Volume 47 Number 3 Article 12 Pages: 180-180
Year 1993 Month 7
Title: Book Review: Pecan Cultivars - The Orchard Foundation
Author: APS
Citation
Abstract:
Pecan Cultivars – The Orchard
Foundation, by Dr.
Darrell Sparks,
begins with an introduction, and an
excellent historical account of pecan
cultivar development from the 1870's
to the present.
This book may be
considered the "Encyclopedia of Pecan
Cultivar Characteristics" where both
descriptions and quantitative data are
offered on characteristics such as budbreak,
leaf date, ripening date, season
duration, heat units, flower dichogamy, catkin size and shape, stigma
size color and shape, efficiency of
pollinizers, leaf shape and color, leaf
retention, foliage density, tree structure and shape, tree size and strength,
yield and yield efficiency, alternate
bearing, precocity and prolificness,
flower cluster size, shoot length and
density, flower and fruit abortion, nut
maturity, shuck thickness and shape,
shell markings, nut size, nut shape,
shell thickness, % kernel, % oil, kernel
stability, % intact halves, kernel color,
suitability for mechanical harvesting,
cracking and shelling, storage ability, and kernel stability and resistance to
insects, diseases and winter injury.
Next, 150 pages are devoted to a
detailed description of standard, old
profitable, old submarginal, USDA,
and northern cultivars, and cultivars
with special significance.
The book is
not completely descriptive.
Over 50
pages are devoted to the "Pursuit of a
Better Cultivar" with an insightful discussion of the reasons for the failure
of cultivars.
The book is well-referenced and is
written in a clear and concise manner.
High quality black and white photo
graphs of all cultivars are presented.
It
is also supplemented by identification
keys, several useful appendices and a
glossary.
In summary, this book is an invaluable source of information for pecan
growers, shellers, researchers and serious hobbyists.
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