21 



To the Western markets only the best varieties and the best grades should 

 be sent and the fruit must be picked a little greener than for the nearby markets. 

 As soon as the fruit is partly colored and has attained nearly full size it should 

 be picked and shipped at once. The week or more in transit will give them some 

 time to reach maturity. For fancy shipments the fruit should be picked with the 

 stems on the same as cherries are always picked for shipment. 



The cost of picking will vary a great deal depending on the quantity of fruit 

 on the tree, the variety and the care that is exercised. On an average it should 

 not cost more than three and one-half cents or four cents per eleven-quart basket. 



The packing generally consists in putting the plums into the eight or eleven- 

 quart baskets and tacking on the cover. No special packing methods are followed. 

 A few attempts have been made to market in small baskets, four in a case (the 

 western plumcase), but at present the market does not seem to be ready for 

 Ontario fruit in this case. It might be developed in the same steady, progressive 

 manner the box trade in apples has been developed. Eleven-quart baskets are 

 used almost entirely, but the demand for the smaller basket seems to be increasing. 

 At any rate the fruit carries better in them — the smaller quantity — and it is a much 

 more convenient quantity for the consumer to handle. A very large quantity of 

 the product in New York State is marketed in seven-pound baskets and they 

 seem to give satisfaction. 



Cost of Production. 



Cost of production is as important a factor as the selling price. Following 

 are given two estimates that are intended to be a guide only. They represent 

 average costs and average returns. They might be exceeded by a great many 

 growers and a large number will come much under them when they balance their 

 books at the end of the year. 



As worked out by L. B. Henry, of Winona, and based on the results obtained 

 through experience in that district and from figures quoted previously: — 



For buying 10 acres of orchard, 7 years old, at $500.00 per acre $5,000.00 



Interest on $5,000.00 at 6 per cent 300 . 00 



Taxes 20 . 00 



Pruning, 40 days at $1.50 60.00 



Gatliering Brusli 10 . 00 



First spraying, 40 barrels Lime-Sulphur 40.00 



Second spraying, 40 barrels Lime-Sulphur and Arsenate 40.00 



Third spraying, 40 barrels Lime-Sulphur and Arsenate 40.00 



Cultivation, 10 acres at $5.00 per acre '. 50.00 



Picking 6,075 baskets at 3 cents 182.25 



Fertilizer 200 . 00 



Delivery to station 80 . 00 



Depreciation, 5 per cent for 20 years 250 . 00 



Management 300 . 00 



Total $1,572.25 



Receipts. 



6,075 baskets at 29.7 cents $1,804.25 



Cost 1,572 . 25 



Profit $232 . 00 



