Varieties

In considering varieties of the northern pecan, there are many points to be estimated, such as size, thinness of shell, cracking quality, quality of kernel, growth of trees in nursery and bearing records.  The latter is perhaps most important.  What we want are trees that will give us a fair crop annually; next would be the cracking qualities.  If they crack easily and come out of the shell with a large percentage of whole meats the size does not make so much difference, for ultimately the value of a variety will be gauged largely by the number of pounds of whole meats a bushel, or a given number of pounds, will produce.  I would therefore place prolific bearing and cracking qualities as the two most important points to be considered in selecting a variety worthy of planting.

Crop Records

In considering crop records of the different northern varieties; we have no grafted or budded trees old enough as yet from which to make comparisons, and in considering the crops of the original trees it is well to keep in mind that many of these trees are located in the native forest without cultivation, without proper sunlight and with a poor chance for the full development of the tree; also it is well to remember that scarcely two trees have the same surroundings and conditions, and that it is not often that the owner is able to secure the entire crop from any one tree, being located in the forest where a large part of the crop is carried off by others.  With these conditions it is often impossible to tell what a certain tree may yield, except by comparison with former crops.  In giving you these yields I am giving my own knowledge so far as I can, and then information and estimates from the most reliable sources at my command.

Indiana

This variety is perhaps the best known (owing largely to its name), and has not failed to produce at least a partial crop annually for the past fifteen years.  Since it has been under close observation, which has been about seven to eight years, it has usually borne from 100 to 300 pounds.  Often a large part of the crop has been stolen.  Crop 1912 about 200 pounds; 1913, 250 pounds; 1914, I am confident would have been 300 pounds.  The owner secured 125 pounds; balance carried off by others.  This year, 1915, is almost a failure; just a light sprinkling of nuts; was full of blooms but owing to heavy cold rain, failed to pollenize.  The tree is located in a cultivated field, circumference of tree is 5 feet, height about 60 feet, spread 50 to 60 feet.

Busseron