The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-30
PROFITIN PECAN GROVES
NO OTHER BRANCH OF AasoRlcUL.
TURs PAYS so WELL.


The following extracts are made
from paper which Herbert Post, the
distinguished authority on the subject
of pecan culture, prepared to be read
before the Texas State Horticultural
Society:
If it be true that every man is a
public benefactor who will cause two
blades of grass to grow where only
one grew before" the same is appli-
cable to that of planting pecan groves
capable of earning millions of dollars
True 1t Is, that no other branch of
arboriculture carries with 1t such
value as this, the outlay and income
not being equalled by any other indus
try of such magnitude.
1t is common expression for men
of middle age TO say II am too old
to plant pecans." Age has nothing to
do with it, except from selfish stand-
point.
Old men may plant pecan groves.
Why not? They are securing the bene-
fits of others labor before them, and
they certainly owe something to the
coming generations. In no other way
can he invest money with equal safe
ty, with surety of income for his chill
dren and children's children while they
live, even for many generations fol-
lowing. as can he done by planting
fifty to 100 acres in the large thin
shell pecans.
Says man In Georgia, 81 am sixty
nine years old, but | am planting pc
cans for myself and partly for poster
lty. \ man who plants fifty acres
will be II rich man in ten years. for
under cultivation the trees will begin
to bear in six years and will be profit.
able when ten years old"
Like the olive, the pecan tree Is OF
long life and will bear as long as they
live. How long we don't know. but
we do know of an old tree being killed
by lightning in Texas few years ago,
when cut down its rings showed it to
be upwards of six hundred years old.
For the last fifteen years of its life
the annual yield averaged ten bushels
of fine pecans, netting handsome in
come annually. Only in certain locali-
ties can the olive he grown. but the
pecan, being of the same family of
the hickory and walnut will grow
where they do with profit
Experience has taught that great adj
vantage was gained by cultivation,
closer planting. low heading of the
trees and planting them by the equl-
lateral triangle method by which they
get 1875 trees to the acre, planted 20
x20 feet apart, without crowding and
sixteen more trees than by the square
method. No greater improvement has
been made in tree planting for rapid
growth of the trees, not only while
young, but during growth to their ma
turity, than the use of dynamite.
At cost of about twenty cents,
charge Of dynamite will pulverlze the
! ground to the depth of eight feet with
! diameter of four or five feet, giving
results obtained b. no other results
| so cheaply.
Uncultivated trees do not make uni
| form growth and are unfavorably af-
| fected by drouth. Cultivated through
| out the season gives the trees contin-
ned vigorous growth; they are health
| fer, produce better fruit and have a
| greater uniformity of growth year af-
| ter year, as drOuths have no i'll effects
upon them. In Il dry season the
| groves and orchards should be kept
| in good tilth until the crop of fruit
| and wood are mature or until the rains
come.
During wet season cultivation
should cease early enough for the
| growth to be checked so the wood may
rlpen for winter. Particularly is this
true when the trees are loaded with
fruit
| Planted 20X20 feet apart with 12j
trees to the acre, gives an increased
valuation of at least one hundred dol
lars per acre annually, for when the
trees are ten years old their earnings
at ten per cent. upon each valuation
will make the value exceeding one
thousand dollars per acre, with annual
increase for years to follow, and the
owner would he unwise to sell his
grove at that price. a large annual
income from the same ground can be
made by growing vegetables or other
low growing crops.
All conditions favor the pecan. Is
not subject TO blight in bloom after
the spring frosts. No insect pests
such as other fruit trees have, rarely
ever are blown down nor decay. The
finest thin shell Seeding nuts are the
Posts Selects, a universal favorite for
planting. These are grown ON isolated
cultured trees, of well-knOwn prolific
ness, annual bearers, reproduce them
selves, come In bearing when the trees
are six years old. earn at least five
dollars per tree when ten years old,
continue to increase their annual crop
until the trees are fully matured when
thirty to forty years old continuing
In bearing during life.
Pecan groves cannot run away, can
not burn up. Will not default in pay
ment, nature being the best paymaster
In the world. A valuable feature also
Is that the nuts can be kept for months
without loss-pays better than bank
ing-a bank having Il capital of $3.50.
600 will not earn as much annually
as viii 100 acres in thin shell pecans
costing but $500. Placing the earnings
Of such n grove when ten years old
at less than half their actual earnings
of each tree, or say $3.50 each, the