EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 545 



COXIUTTOX OF THE ORCHAKD 



The peach oi-chard coiLsidered here is owned by Messrs. J. K. Bardeu & 

 8011. The records have all been taken by ^Mr. F. M. Barden. The orchard 

 is of fifteen acres, located in Allegan County, Casco township, eight miles 

 northe<ast of the city of South Haven. The early history of the orchard 

 iucluding a financial statement is given in Special Bulletin 63 of the vSta- 

 tiim in Septend)er, 1913, but the important ])oints innst be repeated here 

 for a proper understanding for a later account. 



The orchard is located on good soil, a gravelly, sandy loam in most parts 

 but clay in a few. The sub-soil is clay or sand. There is a gradual slope 

 to the south and west and lower surrounding land gives excellent air 

 drainage. 



Originally the land was covered with hardwood trees, beech and inaiilc 

 predominating. After clearing, general farm crops were raised. 'IMic 

 present orchard is the third bearing peach orchard upon the same land. 

 It was set in the s])ring of 1!)()7 and includes 100 trees of New Trolilic: 

 370 Engles; I'OO Kalamazoo; iL'O (Jold Drop; llT) Elberta ; 100 HamuM-: 

 100 Fitzgerald; 275 Smock, and 200 Salways. As is not uncommon, sonic 

 were not true to name^ Of the Smock 120 were Champion and nearly all 

 the Banner were unknown. The nurserymen made a refund wIumi the mis 

 take was discovered. The trees were set 20 feet each way, which was a 

 mistake; 24 feet or even more would have been better. 



THE ANNUAL EECOKDS OF THE OKCHAHD 



THE EXPENSES 



This orchard is i)art of a farm ui)on which other crops are i)roduced, as 

 apples, pears, plums, and (piinces, also s<une general farm ci'o])s and a 

 small dairy. 



All the labor whether performed personally by the owners or liircd nnd 

 horse labor whether done with teams owned or hired has been charged for 

 at the "going rate" of the neighborhood. This varied with the kind of 

 labor performed, the time of the year it was done, an<l with the difiercnt 

 years. The pruning was considered ''skilled labor." The cost of labor in 

 the spring and summer months was less than in the fall and tlie labor 

 bills for the first years were smaller than for the later 3'ears as was com- 

 mon with all labor. All expenses are charged to the orchai-d just as 

 though actual cash was paid out or all the labor was hired. This is the 

 correct way for purposes of accounting, but since the owners did consid- 

 erable of the work themselves, they were getting pay for their labor in 

 addition to the profit on their own property. 



An account of every item of expense has been kept. These items may be 

 divided into two groups. One of such items as are necessary for the main- 

 tenance of the orchard and must be assumed regardless of whether there 

 is a cro]) or not and the size of the crop. They would include interest on 

 the land, interest on the equipment, though most of it was also used for 

 other crops, cost of the young trees and planting, pruning, dormant spray- 



