John D. Gunn reports a yield of 268 pounds in a single season from one of his paper shell pecan trees.
3½ Years’ Growth
Henry E. Morton, President of the Morton Mfg. Co., large manufacturers of heavy machinery, Muskegon Heights, Michigan, standing beside a 3½ year old tree on one of the 45 units which he owns on our plantations. Note on page [49] Mr. Morton’s statement that these strong-trunked, heavy-headed trees exceeded his expectations. Note also his comment on the benefits of our Medium Height Pruning System in producing large spreading heads with a great increase in the number of nut bearing branches.
Picture below shows our Field Secretary at a 3½ year old tree which by its sturdy trunk and spreading head shows the advantages of our thorough cultivation and Medium Height Pruning System.
“I firmly believe that commercial pecan growing is one of the most promising horticultural possibilities of the South. There is now a greater demand for all kinds of nuts than ever before, a demand that our growers will not be able to catch up with for years. The pecan is undoubtedly the finest, most nutritious and most delicious of nuts. The world must get her supplies of pecans from us (in the southern section of the United States) and as yet we do not begin to supply the local demands, to say nothing of producing for export.”
W. N. Hutt, Ex-President, American Pomological Society, Ex-President, National Nut Growers Association.
Our Figures are Intentionally Conservative
In recent years the selling price of pecans at the orchard has been more than double the price used in our table. No one can tell how much higher pecan prices may go. On Patrician Pecans—introduced by us in the 1920 season—we have found an exceedingly large demand at $1.50 for a 12–oz. box, which is at the rate of $2.00 a pound, and have received many strong commendations from purchasers. These de luxe pecans have been sold into all sections of the United States—including such southern states as Mississippi, Florida, Texas, etc.—and into Canada, Alaska, France and other foreign countries; not in the 12–oz. package only, but also in 10–lb. cartons and barrel lots.
We are intentionally conservative. We want the investor in our twenty-tree orchard units to be agreeably surprised that the yield is greater and the price secured per pound higher than our table shows. Our interests and those of the investor are identical—selling an orchard at the low price shown on the application blank (page [71]) benefits us little unless the return secured from the gathering and sale of nuts is satisfactory.