NUT TREE SPECIALISTS 
9 
THE NORTHERN PECAN 
The northern pecans are 
as hardy as the other 
hickories and in this re¬ 
gard should not be con¬ 
fused with the southern 
pecan. The pecan grows 
naturally from Terra 
Haute, Ind., and Clinton, 
Iowa on the north to the 
Gulf Coast on the south. 
The trees grow naturally 
in river over-flow lands, 
but during the growing 
season have good soil 
drainage. They adapt 
themselves to a wide range 
of soils, and grow well 
several hundred miles 
north of latitudes at which 
nut crops are significant. 
It is well worth planting 
as an interesting orna¬ 
mental wherever condi¬ 
tions are at all favorable. 
Crops of nuts are largely 
dependent upon the length 
of the growing period and 
the amount of heat that 
occurs during that period. 
For the northern pecan 
this is roughly about 170 
days, beginning about May 
first and continuing until 
the middle of October. 
The heat units of Evans¬ 
ville and Vincennes, Indiana, two points within the heart of the native pecan 
belt of the North are 135.7 and 180.8 respectively. These units are calculated 
by a method evolved by the late W. G. Bixby of Long Island by adding together 
the average number of degrees above 50 for each month as shown by weather 
records. For example, if the average for April is 55 degrees, by this system 
Fruiting Branch of the Pecan 
there would be 5 heat units to be credited to the period for the locality. 
If 
the average for May should be 67 degrees, the credit for the month would be 
17 units or a total of 22 for the two months. Continuing through to the end 
of October, the total should not be less than 105 degrees if pecan nuts are to 
be expected to mature in any given locality where northern varieties are con¬ 
templated. One of our pecan trees is growing beautifully at Fair Haven, Ver¬ 
mont. The owner is proud of the tree because of its singular beauty. The 
tree is about twenty years old. 
