Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-05
PECAN CULTURE.

Pecan culture Is one OF the new indus
tries now being rapidly developed in Geor-
gfa and about which but few people have
any very clear or definite idea. A few
years ago pecan trees were but little
known In this state. although in widely
scattered sections a few trees have been
growing and bearing for the past half
century. The first pecan tree in Georgia,
of which we have any record. was plant
ed in Worth county by the mother OF
Major r ]. Bacon. OF Baconton, IN the
year ISIS. That tree is now large. mag
nifcent specimen OF its species and bears
q splendid crop Of nuts each year.
There are in Monticello. Jasper county,
half a dozen fine trees which were plant
ed by Mrs Penn about seventy-ive years
ago. and which annually bear prolific
crops OF delicately Favored nuts. The pc
can tree seems TO be Indigenous TO the
south and I'm the rich allurial soils OF the
southwest are found IN the forest growth,
Just the same as hickory. oak and pine.
During nv visit to the Brazos river sec
ton OF southwest Texas last year. i drove
through quite extensive forests OF pecans.
along the western banks Of the river and
saw many magnificent specimens 50 feet
in height and from 70 4 feet I'm diameter.
These forests are OF course in an original
wild stste Of growth and while the nuts
fheyIhfar are not 50 large or as attractive
proved. varieties. they are none the less as
sweet and as delicately favored. The large
cotton planters who own these pecan
forests utilize them for fattening pork.
which they assert is more valuable than
corn and that the pecans impart rich
ness OF flavor 10 the meat OF their pork
which causes IL 10 command q higher
Z price in the markets than corn fed pork.
Reckoning the ages OF these mammoth pc
can trees growing I'm the Brazos river bot
toms by the rule governing the ages Of
other trees. I saw many specimens which
must have been several hundred years old
and had doubtless furnished their fruit
for the palate OF the red man centuries be-
fore any white man ever placed his foot
upon the soil OF that section OF the United
States
These facts are recited merely to show
the hardness OF the pecan tree anh its
natural adaptability TO the soil and eli
matte conditions Of the south Atlantic and
gulf states. Aside from the regular de-
mand and market value Of the nuts. they
are valuable as shown for feeding and
fattening pork. 50 tnat II the time should
ever come I'm the distant future when the
supply OF the nut bearing orchards should
exceed the demand. the nuts could be
probably used m the production OF pork.
But as the pecan Is grown only in the ter
ritory mentioned and in no other part
OF the M0IAus W4EN0AAE VI Ah#AANE-
MA. and as the markets viii be broaden
ed with the increased supply and the. uses
OF the nuts multiplied. there need be but
little fear that the time viii ever come
when pecan culture viii fail 10 be profit-
able. -
Starting a Grove.
In early life the pecan tree is much
more delicate than the ordinary wild tree
Of the forest. After the young sciOns are
one and two years old. however, they
rapidly become quite hardy. and need but
little care thereafter in their rapid
growth toward development and ma
turity. I would therefore discourage the
idea OF any one undertaking 10 secure a
grove BY planting the seed out in the
field at the regulation distances apart at
which the trees are 20 remain. The re-
factory orchard. Some OF the plants will
be successful, while a majority Of the
others viii have 20 be rephnted and more
or less replanting viii have 10 be done
for several years.
Experience teaches that the most sensi-
bic and desirable plan for starting
grove IS 70 purchase either one or two
year old seedlings from a reliable nur-
sery. and plant the young trees out where
they are 20 remain. These can be bought
cheap and II properly planted and cared
for but few losses will be sustained. At
ter the young trees in the nursery are
three years old they can be budded. but
the process involves quite a delicate sur
gical operation. and none but an expert
can be successful The average expert
will lose 80 per cent Of the stocks he
attempts 70 utilize for that purpose
hence budded pecan trees are much more
costly at the nursery than seedlings. and
only the three-year-Old sciOns can be
budded. Agents who oIler one or two