4:4:8 Report of Farmers' Ii^stitutes 



greater in the eastern part of the country, separated by the Missis- 

 sippi, by over 42,000,000, although the planting has been very 

 much larger in the West. In the eastern half, 73.8 per cent are 

 in bearing; in the western half, 63.7 per cent. Canada also is 

 an important factor in the j)roduction of apples. 



COST OF GROWING AN ORCHARD 



In order to get a correct idea of possible profits it is essential 

 that we know the cost of production. This is not always easy to 

 ascertain and conclusions should never be drawn from a sinsle 

 year or from the products of a bearing orchard. One must con- 

 sider the cost of growing the orchard up to the time of production, 

 which may be anywhere from ten to fifteen years. 



The following are the actual expenses of the orchard of Mr. 

 M. C. Burritt, of ]\Ionroe County: The orchard is one of apple 

 trees twelve years old, set 36 by 36 feet, with plums and pears 

 set between as fillers. The total cost for the twelve years was 

 $210.60 per acre, and the gross sales of all crops, $205.13 per 

 acre, leaving a deficit of $5.47 per acre after jiaying all costs, 

 including interest at 5 per cent. This was more than offset by the 

 increased value of the land, now worth $225 per acre — an increase 

 of $125 per acre. There was no income from fruit until the 

 seventh year — then only $41.90 from 7^2 acres. The income 

 from this source was slightly less for the next three years. The 

 eleventh year it amounted to $229.28 ; the twelfth, $252.63. The 

 total value of the income from the orchard for the twelve years 

 was $631.02; to this should be added the income from intercrops 

 of $907.53. This, subtracted from the cost of the care of the 7% 

 acres of orchard for the twelve years, which, including 5 per cent 

 interest, amounts to $1,579.50, leaves a net loss of $40.95, or 

 $5.46 per acre. From these figures it will be readily seen that a 

 man without other sources of income would have lost out during 

 this period, as the increase in the value of his property was not 

 an available asset unless he parted with it. 



THE COST OF GROWING A BARREL OF APPLES 



The above will give a very correct idea of the expense of bring- 

 ing an orchard into bearing. An exact estimate of growing a 

 barrel of apples on a mature orchard is given below. Some years 



