226 Appendix. 



growers were asked to give the cost and product of their orchards up to the 

 eighth year. It will be seen from the estimates given that the cost and product 

 varies considerably. This is accounted for by the fact that the price of land 

 varies according to location and its condition when bought, and in some cases 

 there is additional expense caused by subsoiling, more thorough preparation of 

 the soil before planting, more careful selection of trees, more thorough cultiva- 

 tion and spraying, while some allow a certain percentage of loss of trees and 

 an occasional off year. Yet, by malting due allowance for drawbacks, exer- 

 cising the proper judgment in the selection of soil for the varieties to be plant- 

 ed, and giving the proper treatment to the orchard from the time it is planted, 

 it will be seen that an orchard is a safe and profitable investment. Careless- 

 ness in any branch will not pay in orchard work. Business principles must 

 be employed in every department. The following estimates include the cost 

 up to the seventh year, or when the trees have six years' bearing wood, and are 

 from various sections of Oregon': 



COST OF A PEACH ORCHARD NEAR ASHLAND. 



By Max Pracht^ Ashland, Southern Oregon. 



As regards the cost and care to the age of seven years, I beg to say that 

 my own experience as to the cost is not a true criterion, f om the fact that for 

 live years after setting out, my orchard was cared for by persons employed 

 by me, but working under my orders, while I was engaged in other occupations. 

 I will give, however, a very nearly accurate estimate of the cost of a peach 

 ■orchard, taking the ground in the brush and until it comes to profitable bearing, 

 which, by my method of cutting back is not until the fifth year after setting 

 out, or, say six years from the bud. Good peach soil is light, porous, snarly, 

 warm and easily cultivated land, neither springy nor boggy, such as our de- 

 composed granite, and must be on a sloping hillside, with an exposure to any 

 point of the compass, except due west, or proportionately such as near west 

 from north to south. The best range is from northwest to south, at least 

 such is my experience here. Having selected the location, choosing — 



I.,and, per acre $100 00 



Cost of cleaning and grubbing, per acre 30 00 



Cost of plowing and subsoiling, per acre 5 00 



Cost of laying out and digging holes, per acre 8 00 



< 'ost of trees and setting out 20 00 



Cost of pruning and shaping first year 1 00 



Cost of fencing orchard must be added, varying with the style of fence, size 



and shape of orchard, estimiated at 16 00 



Total cost at end of first year $180 00 



SECOND YEAK. 



Amount forward $180 00 



IMovving, cultivating, and pruning, per acre 10 00 



Replacing sickly or ill-shapen trees, per acre 2 00 



I>igging for and exterminating borers, per acre 1 00 



Interest at 10 per cent on $180 18 00 



Total cost end of second year $211 00 



THIRD YEAR. 



Amount forward $211 00 



Plowing, cultivating, and pruning, per acre 10 00 



Replacing sickly trees, per acre 1 00 



I )igging borers 1 00 



Interest at 10 per cent on $211 21 00 



Total cost end of third year $244 00 



