00 deg.F for periods necessary to reach
the respective moisture levels. Samples with moisture contents above
4.43 were treated in steam to obtain the desired amount of moisture.]

[Footnote 30: Excessive increase in moisture content resulted in heavy
molding of product.]

A second series of processing and storage tests was started in December,
1940. These studies included tests of effect of moisture content, type
of container, and sealing on storage qualities of Schley pecan kernels.
Table III shows a portion of these tests together with the results
obtained. It is pointed out that unsealed samples regained moisture and
became rancid within 8 months in storage.

+Summary+

Results from the foregoing experiments show that pecan kernels can be
kept for nine years by drying them to about 2 per cent moisture and
storing them in sealed containers. The best results were obtained by
drying the kernels in an oven for about 50 minutes at 200 deg.F. The exact
length of the drying period may vary somewhat with the moisture content
of the undried kernels and the quantity of kernels dried at one time.
The temperature of the oven could probably be reduced without affecting
the drying time by using a fan for circulating the air in the oven.

This method will preserve the fresh qualities of pecans for a much
longer time and equally as well as such common methods as freezing and
canning preserve fresh qualities of other foods. It is felt that the
process offers a practical and effective method that might well be used
in the home as well as in commercial plants for preserving shelled
pecans for year-round use and/or for carrying over surpluses from a
heavy crop year to supplement the light crops that usually follow.

+Literature Cited+

1. Blackmon, G. H., 1927, Pecan Growing in Florida. Florida Agricultural
Experiment Station, Bulletin 191: 86.

2. Kirkpatrick, S. M., 1924. The Pecan. Alabama Pecan Growers'
Association, Proceedings, May, 1924, P. 10.

3. The Encyclopedia Americana. Volume XXI: 461.

4. Bailey, I. H., and Bailey, E. Z., Hortus. Second Edition: 542.

5. The Encyclopedia Britannica, Volume XVI: 647.

6. Skinner, J. J.; Fowler, E. D.; and Alben, A. O.: 1928, Pecan Soils of
the Gulf and Southeastern States and Maintenance of their Fertility,
USDA Circular 492: 1.

7. United States Agricultural Statistics for 1941: 279.

8. Davis, P. O., 1924, Some Facts About the Pecan. Alabama Pecan
Growers' A