io6 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
NUT CULTURE. 
BY J. H. WYLIE^ INTERLACHEN^ FLA. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: 
The diairman of our Committee on 
Nut Culture, some time ago requested 
that I make a short report at this meeting 
as to planting and cultivating Pecan trees. 
I regret to state that this subject has 
been neglected by our Society for the past 
two years, we receive a great many in^ 
quires regarding the setting out, care and 
cultivation of Pecan groves in this State, 
and it is now considered “an important 
industry.” Increasing and more intelli¬ 
gent attention is being given each year to 
the planting and cultivation of the Pecan. 
The permanent and increasing value of 
the tree is realized. We believe the out¬ 
look for the industry is brighter than ever. 
The demand for fine nuts for table and 
confectionei*y purposes is constant, and 
the supply of fine nuts is entirely inade¬ 
quate. 
WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT. 
In this State Pecan trees may be set 
any time after the leaves drop in the fall 
varying with the season, but nearly al¬ 
ways by the first of December until the 
end of March. It is essential however 
that the trees be dormant. As to distance 
apart we prefer to set the trees 40x40 or 
50x50 feet. 
In setting out a Pecan tree, a hole twen¬ 
ty-four inches in diameter and deep 
enough to accomodate length of tap root 
is usually large enough although larger 
holes and wider may be dug with advan¬ 
tage, more especially where any fertilizer 
is used in planting the trees. Well-rotted 
manure or good commercial fertilizer 
may be put in outer sides of hole, an inch 
or two beyond the lateral roots when the 
hole is being filled, but not in direct con¬ 
tact with the roots, work and firmly press 
the soil among the roots, laying each root 
in its natural position, no holes or cavities 
should be left and the soil should be in 
close contact with the tap root after wa¬ 
tering and it is also very important that 
no part of the crown or root be left ex¬ 
posed to the air. It is better to plant them 
an inch or two deeper than they stood in 
the nursersy than to have the crown roots 
exposed. 
In Pecan groves low growing crops 
such as peas, melons potatoes, peanuts, 
cotton, truck etc., may be planted profit¬ 
ably. 
BUDDED AND GRAFTED TREES COMPARED 
WITH SEEDLINGS. 
This covers an important feature of the 
Pecan Industry. Grafted and budded 
trees have advantage over seedlings be¬ 
cause they usually begin to bear much ear¬ 
lier than seedlings they reproduce the va¬ 
riety from which buds and grafts were 
taken; perpetuation of the early, heavy 
and anual bearing of the parent tree is ob¬ 
tained; also greater care and attention 
usually given them on account of their 
greater cost. 
As a result of the variable success at¬ 
tending the propogation of Pecans by 
budding and grafting and the cornpara- 
