Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-26
OUR WILD PECAN,s.

pecans, we this week decided to make a
new pecan study in their interest, differing
from anything yet attempted by any one,
so far as we know. We went the rounds of
our fruit stores and nut stands handling
wild pecans brought in from our own for
ests, and from each bought one dozen of
the finest appearing nuts that we could Sc
lect from the stock in hands. OF course we
saw many very inferior nuts-the average
went largely to that side, but in our seec-
tons we got not a few that were really
fine, comparing favorably in size and out
line with the very best described or illus
trated by dealers in seed nuts, or other
persons writing on the pecan question.
In our selections we made an effort to get
no two nuts presenting exactly the same ex-
ternal appearance, our object being to have
specimens from as many different trees as
possible. The various lots overhauled by
US appeared to pretty clearly indicate that
each tree bore exactly the same character
Of fruit, or, in other words, that no single
tree had produced fine nuts and inferior
nuts in the same crop. We think each wild
tree holds quite true as to quality.
Each dozen nuts selected by US was held
TO itself and the nuts carefully opened and
examined. We found them running on an
average at about four thin-shell nuts to the
dozen-a much better average than we were
expecting. A few of the nuts had shells
extremely thin, while many that we classed
as thick-shells were not above medium;
that is, yoL might have taken two of them
in the hand and crushed them by merely
pressing them together. A comparative
few had shells so thick that it called for
considerable blow with the hammer to
break them.
There was great variation as to shape in
our eight dozen selections. The majority
of them tended more or less to an oval,
though some were long and slender, having
about the same size from end to end.
Where there was difference in size of the
ends the largest end was usually next the
Btcm-we found no specimens with the
beak end the largest like the specimens
sent US by correspondent last week, and
which, on account of its extreme peculiar
tiles, we named the Ambrose pecan.
The most remarkable specimen we found
was obtained at 4 fruit-stand on Main
street, between Second and Third. 1t was
very large, and about the shape of an or
binary nutmeg. The shell was compare
lively thick, but entirely full of kernel
with really no divisions in the kernel save
the one middle division, which separated it
into two sections. Kernel firm and ex-
tremely delicate in flavor. 1t was a regular
mouthful, IS we say-as large as the kernel
found in an ordinary English walnut. The
variety had considerable representation in
the stock from which our selection was
made, but the dealer could give us no clew
rs to whence it came, owing to the fact that
he had bought his supplies from country
people bringing in pecans for sale, and that
was all he knew about it. No doubt it is
Tarrant county pecan, and if the tree could
be located the variety ought TO be propa-
gated.
An examination of the interior of our Sc
lected specimens proved very interesting
We found great variation as to fulness and
frmness of kernel as well as
to richness and dolicacy of fla
vor. OF course we have no desire to
fly into the face of public opinion rs to what
constitutes the best pecans, yet desire for
being entirely accurate in this report COM
pels us TO say that we found, on an average,
the tirmest the highest-lavored and
leastdivided kernels in the thick-shell va
rieties, and when you come to think the
matter over, you will discover a good rea-
son for why it should be so, especially in
81,
thick shell is able to protect the kernel
against considerable outside pressure-the
thin shell is not, and SO nature builds
framework down through the kernel to
the center 10 brace the shell
The present taste seems to run entirely
to thin-shell pecans, and it is possible that
the thin-shell varieties will for long time
be the most popular varieties on the mar
ket, either for planting or consumption
Yet we are by no means sure that the thin
shell will always remain the most popular
pecan of the future. When it becomes
fully known that the thick-shell |
pecan is the better pecan, an idea to which |
this test has pretty well converted US. taste |
may take 4 tumble. But there will never !
be 4 tumble as to the size of the nuts-peo- |
pie will always want large pecans-and it |
Is, therefore, not at all impossible that by |
the time the pecan trees we are now plant |
ing are in full bearing, the |
finest pacans-so considered-wlil |
be the largest pecans, without regard to
thickness of shell. OF course, in starting
a grove, we would plant large thin-shell |
pecaus if we could get them to plant, but
IN the event that we could not get them /
easily we would not hesitate TO plant large
thick-shell pecans.
When we have settled down to large and
fine pecans whose kernel will come out in
two clear pieces without any subdivisions
of bitter matter TO pick al, the pecan will
take the place Of the almond as the most
popular table nut in the world. We have
what thsy call paper-shell almonds, but no
one ever sees them on the fashionable table
without ndt-cracker ut the place of every
guest. In our opinion, the big, delicious
and undivided kernels must come from the
thick-sheu pecans. If so, that variety
must become the table nut, and no pecan
ever has shell so thick that we cannot get
into it, with a pair of nut crackers, with
very little if any more exertion than would
be necessary to open the pecan with thin
shell. No person eating nuts at table ever