The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
TEXAS PECAN CROP.
Usually Worth 100000 a Year, but
Will BE Less This Year.
From ne 81. Loufs Globe Democrat.

From ne ST. Loufs Globe Democrat
eAN ANTONIO, Tex, Aug. Sin q single
week one-half of the pecan crop in Texas
was killed by the pest known as the web
worm, and commonly called the caterpillar.
Reports are still coming In to the effect that
the worms have invaded the remaining coun-
ties.
1t has been many years since the web
worm has infested the pecan crop Of Texas,
and when the crop was attacked this year
the work was done 30 swiftly that the peo.
pie could not get advice as to how to handle
the pests in time to check the ravagos.
AS a result, the pecan crop Of what Is known
in the pecan world as the San Antonio val
ley is q total loss. and the trees themselves
80 badly injured as to affect their produc-
ton next year.
The web-worm put in its appearance in
this section six weeks ago. 1t was first
noticed at work defoliating the mesquite
brush. The movement Of the pest was like
the slow. irresistible forward march of IN
army, cutting path through the groves
two and three miles wide, and moving uni
formy forward, The people who owned the
pecan groves stood helpless and saw the
despoliatioR Of their trees go on before
their eyes. Neither spraying with water
nor the use OF smoke or FIRE made any per-
ceptible impression on the pests, while a
fear Of poisoning the nut prevented the use
Of the effective method OF spraying with
poison.
The pecan crop OF southwest Texas is a
very valuable element in its commerce. The
deRtrnCtiOn IN ~
means a serious loss to a number OF people
who make considerable money of the sale
Of nuts grown ON their lands. This year
1t was expected that in the natural course
Of things the crop would be a very heavy
one. And doubtless it would have been but
for the appearance Of the caterpilars
Usually every alternate year the pecan crop
Is heavy. Last year 1t was light, and this
was the year for It to have been heavy one.
The pecan crop OF Texas amounts usually
to $5OO.OOO The nuts are gathered in their
natural groves along the San Antonio.
Sabinal. Nueces, and Guadalupe River bot
toms. and bring an average price of AZ cents
per pound in carload lots. with a variation
OF cent per pound higher or lower as the
crop happens to prove plentiful or scarce San
Antonio alone handles about 200 carloads
at an average price Of 81 900 per car One
firm alone purchases between $40, 900 and
$4,000 worth Of pecans annually. and en-
ploys 300 people between October 10 and
March to shell this vast amount of nuts.
The shelled pecan is extensively used in
the manufacture OF confectionery. 1t finds
ready sale In the North and East, and is
rapidly working into favor in the European
countries. While this popular nut is found
growing in all Of the Southern States and IN
northern Mexico, It is at its best only Iii IL
mited portions OF the state OF Texas. The
Texas pecan is not as large as the Louisiana
nut but 1t possesses a more delicate favor
and has more uniformly perfect kernel. The
Mexican pecan is more plentiful than the
Texas nut, and can be placed on the mar
ket for less money, but because Of its very
hard shell and insipid flavor has little de-
maEd.
San Antonio. the centre OF the pecan mar
ket. Is also the pioneer Of the pecan candy
industry. 1t is the favorite candy OF the
Mexicans. and nearly every important cor
ner OF the quaint old city forms the mar
ket stand OF some old Mexican candy man
with his crude stand from which he sells
his "pepitorias" and 'melacoche," the two
most popular forms Of pecan candy.