Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-26
MR., rosT ON THE PECAN.

MR.. POST ON THE PECAN.
An article by Mr. Herbert Post of Fort
Worth, appearing in a recent issue of the
Florida Agriculturist, states il substance
that since the time when he became a citi-
zen of Texas he has been carefully investi-
eating the pecan industry. He finds in the
pecan a most valuable product, and further
more, that there are thousands upon thou
sands of acres of bottom lands lying along
our streams which are peculiarly well
adapted to pecan growing. These bottom
lands are, owing to occasional overflow of
the streams, almost worthless TO their own
ers as the case now stands, but planted TO
pecans of good thin, or paper shell, =" va
liety, they would, in the course of ten
years, be yielding an income larger and
surer than would many times the same
acreage OF regular farming lands cultivated
to other crops.
While pecans do reasonably well on our
high lands, says Mr.. Post, these bottom
lands are best for their growth, TO say
nothing Of the fact that planting pecans on
such situations enables US to utilize lands
not considered valuable or safe for general
farming. Pecans pay from 500 to $500
profit per acre if the nut is sold in the mar
ket for consumption. If very fine varieties
are raised and they are sold as seed for
new planters, the income will be very
largely enhanced, of course.
Experience has shown that the cultira-
t;on of orchard lands greatly benefits the
orchard by rapidly pushing ahead the
growth of the trees. 1t leads to much
gain on the ordinary time Of attaining 10
bearing capabilities. The same might be
reasonably claimed for the pecan grove.
The early yield would be 50 per cent
greater with the grove under regular cul-
tivation than without it. Thus. as will be
seen, the cultivatable land having upon it
a pecan grove may be made to yield its
regular crops as usual, for many years to
come, and the growing of those crops will
be of actual advantage to the grove.
His investigations have shown Mr.. Post
that pecan trees are remarkably free from
such insect enemies as more or less in
terfere with the growth of other species
of nut trees. Being a member of the
hickory family, the pecan is very hardy
and the natural toughness of its wood
well fits it for withstanding the effects Of
even the severest storms. Its branches
are wide-spreading, forming, as it attains
to age. shady grove sure enough. 1t
certainly makes most attractive planta-
ton, and one that, when well set, will last
through several generations
The great abundance of wild pecan trees
reckless in their destruction of the growth.
Immense quantities of nuts are still yielded
by wild trees, yet, though high prices are
paid for the product, the demand is in each
year largely exceeding the supply. This
makes it high time for people to move all
along the line in pecan culture. BY plant
ing the best soft shell varieties an I'M
proved product will result, and correct
management will bring the cultivated trees
into much earlier bearing than character
ICES the wild growths.
The pecan is rapidly gaining in popu-
larity as a most delicious nut, hence its
consumption is annually on the increase
DEMONSTRATION will evidently carry this
popularity far beyond what ii is to-day,
because of larger size and better quality OF
products.
Costly novelties imported from other
countries often fall entirely short of prom
ised results, but this cannot be said of the
pecan, for it has long been known here as
entirely at home. Texas is really its natu-
raj home, therefore the person who plants
pecans has no risk whatever to run rela-
tive to whether or not the country will suit
IT. No healthier tree, nor one of longer
life grows in Texas. And it is profitable,
for single pecan trees have been known to
earn for their owners from forty to eighty
dollars per annum j fine return for for
est tree, certainly.
Mr.. Post refers to q party near Fort
Worth who has planted out a pecan grove
of forty acres, containing HOO trees. When
these trees begin to bear at eight or ten
years old, he says, this party will realize at
a very low calculation an income Of 5000
per annum, which will increase in amount
for many years. Not wishing to mislead
has led MIR. Post to set the income at these
low figures, yet the greater probability ex-
lists that the figures are not high enough by
more than half Where is there any bust
ness as safe and sure2 He adds: There is
evidently lots of money in it, sure to come
through several generations, and the cost
of setting it on foot is certainly extremely
small.