Evening journal., 1900-03-26
THE PECAN NUT.
Texas Supplies TwO,Thlrds Of All
Grown In This Country.

Grown In This Country
Texas is the great pecan nut grow.
Ing State in the Union. II is estimated
that two-thirds Of the pecan nuts that
are marketed come from this State.
The valleys Of all the rivers and
creeks Of this part of the State are
covered with pecan groves. and Aus
tin is said TO be the largest pecan mar
ket in the United States. II Is here
that the commission men and regular
pecan nut buyers from the East make
their headquarters during the harvest.
ing season and direct the shipments
Of the delicious nuts to the Northern
and Eastern markets. where they
command good prices at all times.
When the yield is good the ship.
ments amount to hundreds Of carloads
but this season but very few cars are
being shipped, for the reason that the
Texas crop Of pecans is almost com.
plete failure. The prices for the nuts
are high. and the owners of pecan
groves who are so fortunate as TO
have good crop are getting a big in
come from the nuts. 1t was not until
few years ago that Texas came to
be known TO any great extent in the
pecan markets Of the country This
fact was due principally 10 the lack
OF railway communication with the
outside markets and the inability TO
get the nuts to market The nuts had
but little value at that time. and no
effort was made to preserve the forest
of pecan trees that covered parts OF
Southwest and West Texas not many
years ago. Now that Il Is known that
there are big profits I'm marketing the
nuts the owners Of producing trees
are careful to have them spared the
woodlands axe, and much attention /.
being paid the industry. In some Local
tiles orchards Of young pecan trees
embracing thousands OF acres have
been planted within the last few
years They require but little atten
tlon and seem to thrive without irri
CATION. They begin bearing whef
about nine years old, and continue ts
produce for an indefinite period. II Il
known that some pecan trees whici
are still yielding several bushels eacl
good crop season were full grown and
bearing not less than fifty years ago
Another industry that has great,
increased the demand for pecan NUT
has been developed during the las
few years. 1t is that of using the ker
nels Of the nuts In the manufacture
of confectionery OF various kinds. Thl
extraction and shipment OF kernel
which was begun in a small way onl,
six years ago has grown TO mammotl
proportions, and many people are en-
gagged in the business. Machinery 70
the extraction Of the kernels has beer
invented and placed in successful opel
alton at San Antonio. and large shiI
ments are made each season TO con
fcetioners and others in New YOr
City, St. Louis. Chicago and other eft
les Of the country. The kernels CON
mand a high price. and good profit
are derived by those employed in tbs
branch Of the pecan business.
The Mexicans on the Rio Grand
border store large quantities OF peca
nuts for winter use. They make a fin
-four out Of the kernels, and this
b used to make the most deliclou
bread, which is only eaten on festiva
occasions. The nut enters into thei
! Christmas enjoyments to a large es
tent, being used in the preparation o
various kinds Of choice dishes.-Col
Chicago Times Herald.