The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-04-11
THE PECAN


is easily transplanted and adapts itself
to very variable soil and climatic condi-
tons. Where trees are planted on land
with a very wet subsoil the taproot
ceases to grow after reaching stratum
where there is sufficient supply of
water; Oh the other hand, new tap-roots
quickly grow where more moisture is
temporarily needed. Many pecan trees,
with good lateral root systems, even in
dry soils, have very little tap root.
Trees have been dug up and successfully
transplanted which have attained the
age of Is years upon which the tap root
was found not to be over four feet long.
Quality of Nuts.
There is great difference in the quail
ity and market value of pecan nuts.
Some are small thick shelled and of
poor quality. The best nuts are of me-
dunn to large size, with thin shells we'll
filled, of good keeping qualities, and de-
lcious flavor.
Profits.
The profits in pecan growing. like
those in stock raising, fruit growing
and other analogous industries, depend
almost entirely upon the kind of pecan
trees planted, the quality of stock rails
cd, the variety of fruit trees planted
and the care taken Of them. The pecan
is 4 tree which responds readily to cul-
tivation Including fertilization) and to
get the best results it should be treated
as q fruit tree from seed to harvest. /
have found that the parental character
istics of early, annual and heavy bear
ing are faithfully transmitted by bud
ding and grating. 1t has been demon
strated that three year old budded and
grated trees with every terminal twig
carrying from two to eight nuts, lin
other words, bearing to their utmost ca
pacity. for a pecan does not bear nuts
other than on its terminal growth). 1t
is also a fact that two year old buds
and gratis on just five year old seeding
stocks carrying as high as ten pounds
OF nuts. the seeding being budded and
grated when three years old and being
once moved and transplanted from the
nursery when one year old. By budding
and grating all nursery stock on three
year seeding stocks and roots. it will
be observed that such trees will be eight
years old the fifth year from transplant
ing At eight years of age have known
trees to bear fifteen pounds of nuts.
Assuming therefore that prolific and
early bearing varieties land there are
numbers) with three year roots to com
mcncc with, be planted and properly
cared for IA comparatively simple and
inexpensive matter) the average yield
per tree the fifth year from transplant
ing may run as high as ten pounds, the
sixth to fifteen pounds, the seventh year
to twenty pounds and over and so on
until the tenth year from setting out,
when yield of from fifty to one hun
dred and fifty pounds may reasonably
be assured. Small mixed nuts will net
the grower from to l2A cents per
pound, increasing in value according to
size and quality to 40 cents per pound
and upwards. Selected specimens are
sold for planting at prices ranging from
so cents to So per pound 1t must al
ways be remembered that it is as easy
to raise the fine varieties as the common
nuts. The bearing of Seeding trees is
50 variable that the yields of the seed
ling groves of today are absolutely no
criterion to go by, but when uniform
groves of definite, early, annual and
heavy-bearing varieties can now be
planted, it will quickly be seen that the
yields of the future must be enormously
greater. Abundant proof of this exists
wherever tried.
Importation of Nuts.
In report No. Is of the U. S. Bureau of
Statistics, being a compilation of the
quantities and values of imported mer-
chandise entered for consumption in the
United States during the years 1901 and
1902 it will be found that in 1901, nuts
to the value of $3,756.O4 were imported,
and that for the year ending the 3Oth
of June, 1902, the stupendous sum of
S4,2l4,676l7 was sent out of this coun-
try for nuts. By the time freight, in
surance, duties and the profits of whole
salers and retailers are added it will
be seen that the nut eating public of the
United States are spending annually full
ly $l000000O for nuts raised in for
eign countries alone. The value of i'm
ported nuts in 1895 was $2,Ol2,s44 III. S.
Year Book. 1881 increasing to $4,2l4,-
C76.l7 in 1902. In 1901 the duties alone
on imported nuts were 1922 ,9l6.ll, and
in 1902 Sl,2sO,6l5,72. Such figures must
con viuna tho most Slyanf;oa1 &c AZ. -