The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-01-28
Culture of the Pecan.
CONTINUED from Page l


for old age, and a patrimony for his
children, for their children, and de-
scendents for generations.
1t is an industry which pays vast
ly better than life insurance, bonds,
stock, or mining enterprises. An
owner of only ten acre (1250 trees)
in bearing, need have no fear of the
poor house. in fact it is a guarantee
against poverty.
The possibilities of this industry
are so great, that one who has inves-
| tigated it, finds it hard to state the
actual facts, without leaving the inn
pressin of exaggeration
Ten per cent on permanent invest
ments is good earnings, but the pc
can industry pays far better than
that, as the value of the trees as
money earners is constantly on the
increase. We estimate, and we be-
lieye we are right, that when graft
ed pecan tree earns only $1,000 per
annum, the intrinsic value of the
tree earning 10 per cent is one hun
dred dollars.
When it earns $500 annually Goo
pounds at Csc per pound) that tree
has valuation of $4,000 Is that
unreasonable? We guess not.
We have the following reliable rec
ords, where one grated pecan tree
when only ten years old, bore one
hundred and fifty-five pounds of nuts,
which sold at soc per pound, of an
other tree when II years old, which
bore 400 pounds, at Is years 800,
when 19 years old in 1905 bore 63S
pounds, the nuts as valuable as the
first ones mentioned. What is the
value of this tree? We have paid
for the annual crop of one seeding
pecan tree. 40c per pound $107.40
Is $1,000 for that tree too high a
valuation?
The cost of grated or budded pc
can trees deters many from buying.
This cost has no comparison to that
of fruit trees, the manner of graft
ing being entirely different, mourning
a loss sometimes of 80 to IS per cent,
so many nurserymen do not grow
them.
Unfayorable weather, too much
rain, too dry, a scarcity and high
price of scions from bearing trees,
which means a sacrifice of nut grow
ing. the close watchful care required,
all adds to the cost The fact is, if
the tree should cost $500 each the
grove is life earning investment,
earning enormous income on the out
lay.
The great value of pecan tree is
enhanced by a prepared reservoir for
root growth and continued moisture,
of value for years This is cheaply
prepared by dynamite at cost of
not over ten or twelve cents, stick
of which exploded at the depth of
six feet will create a reservoir eight
feet ndepth by three or four in
diameter.
A common error prevails in the
calling of pecans paper shell and
soft shell" This is a misnomer. The
proper names are thin and thick
shell, the material in each being the
same.
In planting pecan groves in the
South, we advise combination with
growing of vegetables for the early
northern markets, the cultivation of
them also cultivates the trees, by
planting groves of 5, 10, 20 or 40
acres, the growing of vegetables can
continue for or 6 years, until the
trees shade the ground, the earnings
of which for one or two years will
pay all costs of the trees and often
for the land also. The garden of the
United States for growing the very
early vegetables, in Texas, lies south
- To- .
Growing all the citrus fruits grow
ing in California and geing 1900
miles nearer our northern markets
is a snap for Texas.
Reliable parties give us the fol-
lowing net prices per acre OF veg
etables:
Bermuda onions, $500 to 5000;
Tabasco peppers, $500 to $500; to-
matoes, 5000 to $500; caulifiower,
$500 to $500; cabbage, $500 to
$500; egg plants. $500 to $500;
celery, $500 to $500; cantaloupes,
500 to $500; cGcumbers, $500 to
$500. After these crops are re-
moved, the same ground is again
planted which pays additional profit
These facts exist. The northern mar
kets want all such vegetables and
Texas can supply them.
With plenty of sunshine, and most
every day awork day, there is a
wide field here for northern people
who work six months to earn a living
for the other six, can come here
and live on Easy Street" resting un-
der their own vine and fig tree.
Wonderful advances have been
made in horticulture and agriculture
in the past ten years and more to fol-
low.
That wonderful Wizard of Horti-
culture, Luther Burbank on his own
place in California has demonstrated
that he can grow ninety-nine tons
of cactus fruit on one acre, the fruit
sixteen per cent sugar and
as wholesome as an apple 1t is said
that he has perfected a species of a
hardy, but luscious banana. that will
come to perfect fruition in New En-
gland and secured in the dried and
powdered product, flour more
productive than wheat, and may yet
become a national food.
The Department of Agriculture at
Washington, have during the past
Ton wears doval0ned a hardy orange