Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-02-28
fHE PECAN MI STATE: !.


s.ss5, Eecent Developments.
tsTexas is the grsatest .pecai nut
growing state in the Union. 1t is es:
timated that tWo-thirds of the pecan
nuts. that are marketed come from
this state. The valleys of all the
rivers aud creeks of the central part
Of the state are covered with pecan.
groves and Austin is said to be the
largest pecan market in the United
States. It's there that the. commits
sion men and regular pecan nut buy
ers from the east make their head
quarters during the harvesting season
and direct tho shipments Of the doli-
ic:iiouss nuts to the northern and eastern
4riarkets where they command good
prices at oil times. ':ais.'..-',
When the yield is good the. ship
ments from Austin and tributary
points amount 10 huIdreds Of car
loads,. but this season but very few
eats are being shipped for the reason
tbat,the Texas cop of pecans is al
most Is complete. failure: Tie prices
for; the nuts are high aud the. OWE ers
of pecan groves who are 80 fcrt,lnate
as;to have a good crop GO getting a
big ain come from the nuts. It was
moi tpntil;a few years ago that 1Texas
came to be knowS to any great extent
in the pecan markets of the country.
This fact was due principally to the
lack of railway communication with
the outside markets and the inability
to get the nuts 10 market. The nuts
had but little value at that time and
no effort was made to preserve the
forests Of pecan trees that covered
parts of the southwest and west Tex
as not many years ago. Now that it
is.known that there are big profits in
marketing the nuts the owners of pro-
ducing trees are careful to have them
spared the woodman 8 Ak and much
attention is icing paid the industry.
In some localities orchards of young
pecan trees embracing thousands of
acres have been planted within the
last few years. They require but
little attention and seem to thrive
without irrigation. They begin bear.
ing when about nine years old and
continue to produce for m indefinite
period. 1t is known that some pecan
trees which are still yielding several
bushel each good crop season were
full grown and bearing not less than
fifty years ago.
The beautiful polish possessed by
the pecan nuts found iu the markets
of northern and eastern cities is not
natural condition. When gathered,
the surface of the shell is rough.
(NEts sent to markets in this condition
do not command the higher prices,
and in order tc make them grade
better it is usual for them to un-
dergo polishing process before final
shipment is made. Pecan polishing
mills have been established at mum.
Der of places in this section. owing to
| the shortness of the crop.
Another industry that has greatly
increased the demand for pecan nuts
has been developed during the last
| few years. 1t is that of using the
kernels of the nuts in the manufac.
turing of confectionery Of various
kinds. About six years ago confec-
toner of New York City Glanced Ito
visit a small candy store in San An
tonic run by Mexican. He found
there kind of confectionery which
the Mexican called ''pecan candy"
\ It pleased his taste so greatly that he
entered into contract with the Mexi.
can tofurnish him large quantity Of
/ pecan kernels for use in the manufac,
ture OF this new kind Of candy in his
New York City establishment. -.
The extraction aud shipmento of ker
] nels which was begun in a small way
ago only six years has grown to mani
moth proportions, and manypeople are
engaged in the business. Muchiner!
for the extraction ;of the kernels has
been invented and placed in success
ful operation at San Antonio, ant
farge shipments are made each season
to confectioners in New York City, St
4 Louis, Chicago and other cities of th'
country. The kernels command
high price, and good profits are de
rived by those employed in tina
branch OF the pecan business.
The Mexicans on the Rio Grand'
border store large Quantities of pecar
nuts for. winter use. They make {
i fine -four out of the kernel, and thi'
is used to make the y ost delicious
bread, which is only eaten on festiva
occasions. The nut enters into thei
4 Christmas enjoyments to large ex
tent, being used in the preparation
of various kinds of choice dishes.