Indiana Nut Nursery [catalog] / J.F. Wilkinson, prop.

Historic, Archive Document

Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

—

INDIANA NUT, NURSEfey

J. F. WILKINSON, Prop.

TSr

Rockport, - Indiana!

- , Producer of

High Grade Hardy Northern Nut Tijecfeg. <i

BUSSERONS

This cluster of nuts was produced on an eight year old transplant-
ed tree, while the season of 1921 was very unfavorable, due to the
late spring freeze. This tree produced 125 nuts.

This tree was top worked in the spring of 1914. (Photo taken two
years later). Thu tree has produced four crops of nuts. Make
your seedling nut trees profitable by having them top worked to
these fine early tearing varieties.

foreword

I„ presenting ^ “"“J vllul

to giv€ information to those not r^ioritine: Budded or Graft-

Sil:s’’ofSesrs:p:Jt'tt?;Stfs%tr"sre‘Zg^^^^ nn.nown

""^N^rare becomin^a by^the in^

sidered a luxury, lb s is - j^any who planted

feefteeef i»"he‘ pasT a“re now plant’ing in commercial quan-

H™m boyhood I '■-e b- a nut e t.„amst.^e^^^
nuts and studying the habits of ^ . actively engaged,

Id^a^e” s‘ra,TmJ/;eenrelrat’’S^^ locating ot tPe parent
trees of the now J^artTf the best Northern jari^eties

know; Ind a" tWesJlts of diligent search of the combined ef-
forts of the Northern

The jlXr^pricS’^ ^rc^ssar^or' o^e

Iwntg'Srgrow'more profitable

Tr^cfopl'^iron^l^ThTb^r of fho most

permanent Ld P— ot an^.nds m

Much can be said in favor of ^^oting^jut^ Common to fruit
SSXre^Vire/rtfSfo .^d^ T^^.^nd when the Itead
of the tree is ""u*.*"'’"'"' ^'“IJJJ^equire'imsaediate harvesting
orrrhXg" ^rmtte S^^itCt Lg special care from heat

"’’Nuftrees live to be very old and grow to be very large, and
J1 be planted much farther «n'‘„X“ow™t "be oldest resl-
Many old pecan rees ■" ‘J-e ^tiU tearing bountiful

cr“ps of nuts™ Many of theL trees are more than 100 feet high

and have a spread of from 60 to 80 ®® ^ where it is neces-

For commercial P^^^f'^gs on hig be

sary to grow way, in this way they will inter-

planted from 60 to 8U teet eac ^ trees per acre

fere very little with cultivation, ^^e trees

the loss.of gtound Will hajd|y^ ^“"0^ wm be worth sev-

space', as tne

the loss of grouna win mnui.v * - -

chade the crcps to any extent, the crop of nu s
eral times the am.ount lost in gram crops in
trees increase in size so will the nut crop.

Where land is set apart for orchard purposes only, nut trees may
be planted as close as 50 feet each way, then to utilize the inter-
vening space, smaller growth trees such as peach, or some other
short lived tree may be planted between until the space is needed
by the more permanent tree.

Nut trees should not be limited to orchard planting only. They
may be planted along fence rows, ditch banks, in the poultry yard,
or many waste places on farms could be made profitable v^ith a
few nut trees.

GREENRIVERS

These nuts were produced on a four year old budded tree in nur-
sery row in the fall of 1919. Thi} tree has not missed a crop since.

They are also an ideal tree for the lawn, especially the pecan.
It has beautiful foliage, clean bark, and does not shed its leaves
until after severe frosts, and will yield a crop of nuts each fall.

Why plant maple, poplar, or other non-bearing trees on your
lawn, when a pecan is just as ornamental, will produce as good
shade and will reward you with a crop of valuable nuts?

POSEYS

These nuts are from the second crop produced by a five year old
top worked tree in fall of 1919. This tree has missed only one

crop since.

PLANT ONLY BUDDED OR GRAFTED TREES

As a nut tree will last fcr several generations too much caro can
not^ be used in selecting the tree to plant, that is', a budded or
grafied tree of a knov/n variety, should always be planted.

Never plant a seedling nut tree whose future product is always
unknown until it produces a crop of nuts (which is usually several
or many years later than a budded or grafted tree) then its pro-
duct is most likely to be of undesirable quality.

About one-half of seedling pecan trees seldom ever bear, and of
the other half a very small per cent bear desirable nuts.

The chance of getting a desirable tree by planting a seedling is
far too small to be considered.

The few varieties listed in this catalog were selected as the best
from a search of many thousand trees.

After years of search and inquiry I do not know of a single in-
stance where trees grown from nuts produced true to seed planted,
but in almost every case trees grown from seed proved a disap-
pointment.

One instance lately came to my notice where nuts from a super-
ior tree were planted. From this planting there are now 180 trees
in tearing, not one of the young trees produces nuts equal to seed
planted, and not one is considered worthy of propagation, and not
mere than six are considered of value from a commercial standpoint.

Many plantings on a smaller scale with similiar results m^ay be
found.

Avoid such disappointments by planting budded or grafted trees
of known varieties. That will produce the valuable nuts desired.

BUBBED OR GRAFTED TREES BEAR EARLY

Many have the belief that a pecan tree must be fifteen or twenty
years old before it will bear, this belief is based on seedling trees
'..hich is true with them, but not so with a budded or grafted tree.

I have never had a budded or grafted tree to pass 8 years
old without fruiting, most of them much younger. I have a few
budded trees in nursery row now^ 7 years old that have produced
5 consecutive crops of pecans.

The question, how long will it take a budded pecan tree to bear,
IS asked so often, that I would say that from observation and ex-
perience, with good care they will come into bearing as early as
apple trees.

HARDINESS

The varieties propagated by me and listed herein are from par-
ent trees whose native home is in the Hardy Northern Nut tree
territory. i

I do not handle any Southern: varieties or propagate from ,any
tree whose native home is any distance south of here. Theje-
fere, my trees can.be safely planted anywhere in the Northern Nut
Tree territory.

My trees have stood a temperature of 26 degrees below
rei'o wdthout injury, and fruited the following summer.

Pecan trees are later than fruit trees to start growth in the
spring, and are seldom subject to injury by late spring frosts.

YIELDS, PRICES, AND DEMAND FOR NUTS

Having always lived in a pecan tree territory, and each fall
spending much time gathering nuts, acquainted me with the bear-
ing habits of nut trees, and the quality of nuts.

A few seedling pecan trees in this locality produce regular
crops of good sized nuts, while a large majority of them produce
inferior nuts or fail to produce at all.

I have often gathered a crop of nuts from a seedling
tree that sold in the open market for more than the grain crop on

an acre of land surrounding the tree. There are a few among the
mian}^ seedling trees in this section that are very profitable, though
on y a very small per cent of these seedling trees that are annual
bearers of desirable nuts.

Seedling pecan tree owners here look forward to nut gathering
time as a money crop, if their trees were of the budded and grafted
varieties their income would be much greater.

In selecting varieties for propagation, one of the first require-
ments is that the tree be a regular and prolific bearer.

The varieties listed in this catalog have been under our observa-
tion, and have splendid bearing records from good authority.
Mcst of these parent trees have not missed more than one or two
crops in the past twenty years. It is quite common for these trees
lO produce 200 to 300 and as high as 400 pounds of nuts in a single
crop.

MAJORS

Produced on a fouT year old budded tree in nursery ^row fall 1919.
This tree produced it^ first nuts in fall of 1917 and has not missed'

a crop since.

The price of nuts has been steadily advancing for the past twen-
ty years. '

My first gathering of pecans for profit v-^as sold at six cents per
pound. Lately I have paid thirty cents per pound for nuts from
the same trees. This is from the native seedling trees.

Nuts Of these finer varieties sell readily at fancy prices, with no
limit to the demand, and no prospect of the demand being satisfied
for many years.

The increasing demand is plainly shown by the increase in im-
portation of nuts of all kinds as will be seen in the following.

IMPORTATION OF NUTS

In the year 1905, the L^nited States imported nuts of all kinds
valued at $6,154,515. This increased annually until in 1919 impor-
tations reached $57,499,004. The increasing demand and advancing
prices make nut tree growing a very profitable industry.

LOCATION AND SOILS

My nursery is located in the Ohio Valley near Rockport, Indiana,
near the E. & 0. V. traction line, 25 miles east of Evansville, Indi-
ana, which is considered the center of the northern pecan tree ter-
ritory.

In this locality are thousands of native seedling nut trees of all
sizes.

This being the natural home of the Hardy Northern pecan tree,
my nursery stock is grown under natural conditions, giving them
all the strength and vigor possible for a tree to have.

The soil in which my nursery is located is especially adapted for
this, as it is underlaid with a strata of hard soil which discourages
the downward grov/th of the tap foot at a depth of about four feet,
causing many lateral or feeder roots to develop near the surface
that would not in a sandy or loose sub-soil. This gives my trees a
superior system of lateral roots, making them easy to transplant
and quick to i^#rt growth.

WHERE NUT TREES MAY BE PLANTED

Nut tress will succeed on a wider range of soils than is general-
ly known. Many have the belief that a pecan tres will succeed only
in bottom land. This is a mistaken idea. While a pecan tree natural-
ly likes moisture, the tap root goes very deep and will go to
moisture.

I have pecan trees growing on clay land that are making excel-
lent growth and bearing very young as will be seen by the cuts in,
catalog.

In a general way it might be said any good corn land (not under-
laid with rock too near the surface) will grow good pecan trees.

Walnut trees are naturally adapted to upland, but will thrive on
any well drained land.

VARIETIES OF PECANS

size, annual land very prolific
bearer. The nut is very much the
same as the Busseron in size and
shape.

MAJOR

MAJOR: Originated in Hender-
son county, Ky. Parent tree very
large, prolific and an annual
bearer; nut medium to small al-

WARRICK

most round thin shell, plump WARRICK: Originated in War-
kernel of fine quality, isplendid rick county, Ind., tree medium
cracker, an ideal nut for the con- size, hardy grower, good bearer.

fectioner.

nut large, of good flavor, a de-
sirable variety.

- PJILLER

MILLER: Nut Irrge, kernel of good quality, medium shell, good
cracker. Parent tree in Indiana.

INDIANA

INDIANA: Parent tree stands
near the Busseron. Tree medium

BUTTERICK

BUSSEK9N

BUSSERON : Originated in Knox
county, Ind. Parent tree very old
and said to be one of the best
bearing trees in this section; nut
large, of good quality, medium
shell, splendid kernel.

GEEENRIVER
GREENRIVER : Originated in

Henderson county, Ky. Parent
tree very large and prolific, and
is a very regular bearer, nut of
good size, plump kernel, of fine
flavor, good cracker, a very desir-
able nut for home use as well as
a favorite for the market.

NIBEACK

NIBLACK: Originated near Vin-
/ KENTUCKY cennes, Ind. Parent tree an an-

KENTUCKY : Parent tree stands nual and prolific bearer, nut
near Rockport, Ind. Tree very medium size, thin shell, splendid
old and large, nut of beautiful cracker, quality of kernel good,
yellow color with black markings,
thin shell, plump kernel of good
quality. Parent tree prolific and
regular bearer.

(

i.

McAllister

MCALLISTER : Parent tree stands
in Posey county, Ind., is very large
and old. In former years it is said
to have borne abundant crops of
'POSEY: Originaied in Gibson well filled nuts, but of late years,
(County, Ind. Parent tree medium on account of old age has filled
icize, said to be a regular bearer irregularly. This tree is a hyb-
!:ut not so prolific as some other rid, having quite a lot of hickory
\ arieties. Nuts very large, thin blood, with the pecan characteris-
Lhell, and an excellent cracker, tics predominating.

Pictures of all nuts are as nearly actual size as is possible to
raake them.

BLACK WALNUTS

The black walnut is found growing in most parts of the United
States as a natural forest tree, and has always been considered so
common that its true value as a food producing tree has been over
looked.

On account of the high value of walnut lumber for special pur-
poses, much of the walnut timber has been cut in the past few
years, v^hich has greatly reduced the supply of nuts.

As the food value of Vv^alnuts is becoming better realized and the
supply of nuts decreased, the price has greatly advanced.

By careful search several varieties have been found which are
superior to the average nut and which are easily cracked and in
r__ st cases the kernels with little effort can be gotten out in whole

BUTTERICK: Parent tree stands
near Grayville, 111. This tree is
very old and a prolific bearer.
It is known to have been in bear-
ing for more than one hundred
; years in which time it is said to
have missed only three crops.

The nut is large, thin shell,
plump kernel of good quality, a
i desirable variety in every way.

^ POSEY

hc/ves.

STABLER

STABLER: Nut medium size, quality ci kernel good, an excellent
cracker. Parent tree in Maryland.

OHIO

medium size, thin shell, good cracker, kernel of good

THOMAS

THOMAS: Nut large, medium
shell, good cracker, quality of
kernel good. Parent tree in
Pennsylvania.

GUARANTEE

I guarantee ail my trees to be fresh stock, carefully packed and
delivered to transf citation company in first class condition, also to
be true to label, and will replace on proper proof any trees that
may not prove true to label, but v/ill not lee liable for further dam-
ages.

REFERENCE

I am a member of the Northern Nut Growers' Association (W. G.
Bixby, Baldwin, Nassau Co., N. Y. secretary) and on request bank
reference and a list of satisfied customers will be sent as to my re-
liability, dealings, and the quality of my trees.

TERMS

For immediate shipment, cash with order; on orders booked for
future delivery, 50 per cent with order, balance due v/hen stock is
ordered shipped.

SHIPPING

Express shipments advised and unless otLeiv^ise ordered, tree
shipments will be made by express. If size or variety ordered
should be exhausted, order will be filled with size or variety near-
est like it unless otherwise stated.

Graftwood or budwood may be sent by parcel post.

CARE OF TREES ON ARRIVAL AND AFTEI^ PLANTING

If trees should be frozen on arrival, place them either in a cold
moist cellar or bury in moist earth until thoroughly thawed out
before unpacking. This will be much better for trees t|i:an being
thawed out rapidly. Then follow planting directions.

After being planted they should be mulched the fir^C summer.
After this they will readily respond to fertilization and cultivation.

If cultivation cannot be given, then mulch the second summer.
WHEN AND HOW TO PLANT NUT TREES

Nut trees may be planted either spring or fall. As soon as trees
are received they should be unpacked and heeled in, in a trench al-
ready dug for the purpose, not putting trees more than two deep in

I trench and covering all roots v-^ell with dirt until ready to set them.

I The hole for the tree should be well dug and large enough to allow
1 all roots to be straight in the hole. In clay or hard soil, it is well
I to blast the hole using one half stick of dynamite to loosen up the
sub-soil. When ready to set trees, take them from the trench few
at a time and keep the roots well wrapped in wet Burlap, being
I very careful not to expose the roots to the wind and sun any more
than is absolutely necessary.

Cut off all bruised or broken roots back to fresh wood. On small
I trees of the 2x3 ft. size it is not necessary to remove any of the
top, but on large trees, especially those that have well branched
tops, a part of the top should be removed to balance root system.
Set trees about the same depth as they grew in the nursery, place
roots as near as possible in the natural position, fill in v^ith well
pulverized dirt (preferably top soil) and pack dirt firmly around
roots.

It is well to mulch trees with strawy manure. This keeps the
ground from< drying out, also fertilizes the tree without letting the
manure come in contact with the roots, which would be injurious
to the tree. Nut trees require more care in transplanting, but with
proper care will live as well as fruit trees.

TO PROSPECTIVE NUT TREE PLANTERS

To these considering planting nut trees, I wish to say, that I
i have cut practically all my own budv^ood and graftwood from the
1 arent pecan trees myself, and secured all my walnut cions from
the parent trees through leliable parties, and most all trees in m^
motner block have fruited and every one has proven true to label.

The trees I am now offering are budded from these trees and
with the utmost care used in every way, you can rest assured your
trees will be true to label.

All of my trees are strictly Indiana grown, and from my list of
satisfied customers, believe my trees to be equal in quality to any
produced in the Northern Nut Tree territory.

My nursery is open for inspection at all times, and visitors are
always welcome.

Any information in regard to nut trees will be cheerfully given.

Nut trees return handscrr.e profits, and their planting is en-
dorsed by the department of agriculture and leading horticul-
turists,

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Dr. J. H. Kellog says: for those who would avoid the contribut-
ing cause of cancer, rheumatism and other grave disorders. — In
nairitive value the ru t far exceeds any and all other food sub-
stances.— American Nut Journal.

In ccmiparing tclal values, a pound of pecans is worth, in nutri-
tive value, two pounds of pork chops, three pounds of salmon, two
and one-half pounds of turkey, or five pounds of veal — Nut Grower.

Of all really valuable foodstuffs the nut possesses special prop-
' eit^es which entitles it to first consideration as a food stuff.

The nut should no longer be considered a table luxury. It
should become a staple article of food and may most profitably re-
place the pork and meats of various sorts which are inferior foods
and are recognized as prolific sources of disease. — American Nut
Journal.

The planting of nut trees along all the public highways of the
country would in less than twenty years result in a crop, the food
value of which would be greater than that at present produced by
the entire live stock industry of the country.

Dr. Kellog of the Battle Creek, Mich., sanitarium is a leading
authority on dietitics.

Everyone who has a place to grov^ a tree should grow a nut tree.
Why set trees for foliage alone when productiveness may also be
combined? The apple, peach, pear, do this for us, it is true, but
nut trees need no spraying and little care, live long and return a
delicious product that gathers itself and keeps indefinitely without
cold storage. — Dr. W. C. Deming, American Nut Journal.

Almost anyone can have an income of a few thousand dollars a
year from nut orchards if he really cares to bring his initiative to
bear upon the subject. — Dr. Robert T. Morris, American Nut
Journal.

THE PECAN TREE AS AN ORNAMENT
(By Prof. W. N. Hutt, Ex-State HortiQulturist of North Carolina)
Few trees possess more distinctive beauty than the ^ pecan. In a
group ^one can even at a distance pick out the pecan trees at first
glance, for there is something about them that marks them as dif-
ferent from all other trees.

Th branches are strcng and do not trail or droop to The ground,
but retain their erect position, even when drenched with rain.

The bark of the tree is light in color and comparatively smooth,
and does not shed nor scale off, even on very old trees.

It would be difficult to find another kind of tree possessing so
many of the characteristics of what might be considered the ideal
shade tree.

How much better it would be to have trees cf this kind in lawns
and houseyards, rather than the unsightly sterile trees that one so
commonly sees.

On any well kept lawn a pecan tree six or eight years old will
be giving valuable shade, at the same time it will be giving also
increasing crops of delicious nuts.

What would more tend to the lasting permanence of a home-
stead than an avenue of pecan trees which would guard 'it for a
century or more?

TOP WORKING

Those having small natural growth seedling nut trees, or trees
from seed they have planted, can have them top worked' to these
fine varieties and made valuable trees.

This may be done either by grafting in the spring or by bud-
ding in the summer.

PRICE LIST

Prices for spring of 1922.

0

Pecan trees (budded or grafted)

Each

2

to

3

feet -

- $1.50

3

to

4

feet -

- 1.75

4

to

5

feet -

- 2.00

5

to

6

feet -

- 2.25

6

to

8

feet -

- 2.50

Black walnut trees (budded or grafted)

Each

2 to 3 feet - - $1.50

3 to 4 feet - -i 1.75

4 to 5 feet - - 2.00

5 to 7 feet - - 2.25

Write for prices on quantities, also on
large trees up to bearing size.

These prices include packing and delivery
to transportation company.

Inspection certificate with each shipment.

-0

INDIANA NUT NURSERY
J. F. Wilkinson, Prop.

Rockport, - Indiana.

A top worked tree will come into bearing m a few years.

Each season I do a limited amount of this work for lothers and
will be glad to give you an estimate on your job on request.

INFORMATION

Subscribe for the American Nut Journal, published by American
Fruits Pub. Co., Rochester, New York, for the latest information on
nut culture and food value of nuts.

The Am^erican Nut Journal is the official journal of both the
Northern Nut Growers' Association and the National Nut Grow-
ers' Association.

On the left are bundles of trees packed ready for shipment. On
the right are three pecan trees dug ready for packing, showing
root sy terns grown by my trees in natural nut tree soil. Much
care is used in digging and packing for the future of the tree and
the benefit of the planter.

' y/>: A, o.

r /y '

/ /lAy^L'-i - -X'

' — c

T

MAJORS i

Three year old transplanted MAJOR tree producing 10 nuts. This j
tree is growing on a high clay hill 40 feet above high water mark |

of the Ohio river. If