Part 4

The young women of America, who have changed so largely from soda water and ice cream to nut sundaes, may not realize that they are getting increased nourishment—but that is the case. That this is no small element in the consumption of pecans is evidenced by the fact that one druggist alone uses 1,500 pounds of crushed pecan meat per year for nut sundaes—while hundreds might probably use as many if the true figures were known.

[Sidenote: The pecan is the concentrated form of nourishment.]

Nut candies are in such great demand that the best confectioners are astonished. But not all nuts are fit for use in summer. The confectioner who is anxious to produce a quality product, places his dependence upon the pecan—the finest of nuts—which nature has furnished in an air-tight shell, which assures satisfaction the year round. The confectioners of New Orleans—a hot weather city—long since learned their lesson and that city is almost as much noted for its pralines—a pecan nut confection—as for its wonderful fete, the Mardi Gras.

Pralines were too good to be confined to New Orleans alone. Along the boardwalk at Atlantic City and other watering places, and at the finer confectionery shops of the larger cities, they are in good demand. There is no other way to make acceptable pralines except by using pecan nuts—the finest pralines require that the nuts be whole, which, in turn, indicates another need for paper shell pecans.

“A Greater Future Than Any Nut Raised In This Country”

“It is not many years since these delicious nuts, the Paper Shell Pecans, were first introduced to the people of the North, and wherever they have gone they have met with instant and cordial favor. The Paper Shell Pecan has a greater future than any other nut raised in this country. It is a most delicious nut.” Geo. K. Holmes, noted authority on agriculture, Washington, D. C.

Maximum Food Values In Condensed Form

[Sidenote: Greater digestibility]

One remarkable fact about the improved paper shell pecan is that it is at the same time richer in protein and fat than other nuts, yet is more digestible. People who say, “I cannot eat nuts because I suffer from indigestion,” are surprised to hear of pecans being prescribed by physicians—until they try the Paper Shell Pecan themselves and find that it agrees even with the invalid. Unlike other nuts which contain less fat—it can be eaten in quantity without salt without any ill effect. This is probably due to the fact that the improved pecan contains an oil which seems to possess many of the lubricating and healing qualities which are found in olive oil.

[Sidenote: Convenient, condensed nutriment]

The digestibility of pecan fat is an established fact—pecans are used largely at such scientifically conducted sanitaria as those at Battle Creek as a substitute for meat and corrective diet in troublesome cases of intestinal derangement.

Consider the many fortunes made in olive oil—then remember that even if scientific research should show that pecan oil is not so beneficial as olive oil, the pecan has many manifest advantages in its more appetizing form, assurance of cleanliness and purity, etc., which makes its future promising.

No authority has ever questioned the nutritive value of the pecan. Even the wild pecan, which is far inferior in nutritive qualities to the Paper Shell Pecan, has received high recommendation from eminent authorities. But the fact that this nutriment was locked up within a hard shell, separated by a partition so strong and bitter that it was seldom possible to get out a satisfactory kernel, kept the wild pecan from enjoying the wide popularity it deserved. The introduction of the improved seedling and paper shell varieties not only led to an interest in these improved varieties, but caused such an increased demand for all pecans that prices rose on even the poorest wild pecans. =But the public found that the best pecans are the cheapest in the end—and the demand for pecans has increased most rapidly on these grades from which the largest kernels, containing the utmost in nutritive value, could most easily be removed whole.=

From one of the largest nut-tree nurserymen in the world:

“The demand for pecans of all descriptions is increasing faster than the supply.... The large pecans that we raise bring from 50 cents per pound up to $1.25. We do not think that the price will ever drop a great deal, though a great income can be had even at 25 cents per pound or even lower if trees are ten or more years of age. If one had $1,000 to invest he would be satisfied with 7%, which is $70, yet five or six trees will bring in this income. There are no diseases or insects that are bad on the pecan, nothing like as bad as with the apple, peach, etc., nothing that is anywhere near ruinous. Pecan trees are naturally a wild tree and therefore very hardy.”

A Test Which Proves The Best Pecans Cheapest In The End

[Sidenote: A comparison of equal weights of five grades]

A comparison was made of equal weights of the following grades of pecans:

=First=, Common wild pecans selling at about 25c per pound.

=Second=, Common seedling selling at about 30c per pound.

=Third=, Selected seedling selling at an average price of 40c per pound.

=Fourth=, Average Paper Shell Pecans, retailing at an average price of about 75c per pound.

=Fifth=, Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecans selling at $1.25 per pound.

This comparison—on the five points (A-B-C-D-E) detailed below on this page and on the following page—shows which gives you the most for your money.

[Sidenote: Tested on five counts]

=A=—=Before Cracking.=—Though size of the nut whole counts for but little in judging pecans, as compared to the quantity and quality of the meat within the shell, those making the test were interested to note that even in the case of the few paper shell pecans in Class Four which seemed larger than an average Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecan, these larger shells were later found to be only partially filled with meat, or with many kernels shrivelled.

=B=—=Opening Process.=—The Hess Brand Paper Shell was found to open more readily in the hand without nut crackers, than did the other classes of nuts when nut crackers were used. When the fragments of shell were compared it was easy to see why—superior thinness of shell distinguishes Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecans.

The meat in the Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecans filled the shells completely, while large air spaces were noted in many varieties in Class Four.

=C=—=Separating Meat From Shell.=—When various lots of nuts were carefully opened, in separate piles, a careful comparison was made of the meat and shells in each pile.

“Nature has prepared the soft shell pecan for man’s food by making the kernel easier both to extract and to digest,” says a well known pecan specialist.

The number of whole kernels was counted—no other pecan had four-fifths as many whole kernels as were found among the Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecans. The common wild pecan and the common seedling had such hard shells that the meat was practically all broken to small fragments in opening the shells. No detailed comparison was necessary between these crumbs of nut meat, mixed with shell and pith, and the whole kernels or half kernels of the Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecans.

=D=—=The Pith Test.=—In the Hess Brand Paper Shell and in the Paper Shell Pecans of the Fourth Class there was practically no pith—=the inner partition taking the form of a thin membrane which was easily removed, instead of the thick, bitter wall of the two cheaper classes of pecans=.

[Sidenote: The most meat per dollar from the highest priced nuts]

=E=—=The Final Test.=—When the nut meat, which was in appetizing or edible form, was separated from the shells and partitions in each case, it was found that for table use =the Hess Brand Paper Shell gave the greatest weight of nut meat for every dollar invested in the nuts, carriage and opening costs included=. The average paper shell variety which costs nearly as much as the Hess Brand Paper Shell was a poor second, followed closely by the Third Class (the selected seedlings), while the two cheap grades were in the end the most costly investment—because they yielded so small a quantity of satisfactory nut meat for each dollar invested.

This is also confirmed by many other tests, which show that even including small particles of nut meat, which are far from appetizing in form, the wild pecan and the common seedling yield less than four pounds of meat to each ten pounds of nuts; the Selected Seedling Pecan and the common Paper Shell about five pounds of meat to each ten pounds of nuts; and the Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecan about six and three-quarters pounds of meat to each ten pounds of nuts.

With such superiority proven for Hess Brand Paper Shell Pecans, it is no longer a question whether the public will pay the higher price. It is paying it.

Oskaloosa, Ia., Jan. 8, 1920.

The nuts certainly are life size and look good enough to eat. Every one who was so fortunate as to get some of the nuts, and they were quite a few, pronounced them the finest ever. Here is wishing all good things for the pecan company.

R. S.

More Pecan Orchards—A Vital Necessity

Our only problem NOW is to meet the demand for the highest grade Paper Shell Pecans.

America demands more fine pecans—it is hungry for them.

[Sidenote: “Once a pecan eater, always a pecan eater”]

Not only because of the superior food value of pecans; nor only because of their many advantages as the purest, most condensed of all natural food products, but also because of their alluring flavor. As Prof. Hutt, Ex-President of the American Pomological Society, well puts it, “=Once a pecan eater, always a pecan eater.=”

Wherever the improved pecan goes—the world over—it creates its own market.

It is simply marvelous how hungry the world is for these fine pecans, and it will be hungry for many years to come because the increase in supply does not keep pace with the rapidly increasing demand for high quality pecans. The obvious remedy, therefore, is to produce more fine pecans by planting more pecan orchards.

How Pecan Trees Do Grow

on our plantations in South Georgia once their wonderful root system is established.

Above—C. L. Cudebec, of Denver, Above—A picture to same scale, of Col., and Fred. W. Burger, of same tree, one year later. The Boulder, Col., (right) at a tree growth in one year is shown by planted in 1919 on one of Mr. portion of tree above hand of boy Burger’s units. Photo six months (Maurice Forman, of Nogales, after planting. Arizona).

Our Co-operative Profit-Sharing System

Like all tree crops of value, pecans do not bear the first few years after planting. During this period before bearing begins, the greatest care and attention are necessary—once the pecan orchard is well established, the trees are hardy as an oak.[1]

Footnote 1:

In the proceedings of the National Nut Growers Association we read of many pecan trees which have remarkable records for long life and great yields. It tells of one tree, now 110 years old, which has borne every year for thirty years, bearing 400 pounds of nuts in a single season. Another is now 75 years old and has borne every year for forty-one years—largest annual crop being 800 pounds, average crop over 500 pounds per season for thirty years past. Another property has borne as high as 900 pounds per year and has borne every year for forty-one years.

[Sidenote: Trained specialists and our exceptional equipment on your units]

Our co-operative, profit-sharing plan gives your pecan orchard the benefit of the skill and experience of our trained horticulturists, and of mechanical facilities which it would be impossible for the average pecan orchardist to possess.

Our pecan orchard plantations, totaling over 7,300 acres, are all located near Albany, Georgia, the “hub of the pecan universe.” The land has been approved by experts of highest standing as possessing the rare character of soil necessary.

Corroborating these opinions is the fact that we have right on our property many pecan trees, bearing seedling nuts in large quantities, despite the fact that they were planted thirty trees to the acre fifteen and twenty years ago. Now only twenty Paper Shell Pecan trees are being planted to the acre, because of their vigorous growth. These trees will undoubtedly increase in size and in annual yield every year till they are forty years old—and bear their maximum crop for a century or more.

[Sidenote: Twenty Paper Shell Pecan trees of standard varieties on each acre-unit]

The Keystone Pecan Company was organized and incorporated for the purpose of planting its property with Paper Shell Pecans on a co-operative and profit-sharing basis. That is, of the 7,395 acres, 5,400 acres will be sold to investors, the investor buying as few or as many acres as he desires. From the beginning the company has been planting the property to Paper Shell Pecans of standard varieties, twenty trees to each acre-unit. It cultivates and cares for the trees and the land for a period of five years from planting of orchard units, and the charge per acre-unit includes land, clearing, furnishing trees, planting, cultivating, care, etc. After this period the company shares with the unit holder in the profits from the nuts as explained on page 38. Our unit plan is considered by conservative investors as the safest, most equitable and most profitable plan to plant our large Pecan Orchard Plantations in the shortest possible time.

We Sell You The Land, And Establish Your Orchard

Under this attractive plan the company agrees to sell to investors land up to 5,400 acres from its plantations. =The interest of the company and its obligation does not cease with the sale of the land=, for on each acre-unit are planted twenty pecan trees of the finest standard varieties.

[Sidenote: All trees that die replaced without charge]

The company further obligates itself to do all the cultivating necessary—caring for the young trees and the land for a period of five years from original date of planting orchard units, =replacing at its own expense all trees that die, so that at the end of that period your orchard will have twenty healthy, thrifty trees=. All this is done without expense to the buyer. The total net proceeds from any nuts grown during this development period, will be paid to the Orchard Unit Owner after deducting 12½ per cent. commission for gathering and marketing.

[Sidenote: Crops marketed for you]

After the five-year development period the Company will, at the option of the unit owner, enter into an agreement to operate the property as agent for the unit owner on the most profitable basis, for such period of time as shall be mutually agreed upon, fertilizing and farming the land, cultivating and pruning the trees, as well as gathering and marketing the pecans, receiving, after the necessary expenses are deducted, 12½% of the profits, 87½% being paid to the Orchard Unit Owner. Under the co-operative profit-sharing agreement and plans as outlined there should be enormous profits.

[Sidenote: Sold on easy monthly payments]

As the expense of developing is distributed over a number of years, the company has arranged to sell the orchard units on small monthly payments, thus placing a golden opportunity within the reach of all investors and giving them a chance to make their money work as effectively for them as if they themselves were operating on a large scale.

[Sidenote: You own the land]

Remember, you become absolute owner of the acre of land in your orchard unit. The land is cleared, the pecan trees are planted, cultivated and cared for as a whole on a large scale. This is co-operation under a system which relieves you of every worry and which makes for economy and large profits.

“The pecan industry is a husky infant with almost boundless possibilities. We are building an industry, which, for generations, should yield its bountiful crop of delicious food and bring millions of dollars to our citizens.” Congressional Record of United States, page 1478, Vol. 54.

The Practical Answer—The Unit Plan

[Sidenote: Expert supervision at lower cost than hired help by our plan]

There are many people who know of the great successes made in pecan growing in this district, who would be glad to buy five, ten or twenty acres of our Pecan Orchard Plantation. The land in itself would undoubtedly be a good investment, because cases are on record showing increase of double and treble value on land which does not have an orchard. But this would not be of any great advantage in solving the problem of supplying more of the finest pecans unless the purchaser had the knowledge, skill and time to bring his trees to the bearing point.

Even assuming that he could himself bring the trees to bearing, his ability to market his product advantageously could not possibly equal that of a co-operative group of orchardists, who have the most skilled supervision service and the advantages regarding marketing which come from collective effort.

[Sidenote: Co-operative marketing assures higher profits]

With several carloads to ship instead of a few barrels, the large orchardist is in a position to command the very lowest rate and to reach the market in just the right season.

Ask any member of a Citrus Fruit Exchange whether he has made more money since he joined that organization than he did before, and he will tell you an interesting story which cannot fail to convince you of the advantage of collective marketing. Yet oranges and grape fruit, the products of the members of these exchanges, are perishable in such a short time that the benefits derived are small compared with those gained by co-operative marketing of Paper Shell Pecans.

There are other advantages of collective effort which exceed even the advantages in marketing. Among them is the advantage of skilled supervision at minimum cost. The professional or business man can live in the North, enjoying the income which his specialized efforts assure, yet be growing his pecan orchard in the South under the supervision of expert pecan horticulturists whom he could not possibly afford to retain for a plantation of less than a thousand acres and with labor costs reduced to a minimum by such skillful management and the use of the most modern mechanical appliances such as tractors, etc.

[Sidenote: Live at home raise pecans in Georgia]

He need not lose an hour from his regular business to supervise the gathering and marketing of his crop of pecans. While he makes money at his own business, his orchard unit also makes money for him without sacrificing his time.

Our Pecan Orchard Plantations Are Divided Into One-Acre Units

Each twenty-tree unit is platted off on the plan of our property and indicated with an Orchard Unit number.

In each of these units twenty pecan trees are planted.

=The purchaser of an Orchard Unit secures absolute ownership of his land=, but each entire plantation is operated as a whole. This plan has made it possible for us to clear the land, plant, cultivate and care for the young trees at a fraction of the cost which would be necessary if the units were operated separately.

The cost of land, cost of clearing and cost of setting trees, etc., is of such magnitude as to be almost prohibitive to any person developing a small acreage. Under the Orchard Unit Plan this cost is reduced owing to the scope of the undertaking. It is generally conceded that when you develop orchards in large tracts of 1,000 acres each or more, the cost of machinery, equipment, live stock, management and other essentials—distributed over the whole area—is therefore far lower per acre than when you develop a limited area, such as five, ten or even fifty acres. A small orchard managed on a small scale cannot produce pecans nearly as economically as if that small orchard is a Unit under large plantation management.

The company gains also by the natural increase in value of the 2,000 acres of fertile pecan growing land which it is holding for itself under the same conditions which apply to any unit in the 5,400 being sold.

SERVICE Which Build Productive Orchards

Intensive cultivation by Mechanical Power—Mule Power—Man Power.

The Keystone Pecan Co. has set as its goal the production of pecan orchards second to none. To achieve this, all work is planned many months ahead of operations, every detail carefully considered and specifications drawn which cover every phase of the work from the planning of the tree rows, the planting of the young, dormant, budded, paper shell pecan trees, to the care and cultivation of these trees throughout the entire development period. These specifications cover the selection of trees of the standard varieties, the size and quality of the trees, the methods by which they are dug in the nursery, the size of the hole in which they are planted and the methods of planting; with especial attention to the character of the soil placed in the tree holes and the methods of replacing the same. The proper system of fertilizing when planting and at each subsequent stage is carefully outlined and all other work is done under the supervision of skilled experts.

The cultivation at the various periods of the year and the various stages of growth is provided for and carried out with utmost care. The Keystone horticulturists insist upon intensive cultivation using mechanical, mule and man power, each in its separate sphere to complete their carefully planned system. The use of powerful tractors for plowing and harrowing with 24–disk Roderick-Lean harrows has produced results which would otherwise be unattainable. Throughout the growing season a thorough harrowing at ten-day intervals conserves the moisture, destroys noxious vegetation and so improves the condition of the soil that its sturdy, vigorous growth continues.

At certain stages tractor cultivation is augmented by mule drawn plows which in alternate plowings turn the soil to and from the trees. These are followed by Planet, Jr. Cultivators.

This work is further augmented by hoeing squads working under thorough supervision (see cut at right). The result of this intensive cultivation is growth—quick growth—substantial growth.

One of the Safest Industries—The Profit is O. K.

L. J. Cooper, President of the First National Bank of Waycross, Georgia, clearly states the whole proposition, when he says: “The pecan industry is in its infancy, but is being developed very rapidly in this immediate section. It is considered one of the safest industries in South Georgia, and the profit is O. K. once you get the trees in good bearing condition.”