Report of the Committee on Nut Culture. 
BY H. K. MILLER. 
Mr. President^ Ladies and Gentlemen: 
The subject that has been assigned us 
is rapidly becoming a very live one 
throughout the South, owing to the great 
interest now being manifested in the com¬ 
mercial development of the pecan indus¬ 
try. The consumption of nuts in the 
United States is steadily increasing and 
we are importing approximately six mil¬ 
lions of dollars worth of nuts, in addition 
to consuming virtually all the home sup¬ 
ply. In as much as nuts have been, until 
recent years, regarded as a luxury rather 
than a staple article of food, and since the 
reform movement now existing through¬ 
out the country in the matter of more 
rational foods is strongly advocating the 
liberal use of nuts as a partial substitute 
for meats, it may confidently be expected 
that the demand will rapidly increase. 
Already the prices have been steadily ad¬ 
vancing and the ordinary pecans, which 
a few years since were marketed at five 
and six cents a pound are now command¬ 
ing eight to twelve cents, while the fancy 
pecans readily sell at twenty cents to one 
dollar per pound. 
A health food company in New York, 
of about two years standing, is making a 
specialty of nut food products and here¬ 
tofore have imported the nuts of the edi¬ 
ble pine to be used as a basis for their 
preparations. However, the demand for 
their output has increased to such an ex¬ 
tent that the company is already consider¬ 
ing means by which this constantly in¬ 
creasing demand is to be met. Naturally 
it has under consideration the pecan and 
is endeavoring to perfect machinery that 
will enable the substitution being made. 
The Persian or English walnut indus¬ 
try has been firmly established in Califor¬ 
nia and such renumerative prices obtain¬ 
ed that land in that state suitable for wal¬ 
nut culture has increased in value five 
fold. Some of the reported incomes from 
well established orchards are almost in¬ 
credible. Not only is nut growing wor¬ 
thy of our most serious consideration and 
earnest efforts because of.its commercial 
possibilities, but like fruit trees in proper 
assortment, a few nut trees merely for 
home use adds materially to the pleasure 
and interest of the home. Besides sup¬ 
plying a wholesome and palatable food, 
the trees themselves add much in the way 
of making attractive surroundings. It is 
difficult to estimate the value that a few 
nut trees will add to the home. 
In presenting this subject brief consid¬ 
eration will be given some of the more 
important nut bearing trees that are adap¬ 
ted to this state, giving greater attention 
to the pecan, which so far as known is 
capable of forming the basis of an indus¬ 
try of considerable magnitude. 
COCOANUTS. 
In the southern part of the state along 
the Atlantic Coast is to be found cocoa- 
nuts growing wild. These have been es¬ 
tablished there by nuts being washed 
