Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-10-19
pscnn Culture for Texns.

genial to that species, therefore upon
this idea one must conclude that the first
pecan tree grew and fruited at some
point 10 the Lone Star state; for, in its
natural condition, it sttains to so great
degree of perfection in no other region.
In the minds OF the people all over the
country Texas and the very best pecans
appearing upon any market are INSOFAR
ably associated. OF course pecaas grow
TO some extent in few other regions,
but on account of their comparative in
feriority one finds himself jumping to the
hypothesis that they are simply out
spreads, against less favorable condi-
tions, from the original center in Texas.
Texas, then, being of all sections OF
the world the most favorable for the
pecan, and the pecan nut being an ar
tIcle of commerce ever In demand at
good prices, with the demand constantly
growing, one cannot do otherwise than
recognize the great Importance of an ex-
tended pecan culture here, especially
since it is entirely evident, all things
considered, that nothing in the way of
tree production could pay US better or
even near so well. Indeed, there is no
that could pay any region SO well as the
pecan might be made to pay us in Texas.
All the pecans we might be able te pro-
duoe would never glut the market, for
the whole civilized world wants them,
md Texas has q complete monopoly SO
far as relates to quality.
The pecan most delights in low allu-
vial lands along rivers and large creeks.
An occasional overflow from the streams
does not at all hurt it, but, on the other
hand, makes a more favorable condition
for its growth than would exist where
there was no overflow. Thus it will be
seen that we have along our streams
thousands upon thousands of acres OF
land entirely suited TO pecan culture that
now are looked upon as not entirely safe
for any other crop. They are really the
very best lands in the state, aud would
now be figuring as our very garden spots
but for an existing danger that some
uniookedfor flood in the streams nigh:
bring about temporary inundation, which
would seriously damage or entirely spoil
the ordinary crops. On this account
they are quite generally left out of use
and turned over to worthless weeds and
not over profitable indigenous tree
growths.
Every acre of these lands ought to be
get to pecans. True an old man starting
the trees might not live long enough to
reap any direct benefit from them, but
they would enhance the value of the
lands from the day when they were es-
tablished, and they would come in as a
regular gold mine, SO to speak, for the
young people soon TO take our places,
aud for the rising generation through
centuries TO follow.
The cost of converting our lands liable
10 overflow into pecan groves would be so
small as to scarcely deserve the name of
cost There is no need, whatever, of
clearing them up. The pecan likes nat
ural conditions better than conditions of
any other character that we could turn
over to it. 1t is O natural growth of
Texas. Go in among the wild growths of
the bottom and line out your rows, and
at each point where pecan tree should
stand clear of space of eight or ten
feet around, and in the center dig hole,
say eighteen inches deep. Scrape into
this hole surface soil until filed, and
then plant three or four nuts three
inches deep, aud tramp on the "bill' to
pack the covering little. This COM
pletes ths job.
1t is well to notice the lean OF adjacent
trees. If. when cut away, they would
uupvoidably fall upon the young pecan
tres, 1t might be best to out them away
at once. No other trees need be dis
turbed-their shade will be more of ad-
vantage than otherwise.
Tue after culture of the new grove
will be extremely simply. You will make
a run of the rows once or twice in the
course of the season, and destroy the
Immediately incroachIng weeds. When
ha 81,
seem to be established you will cut away
the weaker specimens, leaving only one
(the best specimen) in the "hill.''
Nothing additional will be needed. A
few years later, when the young pecan
trees are getting well up, you can COM
mence cutting out the crowding growths
for fire-wood, thing you would be apt
TO do anyway, even though the pecan
trees were not there. This operation can
be continued from year to year until,
when the pecan trees are large enough
10 occupy the ground alone, there will
be nothing left in the way. No other
clearing 10 at all necessary, not even @
removal of the brush left by the cut
AVA growths-its remaining on the
Eron-d TO rot aud mingle with the soil
will prove of decided advantage to pecan
grove.
The present time, when pecans are
just ripe, is an excellent one for securing
u supply of desirable seed nuts. A little
judgment ought to be exercised in the
selection. You should plant only the
best thin-shsll varieties, as these irvari-
ably command the highest figures on the
market, aud you ought TO know some
thing of the tree that yielded them. If
the tree be near trees bearing the inferior
hard shell varieties the seed nuts will not
he entirely safe, as the pecan is much
inclined TO cross on varieties, but IL the
tree stands so much as one hundred
yards tthres hundred would be safer)
away from any hard-shell trees every
nut will be almost sure to come true to
the thin-shells. /
We 6Cn't wish to put up anything
against our enterprising nurserymen who
have in stock young pecan trees, but for
the general good we cannot well get
AROUND saying that the pecan, for best I
results, should be invariably grown from
seed planted where the trees are to stand.
Nursery stock transplants nicely. but the
trees have the tap root cut of, which is
undoubtedly against them. The pecan
Is peculiarly tap root tree, and when
the young tap root has been removed Ii