Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-02-25
the PECAN INDUSTRY.
Modern Farming, New Orleans, La.l


That the pa,an is destined to become
the most important Of all the nut-bearlne
trees in the United States in the course o.
the next iew years, ia rapidly manifestire
az a fact. In the South, where Ii
is we'll adapted to practically every State,
il has been most extensively planted in
the southern part Of Mississippi, in Ale
bama and Georgia, and to lesser extent
in Louisiana. Considering that the Pc
can grows impartially we'll throughout
nearly all Of the Pelican State, 1t is
cause Of regret that statistics do not place
Louisiana on parity with the other three
States in extensive planting.
The pecan has shown an almost perfect
adaptibility to TIE average type so''s
found in the Giuii Coast >;ates, for good
results seeming to require title more thsn
q fairly fertile soil which is we'll drained.
T!.e more fertile and deeper the soil,
t,ou..h. .lIe ,c.ter the results. Like any
@ ',rr plant ~ tree, however, it yields IN
prop rtiur. - TIE attention and care
gwen /, AID il,at Our growers are last
learning how 10 get best results from
their groves gives bright promise for the
future Of the nut as an industry.
In farmers bulletin by c. A. Reed,
Of the Department of Agriculture, the
author, who has made special investi-
CATION of the pecan businessin the South,
points to the increased prices for the
lower quality nuts "a indicative OF stabil-
ity of the nut growing. He calls atten.
ton to the fact that ten years or 30 ago.
wild pecan nuts were rarely used except
in the holiday season, and three cents a
pound was about the average price. Lat
terly, however the demand has raised
the price to three or four times that figure
Oh the wild varieties. BY reason OF in
creased production, the superior named
varieties do not command az high price
as formerly, the added competition OF the
wild nuts having an influence as we'll,
but still there are numerous instances Of
well-k.~ own varieties selling at. wholesale
in 1914 for from thirty to fort-five cents
per pound. In mentioning the decrease
in price of the finer nuts, Mr.. Reed
brings out the point that with the changed
condition in the industry, the grower
will probably find the disposition of biz
product through express and mail-ordei
services is hardly adequate in the future
In this we believe he Is correct, for 1t II
becoming increasingly difficult to find
crop outlet through choice channels fo'
much of a nut supply.
As pecan tree owners are educated tt
the advantage Of attention to trees and
the finer varieties, they are top-workini
inferior seeding or wild pecan trees Il
improve yield and quality Of nuts; ale
are getting rid of the undesirable tree
and carefully pruning the tree wortl
saving. This means the rapid increas
in production of desirable quality nuts
and not having to wait five or more year
for new orchard Of grated or budded tree
to bear worthwhile crop. Those VIII
have not the advantage OF old trees to wor
over, however, certainly will be dom
we'll BY themselves and their children, t
Get out q pecan orchard this spring
Don't put it off; do it now, for it mean
much to have the grove in bearing on
year sooner.
Every owner Of even a few acres
Louisiana and Mississippi land that hi
its due of fertility and is well draine
should raise some pecans. If by an
chance the selling price should ever ia
to improbable figures. which is very NJ
likely, what with the constant widenin
of consumption channels for pecan mea
the nut is moet nutritious and provide
an extremely valuable source OF food Il
the family table. The pecan Is worth Il
effort of every Southern farmer il from =
other angle than providing for his fami
a delectable and substantial food produc
We hope that within the next few weel
more pecan trees will be eet out in Ionif
ana and Mississippi than ever planted
the past. We'd like to zee our two Stat
surpass all other Southern States in pecs
planting this season and 1t may done.
-l.~A O. rc.~s.h Il fa11ss