The Washington herald., 1909-11-07

AZ It's recent meeting in Albany, Ga,
the National Nut Growers Association
spent two days discussing the various
subjects which chiefly interest the mer
engaged In the production and marketing
OF nuts IN this country. At the request
OF The Washington Herald, DR.. John r
Wilson. secretary Of that body, sends the
following relative to the industry in the
South:
Nut growing In the South means the
growing OF the pecan. Il may be desig-
mated as the aristocrat OF horticulture
because OF its popularity, its good quail
ties. and the commercial Importance
which attaches TO its production and
marketing
Nut culture IN all parts OF the country
is receiving merited attention, but this
prince OF nuts Is distinctively a Southern
product. and IS thus far most readily
grown along the Gulf coast, in the Mis-
slssippi Valley below the fortieth paTal-
lei Of latitude. and along Texas streams
Native trees arc found also in some rarts
Of Mexico. This circumscribed territory
is the only part OF the world with native
pecan trees. There is reason to believe
that a belt OF Gulf coast country about
zoo miles wide viii monopolize the com
mereial production OF this nut
History of the Industry.
To understand the present and prospec-
tive status OF the industry a brief res
ume Of recent developments viii be OF in
terest While the native Seeding pecan
has been known since the first settlement
of the South, the business OF growing the
nut on a commercial scale is less than
ten years old. During this brief period a
new era has been inaugurated by sup
planting Seeding trees by budded and
grated stock Of the finest known varie-
ties.
These modern nuts are are superior 70
the ordinary native seedlings now seen
on the market as the best apples and
peaches are improvements on the native
seedlings Of these fruits. II was long
supposed that the pecan, as I'm the case
OF other nuts, could not be propagated
like other fruits. but the persistent and
skillful work OF a few pioneers in Texas.
louisiana, and Mississippi demonstrated
that. while more difficult than in the case
of fruits II could be done
This achievement, I'm connection with
the fact that the pecan does not come
true from seed, furnished the basis for
the present forward movement. II was
discovered that a budded or grated tree
will begin bearing IN four or five years,
while IL requires ten 10 twenty years for
the Seeding 10 show what kind Of a nut
it will produce Many OF the seedlings
are shy bearers and others prove 20 be
quite barren.
On n Pur with Fruits.
With the use OF budded and grated
trees the period Of waiting for crops is
no longer than is required for the apple.
the pear, or the orange. Then the quality
and size OF the nut desired, as we'll as
the bearing habits Of the variety. can all
be definitely determined before perma-
Uently planting the tree. Thus we now
plant, provided one is familiar with the
business. with confidence as TO early and
profitable results. while those who plant
ed seedlings FIVE years ago are sure 20
have their hopes long deferred and even
tUally reap disappointment.
The extent TO which commercial nut or
chards have been planted in the states OF
Louisiana, Mississippi. Georgia. Florida.
and South Carolina since this change has
shown the way TO proceed is one OF the
great Southern movements which has not
yet reached public attention and few peo-
PIE outside Of those directly or Indirectly
Interested know how rapidly the planting
Is going forward. Besides this. there are
comparatively few people who have seen,
much less eaten, any Of these fine varie-
ties.
In 1903 % per cent OF all pecan trees
sold by Southern nUrserymen were seed