Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-16

AT-v HIS question naturally arises up
on considering the call for this
convention. Does the business
need encouragement? Are we not
already developing fast enough in this
line of farming? Indeed, many persons
inquire If we have not planted enough
nut-bearing trees.
OF course, the ultimate inquiry always
looks to the possibility of making money
out of the business. This is emphatically
a commercial age. The average American
eye is eclipse by the diameter of dollar.
He cannot see, or does not wish to see,
anything but the profit and loss balance
sheet To be attractive in his eve there
must be large balance on the profit side
To make money and TO have money is the
absorbing idea of this day and time. Very
few of US can be persuaded to follow any
line of investment solely for pleasure or
for the moral and mental uplifting OF our
selves and fellows.
Then. we must meet this question right
at the threshold. When we say nut-grow-
ing we are supposed to mean the planting
and culture of pecans. This nut is In the
lead. Hence we must show that there Is
money in pecan cuICure, or we may IS
well quit the whole business. This, we
think, has been done and can be done.
Take for illustration one acre, and say
to the acre. These trees at 20 to p years
should yield % pec.ls each. or $50 pecks
per acre. These should bring 81 per peck,
or $3.50 per acre. This would give us a
very fine profit. From this time on the
crops would increase, an the expense De-
ing the same, the profits would increase.
But what about the expense of all these
20 years Of waiting? Well, we have first
the cost of 50 trees. This should not be
over $50, even when we'll set. And just
here we wish to say that much depends
upon setting the trees properly. The holes
should be blown with dynamite and filled
up with top soil. For ten years the land
can be planted in such crops as cotton,
peas and pindars, and made to pay its
own way. The pecans will cost nothing
but letting alone and a chance to grow. BY
this time they will be shading the land
and taking some room. But they will also
be bearing enough to pay for all expenses
Of cultivation, gathering and marketing.
At what age they will begin to bear will
depend upon several circumstances; large
ly upon the proper setting and culture.
We know of a tree Which came up in
garden in Athens, Ca, from a nut drop
ped from an older tree, that began bear
ing when three years old. This is its sixth
year, and it is very heavily loaded with
nuts Grated buds sometimes bear very
early. So we are safe in saying that a
pecan grove at ten years old will have
paid expenses up to lat date. From ten
to twenty the crop will be increasing year
~ and the yield should be an average of
ten pecks per tree to begin with. and rum
ming up TO IS to 40 pecks at 20 years.
Now, here we have an investment Of one
acre, value, $50; fifty trees, $50; incidentals,
$50. Total. 500. This is a very liberal es-
innate. This acrs is now worth 500. These
so trees are now worth $50 each, or $3.50:
yielding annual income, $3.50 This is equal
to a per cent investment of S12,500. What
other business can show such a margin?
But some may say our figures are too
large, that we have no experience to back
them up. We know of one tree in Ogle-
thorpe county Georgia, from which was
sold 81 pecks as a single crop. These were
saved besides the family eating and the
jaybird stealing. they were sold in Ath-
ems, Ca, for 81 per peck, bringing $54 cash
for one crop from one tree. So we do not
think our estimate at all too large.
We know of "a grove of one-half acre
that yields the owner annually more than
a two-herse farm, and he is a pretty good
farmer.
Hence we say that we should encourage
nut growing because IT is a paying BUSH
ness. Again, we should encourage this in
dustry because it tends to settle down. and
give permanency to many of our moving.
restless southern farmers. The dream OF
every father is to lay up something that
his children may enjoy after he is gone.
Now, here is one thing that he can lay up.
pecan grove will be better than stocks
and bonds. We need something to help
cur farmers to feel settled. Local ties are
strong, and there is a mysterious tie that
binds us to a tree that will live on through
generations yet unborn, and always bless
the heir that inherits.
Again. we need and must have in this
sunny southland shade trees. There is no
prettier or better than the pecan. With
symmetry that far surpasses the elm or
poplar, and foliage more delicate and.
more beautiful than the wateroak. and
a power of endurance unsurpassed, surely
here we find the ideal shade tree. If our
towns and cities should use the pecans in
stead of those now set for shade, they
would not only have a prettier, longer
lived and more attractive shade tree, but
the fruit would yield an income that would
be better than bonds. and would Tighten
taxes. What if the boys did set pocketsful