The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-23
THE PECAN NUT.
Texas Supplies Two-thirds of All
Grown in This Country.

Correspondence Chicago Times Herald.
Texas is the great pecan nut growing
state in the Union. 1t is estima ted that
two-thirds of the pecan nuts that are mar
keted come from this state. The valleys
of all the rivers and creeks of this part
of the state are covered with pecan
groves, and Austin. is said to be the largest
pecan market in the United States 1t is
here that the commission men and regu-
lar pecan nut buyers from the East make
their headquarters during the harvesting
season, and direct the shipments of tho
delicious nuts to the Northern and East
tern markets, where they command good
prices at all times,
When the yield is good the shipments
from this city and tributary points 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 complete 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 income
from the nuts. 1t was not until a few
years ago that Texas came to be known
to any great extent in the pecan markets
of the country. This fact was due prin-
cipally to the lack of railway communi-
cation with the outside markets and the
Ina bility to get the nuts to market. The
nuts had but little value at that time
and no effort was made 10 preserve the
forest of pecan trees that covered parts
Of Southwest and West Texas not many
years ago. Now that it Is known that
there are big profits In marketing the nuts
the owners of producing trees are careful
to have Them spared the woodmans ak,
and much attention is being paid the in
1tfrfF In -
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 ir-
rigation. They begin bearing when about
8 years old, and continue TO produce for
an indefinite period. 1t is known that
some pecan trees which are stin yielding
several bushels each good crop season
were full grown and bearing not less than
fifty years ago.
The beautiful polish possessed by the
pecan nuts found In the markets OF North
ern and Eastern cities is not a natural
condition. When gathered the surface
of the shell Is rough. Nuts sent to mar
ket in this condition do not command
the higher prices and IN order to make
them grade better 1t Is usual for them 10
undergo a polishing process before final
shipment Is made. Pecan polishing mills
have been established at number of
places in this section But few of them
are running this season, owing to the
shortness of the crop.
Another industry that has greatly in
creased the demand for pecan nuts has
been developed during the last few years
II is that of using the kernels of the nuts
in the manufacture of confectionery of
various kinds. About six years ago O
confectioner of New York city CHANGED 10
visit a small candy store in San Antonio
run by a Mexican. He found there a
kind of confectionery which the Mexican
called pecan candy" 1t pleased his taste
so greatly that he entered into a con-
tract with the Mexican to furnish him a
large quantity of pecan kernels for use
in the manufacture of this new kind of
candy in his New York city establish
ment.
The extraction and shipment of kernels
which was begun in a small way only six
years ago has grown to mammoth pro-
portions, and many people are engaged in
the business Machinery for the extrac-
ton of the kernels has been invented and
placed in successful operation at San An
tonic, 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 q high
price, and good profits are derived by
those employed in that branch of the pc
can business.
store large quantities of pecan nuts for
winter use. They make a fine flour out
of the kernels, and this is used to make
the most delicious bread, which is only
eaten on festival occasions. The nut en-
ters into their Christmas enjoyments to
"A large extent, being used in the prepare
ton of various kinds of choice dishes.