SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN RFJqaRD TO PECAN TREES 
i'ully grown in any part ol; the cotton belt. Probably the 
be.st of the pecan territory lies within 200 miles of the 
coast, beginning with North Carolina and extending along 
the coast to the Rio Grande. Within this territory pecans 
are thoroughly at home. Farther north there are varie- 
ties originating in Kentucky and Indiana which do well. 
For the best results these latter should be propagated on 
northern grown stocks. 
TOP WORKING. 
JSeedlings and named varieties which do not prove 
s^'eeessful may be top worked to better varieties. It is 
_jfn easy matter to top work a tree which is a few inches 
in diameter; and those from one to two feet in diameter 
may be worked with no great difficulty. This work may 
be done either by budding or grafting. The trees should 
"be bearing the improved nuts in three years after this 
work is done. It requires a skilled hand to successfully 
do this work; and the price ranges from $2.00 to $10.00 
l>er tree, owing to the size. Many of the w-ild pecan trees 
of the west are being top-worked with better varieties. 
PECANS ON HICKORY. 
Pecans hav« been successfully budded and grafted to 
the hickory. Other things being equal, the pecan is a bet- 
ter stock for the pecan than is the hickory ; but if one has 
a hickory tree which he wishes to utilize, it can be made 
to produce pecans more quickly than a young pecan tree 
set from the nursery. 
MIXING VARIETIES. 
Theoretically it is better to mix varieties in a pecan 
orchard than to have the, trees a,ll of the same kind, the 
advantage being in the cross pollination which will re- 
sult. A real advantage comes from having several va- 
rieties, in that as some varieties bear better one year 
and others the following year, a more uniform crop will 
be secured by mixing them. At least three or four va- 
rieties are recommended for orchards of any size. In har- 
vesting each variety should be gathered separately. 
PECANS AS ORNAMENTALS. 
The value of the pecan as an ormental tree is just 
coming to be recognized. It is as shapely and stately as 
the oak, and not liable' to be blown down. Its great ad- 
vantages are that to beauty it adds utility, being the 
source of a regular and constantly increasing income. 
Ewryone who has visited Montieello, Fla., has likely been 
impressed with the beauty and stateliness of the pecan 
trees found in almost eviery yard and garden in the town. 
AS FENCE POSTS. 
As our forests are becoming depleted, there is a grow- 
ing dmand for fence posts. A living post is better than 
a dead one. The pecan has been suggested as a most de- 
sirable tree for this purpose. Set thirty feet apart, with 
a stay between each, they ought to prove entirely satis- 
factory as posts for woven wire fencing. This distance 
is not too near to prevent fair results in fruiting when 
there is plenty of lateral room. 
ONE TREE. 
As an example of the growth made by a tree under 
favorable . conditions, I give the figures of a budded 
"Frotscher" pecan tree which stands on my lot in Cairo, 
and which has been seen and admired by many. The treo 
was purchased from Mr. William Nelson, New Orleans, in 
January, 1892. It was about three feet high when set 
\ 
an^co.st $2.00. • 
j -Jhe first eolumn gives the circumference of the tree in 
iriches, three feet from the ground, at the end of the year 
indicated. The second column gives the weight of the 
liuts produced each year. No measurements of the tre-; ^ 
were made until December, 1894. 
Nuts in 
Circumference. pounds 
1894 8J inches 
1895 12.i 
1896 14 j " 1 nut. 
1897 20" " 7 lbs. 
1898 25 " lOi " 
1899 : ..29J " ISJ " 
1900..... . 33.1 " 27 " 
1901... 37} " 16 " 
1902 40i " 45 " 
1903 44 " 80 " 
1904 46ii . " 121 " 
1905 50 " 131 
1906 , . :.-53 " 96 " 
1907.J....LJ. 56 " 30 " 
1908 .... . i.59J " 169 f 
1909 62 " 352 ■ 
1910 . 65 " 196 " 
1911 66 " 306 " 
1912 , 68 " 196 " 
1913 71 " 344 " 
1914 72 " 145 " 
1915.,.. \ 74 " 162 " 
1916 , 
1917.. . --7!? "TT504'" " 
Since it began bearing^ this tree has been severely cut 
for budding wood; and heiiee its bearing has to some 
extent been retarded. 
MUCH YET TO LEARN. 
Much yet remains to be learned in regard to the pecan 
industry, which is still in its infancy. The National Nut 
Growers Association, which is composed of most of the 
larger pecan gi'owers of the South, is doing much to give 
valuable information on the various questions about 
which we, are yet in comparative ignorance. Its annual 
conventioins are well worth attending. Enough about the 
industry, however, is already known to make it certain 
that one who engages in it intelligently, and who cares 
for his orchard as he does for any other successful bus- 
iness, will be abundantly rewarded. The Department of 
Agriculture at Washington is giving some valuable as- 
sistajiee to the industry, on the line of diseases, insects 
Mnd the like. When in doubt about diseases or anything 
else it is suggested that one write to the Bureau of Plant 
Industry at Washington, D. C, for information. Tba. De^ 
partment has several men who devote all their time to 
the pecan industry. 
CAUTION— ADVICE. 
(1) This caution is timely for some: DON'T SET 
MORE TREES THAN YOU CAN CARE FOR IN THE 
VERY BEST MANNER. 
(2) I close with the advice that thirty-one years ago, 
started me in the pecan business: "Young man, plant a 
pecan grove; when you are old it will support you." I 
thought the advice good then ; I kn'ow now that , 
sound. , 
