FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. lOl 



to ship to distant markets. There is, therefore, a saving of labor, basket 

 expense, and worry. 



The growers who are located near the large markets are enabled to 

 sell their prodnce direct to the consumer. This is a great advantage and 

 generally adds considerably to the profits. At a certain well known 

 shipping point, it is the custom for outside buyers to come in and buy 

 directly from the growers. They sometimes purchase an entire crop 

 before the harvest begins, but more often, they buy as the crop is har- 

 \ested. It is very satisfactory to sell the whole crop in advance, as in 

 handling so perishable a fruit, it is a great relief for the grower to know 

 just where to place the shipment of each day, and exactly the amount 

 to be received. The market is sure to have off days and the one who can 

 sell for a fixed price for the season, even though it seems low when 

 compared with certain high sales, is more sure of a profitable season. 



Some growers are successful in maintaining an order trade and dis- 

 posing of a large part of their fruit at a good price, but the perishable 

 character of the peach keeps many from entering this field. 



Probably, the mast of the peach growers must depend upon consign- 

 ing the fruit to a distant market and usually this is quite undesirable. 

 Yet, the grower who will put up an honest package with an attractive 

 label and ship to one market can create a good demand for any uniform 

 type of fruit. The unsatisfactory marketing conditions should lead 

 growers to form effective co-operative associations that would be able 

 to seek the best markets and thus return larger net profits. Judging 

 from the past experiences, it is doubtful if the peach business will ever 

 reach a point where a good, well located orchard, well cared for will 

 not yield a good profit; but undoubtedly, there will be some years when 

 only the most effective methods in marketing will bring satisfactory 

 results. 



FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF A 1.5 ACRE PEACH ORCHARD. 



This orchard is located in Allegan County, Ganges Township, eight 

 miles northeast of the City of South Haven, Michigan. The site, soil, 

 and previous crops on the land, were discussed on page 9. It was 

 planted in the spring of 1907. The October freeze of 1906 had killed 

 practically all of the peach trees in the region including the trees upon 

 this particular site. Although this had been the second orchard of 

 bearing age upon this site, the location had proven so good that steps 

 were immediately taken to plant another. 



The best of good fortune did not attend the orchard during the first 

 3'ear. It was necessary to replant over 100 trees the next year. This 

 was chiefly due to two causes: first, the trees were delivered during a 

 few daj's of warm weather early in the spring with the buds very much 

 advanced and a period of cold weather following weakened the trees; 

 second, a portion of the site is on a side hill that had been somewhat 

 depleted by soil washing and was not in the best of condition for 

 starting young trees. This hill side has been the unfavorable part of 

 the orchard until the present time. 



On the other hand, a block of over four hundred trees have made such 

 an exceptional growth and borne fruit so well that the orchard, as a 

 whole, will compare favorably with the majority of the best orchards 

 in the peach section. The varieties and number were as follows: New 



