of failure in their farming operations and
yet right here in the same place nature has handed them another
magnificent crop. I have an idea that the average annual value per acre
of crops on the farms of southern Indiana and Illinois will run in the
neighborhood of a ten dollar bill, and here is a tree, one tree,
presenting thirty dollars. I have no doubt in the world that there will
be fifty or sixty dollars' worth of nuts on this tree up here, and it
doesn't occupy a quarter of an acre of land.
I want to speak about the insects. I don't believe you need to worry
about these unless the planting goes away beyond what I think it will in
this section. Here is the proof, right here in this river bottom in the
nuts we see on these trees and the growth of the trees. They are
thrifty, not mutilated by insects or dying. They are at home and the
conditions are absolutely favorable. I have been very much pleased and
very glad I came, and if I were not thoroughly tied up in a section I
think is more adapted to nut growing, I should come up here and
undertake to do something in this section, for I see great
possibilities.
THE PRESIDENT: That is an opinion that is of real value. Now I will call
for volunteers. Those of you who have been sight seeing here and have
impressions and ideas you would like to express we should be glad to
hear from.
PROFESSOR CLOSE: One thought that has interested me is this. If we
should take away from this neighborhood about half a dozen men this
great industry would be forgotten. It is to these men who have done this
kind of work that we owe a great deal. They are engaged in a wonderful
work. I presume they realize how great it is. It means the developing of
an industry that will grow in the United States and could be carried to
other countries. These great trees are a wonder, no question about it,
and the fact that here is a new industry being pushed by half a dozen
men is still more wonderful.
THE PRESIDENT: If this section of the country had been planted to
seedling pecans it would have made every man who owned forty acres of
it, comfortable. We have with us Mr. Dodd, who is one of the old
residents of this neighborhood. He can tell us some interesting things.
He was here long before I came and looks at present as if he might be
here many years yet. We certainly hope he will be. If it were not for
him we would not know that Enterprise is on the map. He reports for the
county paper and keeps
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