tation we have a half mile of such territory lying
between cultivated fields on both sides of a creek which had eroded a
considerable basin. The area was unsatisfactory for cultivation, and so
it was fenced out. Back some years ago the area was cleared of grape
vines and other trees, and we have since that time pastured sheep in
this tract of land. It Is narrow, not over three or four hundred feet
wide at any place and, of course, varying in width from one end to the
other, and the creek meanders along. There really is more than a half
mile of total length.

The potential production of that half mile is now, in terms of dollars
and cents, about $2,500 to $3,000, and before wheat and cattle attained
their present prices that was no mean income for a quarter section of
land. Naturally, with that opportunity prevalent over a great part of
the state, we in Oklahoma are interested in the production of native or
seedling pecans to be sold to the cracker. We feel that the future of
the pecan industry is undoubtedly headed toward the utilization of
pecans as kernels and not nuts in the shell. Such being the case, we are
not interested particularly in large size. We are interested in kernel
yield and in the potential production of each individual tree.

There are a great many problems connected with the industry, and we have
more or less taken those into consideration and classified them under
insects and diseases and marketing and harvesting and varieties. I will
not have time to touch upon very many of these. Our harvesting situation
is completely chaotic. Within the last two ot three years shaking
machines have been developed, and we are indebted to the West Coast
growers for these inventions, which are very helpful. Previous to that
a, long bamboo pole was used to knock the pecans from the trees, and
then they were picked up off the ground. There are two machines now
waiting for the present crop to be harvested which are supposed to pick
up the nuts by vacuum picking.

If the industry can be mechanized in that manner, getting away from
harvesting pecans as we have been harvesting them, it is just like
cradling wheat as compared to the present-day 12-foot, self-propelled
combine that cuts the wheat so rapidly. If this mechanization can be put
into effect, then the native seedling territory in Texas and Oklahoma
will be able to produce pecans at a price which the market will accept.

I don't know whether you know it or not,