Economic Status, and Extent of the Peach Industry 17 



packed in 1909 — and in New York but 10,000 cases were 

 put up as against more than 40,000 in 1909. On the other 

 hand, in Michigan there was a difference of only a very few 

 thousand cases in the two years. 



A comprehensive survey of the economic status of the 

 peach industry would require consideration of the capital 

 invested in the orchards, packing-houses, and other equip- 

 ment used in growing and handling the crop on the farm; 

 the baskets, carriers, crates, and the like used in packing 

 the fruit for shipment and their manufacture; the move- 

 ment of the fruit from the point of production to the market, 

 involving for a large proportion of the commercial crop long 

 railroad hauls ; the wages paid in connection with all these 

 activities, including also the canning and drying of large 

 quantities of fruit ; as well, also, the financing and manag- 

 ing of other enterprises that are directly or indirectly con- 

 cerned in the peach industry. But for the present purpose 

 this partial enumeration of the features involved will suffice, 

 even though there were available sufficient data (which there 

 are not) on which to base a concrete consideration of these 

 aspects. The investment represents many millions of dol- 

 lars ; the production and handling of the crop from the or- 

 chard to the consumer requires the annual expenditure of 

 millions more. 



DISTRIBUTION OF PEACH PRODUCTION 



While detailed statistics regarding production are lacking 

 for most countries, some idea of the wide distribution of 

 the peach and its importance in the economic affairs of dif- 

 ferent peoples can be gained by such statistics as have been 

 compiled. The following statements regarding peach-grow- 

 ing in different countries, aside from those relating to the 



