The Apple in Oregon: Part I. Ill 



thusiasm to the family such as many times repays tlie outlay. The man. woman 

 or child who works much out doors craves a good supply of fresh fruit, and such 

 sia one works harder and more cheerfully when liberally supplied with it. Reasons 

 enough, certainly, why the fruit garden about the home should ho cultivated and 

 the pliints otherwise well treated. 



And thus it should appear evident that there is really no essential difference 

 between the problem of planting for home and that of planting for the market, ex- 

 cept so far as relates to the varieties most desiral)le for the particular purpose 

 in view. 



Location — From several points of view the problem of where to locate the 

 apple orchard is one of considerable moment. Now that good, clean fruit, free 

 from worms and fungi, is to be secured only at the expense of liberal and ef- 

 fective spraying, it is important that the orchard be located so that this work 

 may be done to the liest advantage. Other conditions being equal, one should 

 locate near the home buildings and water supply. Foi the home orchard it will 

 not be difficult to group the trees about the buildings in such a manner as to 

 make them ej^ily accessible for spraying, the most important, yet tlie most neg- 

 lected, part of the orchard's care at present. But for the commercial orchard the 

 question of location assumes various other phases, such as the cost of land ; access 

 to shipping points ; facility of tillage, depending upon character of soil and cli- 

 mate ; the inter-adaptability of climate and varieties, and the prevailing climatic 

 conditions of the locality. 



The usual standard varieties of apples do not begin to yield net results until 

 about eight or ten years old if planted upon a soil of good body and suitable fer- 

 tility. The cost of cultivating, ijruning, and spraying this growing crop for so 

 long a period, added to the expense of first preparation and planting, together 

 with the original cost of land, makes a very formidable looking expense sheet : and 

 ■when to this is added a fair allowance for interest on the investment, it will be 

 seen that the liringing of an apple orchard into bearing 'nvolves the expenditure 

 of a no inconsiderable sum of money of which the original cost of the site may be 

 an unduly large factor in the case of high priced land. Only when some partic- 

 ular advantages of soil, drainage, climate, or suitability for desired varieties is 

 to be gained, may one feel free to look upon the first cost of land as an item of 

 passing significance. Upon the inherent qualities of the location as above 

 enumerated, and not upon the money value placed upon it. is the success of the 

 orchard to rest. However, it is of little moment whether the land cost $15.00 or 

 $40.(0 ss agairst the successful growth of a crop of apple trees. Still, it would 

 be unwise to purchase at the higher price except some particular advantage to 

 tree growth and fruitfulness appears evident. Every dollar used above the amount 

 required to obtain a suitable site means the setting aside of so much "dead capital," 

 a phase of the subject that must be kept well in mind throughout the whole con- 

 sideration of orchard-building. While none but the thorough-going tree culturist — 

 the man who loves trees and fruits for themselves — should engage in commercial 

 orcharding, it is well enough that even he should have a clear conception at all 

 times of cost and returns. Nothing so intensifies one's pleasure in labor, though 

 it be a labor of love, as successful financial outcome. To have a liobby, and that 

 hobby a money-maker, is the acme of present-day incentives. And while nothing 

 should be said that would in the least detract from the sentiment, love of nature, 

 and broad ideals that should characterize our rural employments, yet our keenest 

 appreciation usually comes from a knowledge of the value that others place upon 

 the products of our labor. 



Hence, select for a site as low priced land as is compatable with the desired 

 requirements ; deep, well-drained, moderately heavy, friable, fertile soil, in a lo- 

 </ality where climatic conditions and transportation facilities are favorable to the 

 development of the crop. 



SITEj AS .TO SOIL. 



Upon this very important phase of orchard-making, all authorities are prac- 

 tically agreed. From the old orchards, and especially the old trees of both Eu- 



