Connecticut western news., 1889-04-10
A PECAN GROVE.
The Cultivation of This Nut a
 Profitable Industry. -
Where the Tree AttainS It's
 Greatest Perfection.

greatly neglected until recently; but, now that experiment has shown that pecan grove is valuable and paying resource after it has once come into bearing, the trees are becoming very common in the gardens of Southern homes. The tree is hardy in most of the Southern States; but it is in the lower south that it invariably gives the best results. In Texas and Mexico, where the tree is supposed to attain to its greatest perfection, large groves may be found in numbers.
 Of course frut-growers, as we'll as business men, long for quick profits in their work. The waiting time for pecan grove to grow is certainly long and tedious, but the reward that comes in time pays for the patience. .
 This is one reason why tho pecan has not been cultivated more generally in the South. The time for the tree to be- gin to bear proftably is from ten to twelve years from the seed. During the first few years of its life its growth is comparatively slow, but after it gets we'll up, with tap-root deep in the ground, it increases rapidly in size and bearing. Raising it from seed is not advisable, as you are never sure of getting as good variety as the seed. The most approved method is to plant the oceans exactly where you want the trees to grow. Then graft or bud upon the stocks, when of proper size, the scions or buds secured from tree that produces the large paper-shell oceans. This is better than buying nursery stock, or raising the trees from seed. In the former case the trees will not do SO we'll when trans planted, and iu the latter they will be of an inferior stock. .-.
 The expense connected with pecan grove is largely made on the setting out and budding of the trees. After that work is accomplished the expense is very little. The land between the rows of the trees can be used for garden vegetables and fe}d crops. Many raise sugar cane, which pays we'll and helps to fertilize the grove.
 One should not, however, attempt to start pecan grove on anything but the best land. It is true that they will grow on almost any kind of land, but for the best results rich alluvial soil, such as is found along our rivers and large creeks, is desirable. There is plenty of this kind of soil all through the South, which could be proftably set to oceans. These rich bottom lands, or low hum- mocks, are considered unsuitable for most crops on account of occasional overfows. The pecan trees would not be injured by such inundations, for many of the best groves growing in Mexico and Texas are found on just such land. .-.-~.
 There is certainly money in the trees for those who are willing to wait for the trees to come into bearing. The origi- nal outlay is not great, and no risk is connected with the business.
 The profits of grove are differently estimated by those growing the nuts fol a business. Soils, cultivation, 'favora- ble locations, and other circumstances SC affect the bearing of any fruit orchard that estim ates made from the productions of one will be far from actual facts when applied to another. Still, an ap- proximate estimate of what pecan grove will do under ordinarily favorable conditions may be made for those who are of a figure-loving disposition.
 One can count on forty bushels o1 nuts to the acre during the twelfth year which will be worth from $2 to $4 pcl bushel. After that period the yield will increase rapidly. At 20 years of age the trees will yield five bushels to the tree and double that amount ten years later. The paper-shell varieties usually sell from $5 to $8 per bushel ;but taking low average of $2. 50 per bushel we would have $100 from one acre the twelfth year.
 A twenty acre grove would then cost about $500 for the fist twelve years, in. clud1ng original cost of land, planting and interest and taxes. On the twenty acres you would get $2, 900 for the in vestment in twelve years. On you 3, 400 trees you would gather crop O. ! 17, 900 bushels in twenty years, making , return of $42, 500. The increase will then continue steadily until the tree become immense forest trees. The cos of picking, packing and shipping thu nuts is all the expense now connected with the grove. In fifty years fortune could thus be reaped from a pecan grove and man who plants such trees, feel | ing that he may never gather much o its fruit, is blessing to posterity an6 his own country. .-New York Indepen dent. ..
 An Imperial Complaint.
 CT have the earache this morning y re