, and (c) then well car- 
ed for. It is my deliberate conviction that in the long 
run a pound of pecans can be produced as cheaply as a 
pound of cotton. The few who are more skilled and pa- 
tient will grow the former at the higher price; the un- 
skilled masses will continue to make cotton at the lower 
price. 
CARE— PATIENCE. 
With the proper exercise of care and patience, there 
are handsome pz'ofits in pecan growing. The field is more 
promising than any other in agriculture or horticulture, 
of which I have any knowledge; but if quick' profits must 
be had, let pecans alone. If slipshod methods are to be 
followed, better raise cotton or corn or razor-back hogs. 
To the person who is willing to exerci::e care in the 
selection and setting oi' trees, who will give them proper 
cultural attention, and who is willing to wait a few years 
~?or results, there is no more profitable investment than a 
grove of pecans. 
SOIL. ■ 
The pecan will thrive in almost any soil to be found 
in the Southern States on which cotton or corn can be 
successfully grown. It is at home on the alluvial soils of 
our rivei- bottoms ; and it flourishes on the high pine and 
hardwood lands' of the hill sections. But while it grows 
well on land having a clay subsoil, it does not flourish on 
deejo sand. A fertile soil that will grow any cultivated 
arop will almost certainly produce pecans. • • 
For the first two or three years the pecan grows rath- 
er sl.owly; its growth going rather to root than to top. Af- 
ter this, however, if properly cared for on good land, the 
growth is rapid. I have trees twelve years old that are 
a foot in diameter, twelve inches from the ground. On the 
other hand, I know trees of this age, set in poor soil- and" 
never cared for, that are not six feet in height. No tree 
is more responsive to favorable conditions of soil and 
culture, and none is more dwarfed by carelessness and 
neglect. Don't plant pecans and then neglect them; min- 
ing stock at $1.00 per share would be a better investment 
than a neglected pecan orchard, because it occupies less 
space. 
TRANSPLANTING. 
The most important point in transplanting is NOT TO 
ALLOW THE ROOTS OF THE TREE TO BECOME .ORY 
OR EXPOSED TO THE ATMOSPHERE FOR ANT 
LENGTH OF TIME, FROM THE TIME IT IS DUG UN- 
TIL IT' IS AGAIN SET IN THE GROUND. 
Dig a hole for the tree ample in size. Three feet square 
and three feet deep will suffiee. Cut off the lacerated ends 
of all roots. Leave the tap root two or three feet long. 
It is a mistake to say that a pecan will not bear if the 
tap root is, cut ; but don't cut off too much of it Set the 
tree about the same depth that it stood in the nursery, or 
at least not more than two inches deeper. 
Fill in the hole with top soil, packing the dirt well 
around the roots. A half bushel of stable manure or 
some guano may to advantage be mixed with the soil as 
it is thrown in, being careful not to allow this manure in 
any quantity to come in contact with the roots. 
If the soil is at all dry when the tree is transplanted, 
it is well to pour a bucket of water around the roots when 
the hole is nearly filled. Let this soak in, then fill up Die 
hole completely. 
When the tree, is set, it is a safe pl^n to cut back the 
top to within three feet of the ground. When this is 
done, it lives better than if the whole of the top remains, 
particularly if the .spring following the transplanting be 
a dry one. In practice, however, I usually leave uncut 
the tops of all trees under eight feet in height. I prefer 
to save the top even at the expense of a slight risk of 
losing the tree. When good trees are properly set out 
the loss in transplanting should never be greater than five 
per cent, and frequently all treeS: live. 
