The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-10-23
Theltmnrrat-S Star
CAPTIVATING PECAN OR
CHARDS.

Below are further extracts from the
valuable treatise on pecan growing,
written by Mr.. r. +. Risien for Farm
and Ranch:
Mr.. Swinden, OF Brownwood, Tex,
is credited with having the largest
Seeding pecan orchard known. some
four hundred acres. and comprising
about sixteen thousand trees. In o n
versation with him he told me that
fully sixty acres Of his trees died from
planting alfalfa among them. And
various other kinds OF crops have in
jured them to such an extent that he
now confines the ground between the
trees to hold crops such as cotton and
corn. He says this is the only safe
crop till he seeds back to grass, and
this / would recommend, the sooner
the better.
We have every evidence that Guilt
waiting the pecan after fruiting com
mences is a failure, II not in the i'm
mediate influence of water. The first
few years it stimulates fruiting, but
soon we see the reaction. The ends of
the limbs commence dying every year
until the failure is complete. But
where our trees are subject to frequent
overtlows, it then makes no difference
whether we cultivate them or not.
The pecan louriShes in a rich. COM
pact soil, whether it be black or red,
provided il is underlaid with a gravel
formation, in permanent water, and
where the tap root can find it in less
than twenty feet. Young pecan trees
can be started and made to grow off
fine for a few years, most anywhere;
but when the time comes to make
large, long-lived, fruitful trees, the
right foundation to build upon must
be there, or some one Will be disap-
pointed.
LAYING OFF A PECAN ORCHARD
In laying off land for so long-livcd a
tree as the pecan, | would recommend
the ''triangle method" in preference
to the square method" The square
method will give us q trees per acre,
when 40 feet apart each way; ditto tri'
angle method, 81 trees. Or square
method IS feet apart, IS trees pei
acre: ditto triangle method, 40 trees,
Or square method, 30 feet apart, AZ
trees per acres; ditto triangle method,
IS trees. BY the ''equilateral method
our trees are in alleys and rows every
way. We get more trees per acre,
and our orchard has a greater attrac.
tion, and it is really more valuable.
If PARTICULAR to carry out the plan
here laid down, there will be no need
to call in Il surveyor to lay off your
land. II 40 feet apart, get three 20
foot strips lX3, and use n to splice
the other two mail them. This gives
us one continuous piece 40 feet long
Make three such pieces; lay them side
by side aud with a square make
mark at each end. In the center o.
these three lines bore a 81 or l-incl
hole; make a lot of pegs that will II,
these holes loosely. Next, stretch {
line across this land and be quite
sure it is straight; bow lay the strip,
down to the line; adjust the holes tt
form the triangle, this gives the ex
act spot where each tree is to stand
In stretching the first line, take ad
vantage Of the lay of the river, or !
there is a bad place or wash, see tina
1t is between the rows Of trees, or be
fore they arc well established a bi,
rain might wipe out an entire row
AS TO the best distance to plant apart
several things arc to be considered
The pecan is a strong feeder. In bot
tom lands where there is always a
abundance Of alluvial soil, | thin
forty feet rather close for stronl
growing varieties, with a spreadin
habit; yet this is a safe distance fo
the average. If our trees are all buC
ded or grated, as they should be, til
tendency will be to make fruit IL
stead of wood. For such | would re
commend thirty-tive feet, or eve
thirty feet, according to the habit {
the tree budded from.
PLANTING SEED PECANs.- II "
are quite sure nothing will bottle
them, the latter part Of December
a splendid time to plant in the ope
ground. A spade, garden fork, hoe G
shovel, in fact anything that wi
make a hole a llnger-length deep, WI
do for the planter. Plant three in
place, rake the dirt back and tram
on them; rake up some more dirt an
tramp again. 1t is Il mistake to di
large holes or bore first with Il pos
auger, as some writers advise, SO tina
the tap root may go down easily
Young pecan trees don't do niue
good till the tap root does strike tn
hard dirt. A surer plan than to plan
in the open ground as early as Decem
Der is to bury the seed pecons in san
in a shady place, keep wet, and lie
them freeze; about the LIST Of March
or as o o as you see they have com
menced bursting, plant them in a pei
manent place. Look out for the ant
or they will make short work OF then
after they have burstcd.
- G
An exchange quotes the following
from a letter written by Henry Wat
terson from London to the Courier
Journal zone Of the chief evils tina