The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-17
PECAN NUTS IN PEXAS.

A correspondent of the Chicago Re-
cord says that Texas is the greatest
pecan nut growing State in The Union.
1t 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, i,
and Austin is said to be the largest pc
can market in the United States. 1t is
here that the commission men and reg
uar pecan nut buyers from the East
make their headquarters during the
harvesting season and dircc: the ship
ment of the delicious nuts TO the North
crn and Eastern markets, where they
command good prices at all times.
This season but very few cars are
being shipped for the reason that the
Tc! IS crop of pecans is almost COM
plete failure. The prices for the nuts
ale high, and the owners of pecan
groves who are so fortunate as To Ii ave
good crop are getting big income
from the nuts. 1t was not until few
years ago that Texas came to be known
in any great extent III the pecan mar
kets of the country. This fact was due
principally to the lack of railway COM
munication with the outside markets
and the inability to get the nuts to
market. The nuts had but little value
at that time and 10 effort was made to
preserve the forest of pecan trees that
covered parts of the southwest and
west Texas not many years ago. Now
that ii Is known that there are big
profits in marketing the nuts the own
ers of producing trees are careful to
have them spared the woodman's axe
and much attention is being paid the
industry. In some localities orchards
OF young pecan trees embracing thous-
ands Of acres, have been planted with
in the last few years. They thrive with
out irrigation. They begin hearing
when about nine years old and continue
to produce Tor an indefinite period. Ii
is known that some pecan trees which
are still yielding several bushels each
good crop season were full grown and
bearing not less than so years ago.
The beautiful polish possessed by
the pecan nuts found in the markets of
Northern and Eastern cities is not q
natural condition. When gathered,
the surface of The shell is rough. Nuts
sent to the market in this condition do
not command the higher prices, and
in order to make them grade better il
is usual for them to undergo a polish
ing process before final shipment is
made. Pecan polishing mills have been
established at a number of places in
this section. But few of them are run
ming this season owing to the short
ness of the crop.
Another industry that has recently
increased the demand for pecan nuts
has developed during the last few years.
1t is that of using the kernels of the
nuts in the manufacturing of confec.
tlonery of various kinds. About six
years ago confectioner of New York
city chanced to visit small candy
store in San Antonio run by Mexican
lie found there kind of confectionery
which the Mexican called "peran can
dy." 1t pleased his taste so greatly
that he entered into contract with the
Mexican to furnish him large quau-
tity OF pecan kernels for use in the
manufacture of this new kind of candy
in his New York establishment.
The extraction and shipment of ker-
nels, which was begun in small way, l.,
only six years ago, hls grown to nam
moth proportions, and many people
arc engaged in the business. Machin-
cry for the extraction of the kernels
has been invented and placed in sue
cessful operation at San Antonio and
large shipments are made each season
to confectioners in New York city, st.
Louis, Chicago and other cities of the
country. The kernels command high
price, and good profits are derived by
those employed IN that branch of the
pecan business.
The MeXicans on the Rio Grandc
border store large quantities of pecan
nuts for winter use. They make fine
flour out of the kernels, and this is
used to make the most delicious bread,
which is only eaten on festival occas-
IONS. The nut enters into their Christ
mas enjoyments to very large extent,
being used in the preparation OF vnri-
ous kinds Of choice dishes.