Horticulture in Oregon. 221 



FOURTH YEAR. 



Amount forward i $244 00 



Plowning, cultivating and pruning, per acre 10 00 



Digging borers 1 00 



Interest at 10 per cent on $244 24 40 



Total cost end of fourth year $279 40 



FIFTH YEAR. 



Amount forward $279 40 



Plowing, cultivating, and pruning, per acre 10 0(i 



Digging borers and slack liming 5 00 



Hand thinning fruit 1 00 



Interest on $279 27 90 



Total cost end of fifth year $323 30 



We now have as the cost per acre of an orchard of not less than ten acres 

 and in perfect condition, at the end of the fifth year, the first year of market 

 bearing, $323.30. 



These trees should produce each an average of twenty pounds of marketable 

 fruit, worth not less than 21^ cents per pound and up to 41/, cents, say 50 cents 

 per tree, one hundred and sixty to the acre. $80 ; culls and scrubs for home 

 consumption, $10 : total revenue at the end of first year, age or orchard five 

 years, $90. 



From this time on the annual increase of productive capacity may be 

 rated at one box or twenty pounds per tree to the eighth year, when an orchard 

 in prime condition should mature an average of eighty pounds or four boxes 

 per tree ; and with trees one rod apart, properly dwarfed, this output should 

 not be exceeded, so as to conserve the vigor and life of the tree ; by which method 

 in this locality a peach tree is good for twenty years of profitable life, and will 

 bring at least two dollars per year. From these estimates of cost, any one can 

 figure out the progressive cost of maintaining the orchard, figuring out the 

 net profit at the end of each season. I have purposely left out the items of 

 taxes, as they vary so much, but are not high. 



During the fourth year, tlirough no income from sale of fruit is shown, 

 there will be enough peaches, which may be safely left on the trees, for home 

 consumption. The cost of picking, packing, and marketing is not shown in 

 the estimate, because the price named, i. e., 2i^ cents per pound, is a price 

 at whicli prime fruit is always salable on the tree to first-class buyers who will 

 harvest and market on their own account. 



COST OF AN APPLE ORCHARD OUT NEAR GRANTS PASS. 



By A. H. Carson, Grants Pass, Southern Oregon. 



We have found in fifteen years' experience the following to be the cost of 

 planting and caring for an orchard up to the seventh year. Apples — one acre : 



DR. 



To plowing and preparing ground $ 3 00 



To 69 trees two years old at 121/? cents each. 25x25 feet apart 8 63 



To one day's work work planting and laying off ground 2 00 



To cultivating and pruning seven years at $6 42 00 



Total cost on one acre to seventh year $55 63 



CR. 



By 69 boxes of apples at 50 cents up to seventh year 34 40 



Net cost per acre $21 23 



It is seen from tlie foregoing, the profits of an apple orchard up to the 

 seventh year are on tlie wrong side of the account, but we now liave 't at the 

 age when it will begin to pay. The eighth year, if the trees are in good ground. 



