368 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



SOME FIGURES ON THE COST OF BRINGING 

 ORCHARDS INTO BEARING. 



We have had a generous response to our request in a recent issue 

 of The Monthly Bulletin for data on the cost of bringing orchards into 

 bearing and so we are presenting these figures for the benefit of those 

 who are contemplating the planting of an orchard. To the growers 

 who have submitted these statistics the State Commission of Horti- 

 culture wishes to acknowledge its indebtedness. We hope that those 

 who have kept similar records will send them to us for publication in 

 future issues. 



COST OF DEVELOPING A FIVE ACRE ORCHARD OF PEACHES AND 



PLUMS, LAND CONSISTING LARGELY OF HARDPAN 



CLAY SOIL, ORANGEVALE, CAL. 



(Orchard of Mr. E. Hoffner.) 



This land has been idle for several years, and when planted was 

 practically virgin soil. Planting was started the latter part of March 

 of this year. In giving the cost of planting and cultivating this land, 

 personal labor has been charged at same rates paid to hired labor. 

 Land that does not require blasting can be planted cheaper than this. 

 This land is not piped or irrigated. The additional cost for piping 

 and irrigating would be approximately $100 for the first year, after 

 that $25 a year for water and distributing it. 



Cost of land at $125 per acre $625 00 



Cost of planting land — 



Plowing 5 acres $11 00 



Cultivating 6 times 12 50 



Blasting 200 holes 20 00 



43 50 



Cost of planting trees — 



Cost of peach trees (324 trees) $32 40 



Cost of Climax plums (112 trees) 11 00 



Cost of Santa Rosa plums (112 trees) 11 (X) 



Hauling trees 2 50 



Planting trees 100 55 



Pruning back to 2 feet 2 00 



159 48 



Total cost, including cost of land $827 93 



Estimated cost for piping and irrigating first year 100 00 



Total, with irrigation facilities $927 93 



