12G NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



chard is the varieties and number of each variety planted. Many of the 

 orchards whicli it is possible to lease on reasonable terms would be dis- 

 carded by the experienced apple dealer on account of the predominance of 

 undesirable commercial varieties. The grower can handle at a small mar- 

 gin of profit, provided the orchard is located right, a small amount of sum- 

 mer apples, but it has been our experience not over ten trees out of a 

 thousand should be summer varieties. The abundance of other fruits 

 and fresh vegetables on the market at this time of the year cut the de- 

 mand and price to the point which makes the handling of summer varieties 

 unprofitable. 



Good fall varieties such as Wealthy, Utter and Snow, can be handled 

 profitably, but under average conditions 90 per cent of the orchard snould 

 be winter varieties. There is a vast difference in winter varieties. Time 

 will not permit of a lengthy discussion of the merits of the different win- 

 ter varieties from a commercial standpoint. The writer can state that we 

 have found our Grimes Golden, Jonathan, Winesap, York Imperial, Black 

 Twig, Ben Davis and Gano always in demand. The point the writer wishes 

 to impress is that the varieties and number of trees of each variety must 

 be considered in determining the rental value of an orchard. 



Health of the Trees — The condition of the trees in regard to effect by 

 disease is another important factor in determining the value of the orchard. 

 The Illinois Canker has become so injurious in orchards in the Missouri 

 Valley states, that a large number of trees in old neglected orchards have 

 become practically worthless. The science of modern orcharding has 

 taught us that this disease can be checked and controlled in cases where 

 fne trees are not seriously injured. It requires the exercise of a critical 

 examination and good judgment to determine to what extent a tree may 

 be injured by this disease so that a sufficient amount of the top may be 

 saved to produce paying crops. This disease is found in practically all of 

 the old orchards which it would be possible to lease. The health of the 

 trees must not be overlooked by the man who expects to lease an orchard. 



Pruning — Another important consideration is the manner in which the 

 orchard has been pruned or r,ather the extent to which the pruning has 

 been neglected. It costs money to prune on orchard and remove the brush, 

 and this cost must be added to the first two years' expenses in caring for 

 the orchard. It is difficult to estimate the cost of pruning, as so much 

 dep^rnds upon the size of the tree and amount of wood to be removed. 

 Mr. Marshall and I have found that the cost of pruning ranged from 10 

 cents to $1 per tree. The work was conducted in trees ranging from 

 eight to twenty-eight years of age. The matter of pruning is one of the 

 first things to figure in determining the rental value especially in a short 

 lease. 



In regard to borrowing money to commence handling the orchard I 

 figure that if there are any men who are in the same position I am in, 

 about two years is all the bank will trust a fellow, if he will pay up, and 

 after the two years, there is additio lal pruning enough to keep that or- 



