Appendices 



365 



the prune — are more subject to climatic changes. It is 

 better to have an average crop of prunes every year than 

 a bumper crop of apricots one season and a total failure 

 the next. In the estimates submitted, cost of trees is 

 not counted in. Prunes may be bought (the French is 

 the leading variety) from 4 cts. up to 7 cts. ; apricots, 



8 cts. ; peaches, 8 cts. and 9 cts. Vine cuttings are worth 

 50 cts. to $2 per thousand, and the cost of setting out a 

 vineyard, with the vines from seven to eight feet apart, 

 and cultivating the same till maturity, is about two-thirds 

 that of setting out an orchard of prunes where the trees 

 are one hundred to the acre. 



The following estimate was taken from the books of a 

 responsible prune-grower. It is the total cost of setting 

 out and caring for a fifty-acre prune orchard, including 

 every expense item : not omitting interest, computed at 



9 per cent on original investment, and the cost of 

 squirrel poison, etc. I believe that orchards can be set 

 out and maintained for much less, but the man who 

 bases his figures upon mine is within safe territory. 



In the 7th year the orchard comes into full bearing. 



Eoughly speaking, it will be seen that the annual cost 

 of an orchard per acre after the first year is about $10. 



The second estimate submitted is from an orchardist 

 located upon our ranch. He is thoroughly responsible 

 and capable. He is willing to agree with any intending 

 purchaser to plant an orchard to prunes, to take care 

 of it entirely for the sum of $20 per acre for the first 



