766 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
in order to learn what others knew and thought of said 
root-knots and you will find some of the discussions in the 
43d Annual Report on page 184 to 186; but I find that 
some of the main things have been omitted in said report— 
namely, that I should AT ONCE dig up and burn ALL my 
trees in my nursery, and inasmuch as there was no law to 
make me do it, there should be such a law, etc. This latter 
demand was specially suggested by Prof. Hermann von 
Schrenk—and you may refer to his former statement in 
the same report on page 117. 
The Farmington report omits my reply where I tell the 
Professor and others that I am going to set out into my own 
orchard all these root-knot trees and predict for them 
success; and I did so the following spring, and my healthy 
young orchard is today a living proof that myself and 
some others were right—and the Professors were wrong. 
Yours very truly, 
Chas. C. Bell. 
Quiz Column 
INFORMATION REGARDING PECANS 
Editor National Nurseryman: 
We are at the present time making inquiries regarding 
Pecan nuts (also known as Peckary nuts and Illinois nuts), 
and are desirous of obtaining full information regarding 
them especially from a botanical point of view together 
with illustrations if possible. We also desire information 
regarding the oil content of the various kinds of Pecans. 
Can you furnish us with the names of some firms making a 
specialty of Pecan nuts and trees who can supply us with 
the desired information ? 
Have you had any experience in the growing of Pecan 
trees or with Pecan nuts ? We would very much appreciate 
your giving us all the information possible. If you have 
any printed matter or illustrations on this subject, we will 
very much appreciate it if you will forward same to us. 
Boston. 
ANSWER 
Your questions are somewhat general, and it is a little 
difficult to answer them intelligently wfithin reasonable 
scope. However, we are glad to offer you the following 
information regarding the pecan nut. 
The pecan botanically is Hicoria pecan Britton, and is 
in effect the southern hickory. It ranges from Southern 
Indiana to the Gulf States, through Texas, into Mexico. 
It is found more freely on the bottom lands than on the up¬ 
lands, though when transplanted to the latter it grows 
vigorously and bears freely. As an orchard fruit is has 
secured a place of great prominence during the last ten 
years, principally owing to the discovery of improved high 
quality thin shelled varieties, and also owing to the develop¬ 
ment of more certain methods of propagating it than were 
formerly known. The pecan nut is one of the most nutrit¬ 
ious of all nuts. It is rich in protein and oil content. No 
comparison of the oil producing capacity of the different 
varieties of cultivated pecans has been made up to the 
present time so far as I am aware. The Division of Po¬ 
mology of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department 
of Agriculture, Washington, is making an investigation of 
this character of the pecan at the present time, and it is 
probable that interesting information of this nature will 
be forthcoming before long. A bulletin entitled “Food 
Value of Nuts” may be obtained from the Division of 
Publications, Department of Agriculture, Washington, 
giving valuable facts bearing upon the food and commercial 
values of different types of cultivated nuts. 
The cultivated pecans together with some of the im¬ 
proved hickories are now being extensively propagated by 
several southern nurseries. The advertisements of some 
of these nurseries are found in the National Nurseryman, 
a copy of which I am sending you. Among the leading 
propagators of the pecan are the Nut Nursery of Monti- 
cello, Fla.; J. B. Wight, Cairo, Ga.; Glen St. Mary Nur¬ 
series, Glen St. Mary, Fla.; Griffing Bros. Nurseries of the 
same place; the Sherman Nursery Co., Sherman, Texas; 
E. E. Risien, San Saba, Texas, and many others. 
The editor of this paper has had several years’ experience 
in growing pecan trees in orchard. You ask for experience 
in the growing of this nut. While we cannot go into detail 
on the subject, we may say that our experience covers the 
cultivation of over 1000 acres during a period of some five 
years. Summing up the gist of what we have learned 
during that time we would say that in the first place the 
planter must be sure of the varieties he purchases. Many 
and severe disappointments are likely to follow indiscrimi¬ 
nate and careless buying of trees from propagators who are 
not as conscientious or careful as they ought to be. 1 hen 
the planter must perform his part in setting the trees with 
great care, in cultivating them as thoroughly as any orchard 
crop ought to be cultivated, and in protecting them from 
insect and fungous diseases. If all these things are done 
the orchard in all reasonable probability will be \ T ery 
profitable. On the other hand, if the planter is not pre¬ 
pared and willing to go to this trouble and expense he will 
do well to leave the pecan business entirely alone. We 
regard the pecan, however, as one of the great rqoney crops 
of the South, and as a nut of prime importance in these days 
when food values are advancing so very rapidly. 
Editor. 
PROFITABLE CHERRY GROWING IN THE TRAVERSE 
REGION OF MICHIGAN 
Reports come to us that the past season has seen some 
extraordinary returns from cherry orchards in the Grand 
Traverse Region of Michigan. It is surprising to learn that 
sweet cherries in that section have done remarkably, in 
some cases yielding as high as $4000 per acre. This is a 
story which equals many of the tales which drift over to us 
from the Golden West. It is undoubtedly a fact that the 
Grand Traverse section of Michigan can produce the hardier 
apples in large quantity, and of fine quality. It is destined 
to become an important fruit growing region in the not 
distant future. 
