New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-23
THE GATHERING OF PECANS
HOW THE NUTS GROW-ADVENTUROU
YOUNG WOMAN SAID TO USE AIRSHIP
IN GETTING THOSE AT ENDS
OF LIMBS.

cracks his pecanS at the END or a Jolly, Old
fashioned Thanksgiving dinner is not apt to
reflect on how many mems bones have been
cracked in picking those nuts for him.
The pecan tree. which is a species of hickory,
grows along the Mississippi Valley to the height
of from to two hundred feet and through
the Obstinacy of its hickory nature it bears its
best nuts the very tips of it's lofty branches.
The work of gathering this skyscraping crop.
therefore, is much in the class that of
StecpIe Jack who gilds crosses on the tops of
church spires
To get the pecan one is compelled to climb the
tall trunk and then scale the limbs nearly to
their fragile ends. A shaking of the branches
from convenient perch the lower boughs
again shows the obstinacy of the pecan. The
harvester must pound the tightly punched clus-
ters with a long pole Justify a New-York
policeman would club a Fourth of July crowd,
II order to bring the nuts down.
Many man has had a serious fall by ventur-
ing too far in the pecan tree. Exasperated by
HE tenacty with which cluster of nuts clings
10 the branches high over his head he has gone
a little too high only to feel the tough wood
under him at last snap asunder. Experienced
pickers accordingly are willing to let many
1ushel of the choicest pecans alone rather than
empt fate too far.
The dangers of the pecan business have stimu-
lated a Texas girl to pick these nuts from a
flying machine, according to wonderful story
which has come out of the Lone Star State
Bernce Bardne is the girls name, and The
Ehicago Tribune" in telling of her achievement
rys:
Feeling confident that pecans would command
l. good price, she quietly leased every pecan
grove and forest Of any value in the Colorado
| alley of Texas
when buyers appeared in the country, start
ling the ranchers by Offering to engage pecans
at 10 cents a pound those who make a bust
pfe therin he mi
discover that young girl had cornered the crop
SO far as this particular region was concerned
Pecan nut gathererS often leave from 40 TO
80 worth OF pecans in the tops OF the tall
frees Few boys can be found who dare to
ascend to such dizzy heights. Miss Bardine de-
Fernined to harvest the crop clean. Il VIII nave
those big peCans in the tops of the trees II
haze to go after them in balloon she said
She employed competent mechanic To make
In airShip in accordance with design that she
had drawn. The first experiment was made At
Granite Shoals. the Colorado River. where
there is a large forest or the tacst pecan trees
il Texas.
The fearless girl armed with long thrashnE
pole. stepped into the basket. and when her as
sistants. who were holding the anchor rope
announced that they were ready, the signal was
given and the airship rose sway ing and jerking
the tops OF the trees. The men who held the
anchor rope had taken half hitch around a
small oak, and they found that they could easily
control its ascent
Pleased with the success Of the venture. the
smiling aeronaut shouted. she thrust her
thrasher among the heavily laden branches Of
Il tall tree: Now l Will send you a shower OF
gold.
The big pecans fairly raIned upon the grass
below. In the course OF few minutes the
ground covered with pecans that
worth from to 10 cents a pound.
The first gatherers of pecans simply used to
cut tree down and then strip off the nuts from
is PROSTATE branches. The legislatures of those
States along the Mississippi Valley from Illinois
to Texas, where the pecan thrves best finally
took alarm and passed stringent laws prohibit
Ing such wanton destruction. Texas at the
present time produces the bulk OF the pecan crop
of the United States, and there the industry
has been put on d scientific basis
species Of pecan was selected which
bined the maximum Of meat with the minimum
of shell, and this variety grated the
old trees. One of the largest pecan nurseries,
where the young buds of the paper shell species
grown. is that of +. +. Risien, at San Saba
Tex where the Colorado and San Saba rivers
Join This country is rich in native pecan trees,
enough their roots into it's bed.
Mr.. Risien also took many old trees in hand
cut off their scragPy branches, and then budded
his species the strong young shoots
This Species known the Mother Tree" pro-
duces two pounds of meat for every three
pounds of nuts. Mr. Risien still gathers his
crop by hand. and believes the old way is bet
ter than that described in the story of the girl
and her flying machine. While enjoying steady
crops from old trees which have been grated
over. Mr. Risen is planting new nut orchards
where the nuts can be reached at a convenient