AN APPLE ORCHARD SURVEY OF WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YORK. 329 



Suggestions and reflections on the rented farm. Many renters would 

 be glad to improve the orchard, but the pruning and renovation of a 

 neglected orchard is an expensive undertaking. One cannot afford to 

 do this unless he has a lease for several years, or unless the owner 

 helps to pay the cost. The owner does not like to spend money for 

 such work, for he feels that he will likely have a poor tenant about the 

 time that the orchard gets in good shape. Some have taken the 

 broader view and have spent money in the renovation of the orchard. 

 These have almost invariably been well repaid by the increased income. 

 An owner who takes a pride in keeping up his place and who is willing 

 to spend money, if necessary, in improving it, stimulates the renter by 

 his own interest. Such a man also attracts the better class of renters. 

 He may occasionally have a very poor one, but the average is certainly 

 much above that found on the farm where the owner begrudges new 

 shingles on the barn. The renter sometimes takes so much pride in 

 his work that he will take good care of an orchard even if he does 

 not expect an immediate return. This is also a good investment for 

 such a man becomes known and can therefore secure a farm more readily 

 and sometimes on better terms. 



Unquestionably the most effective way to bring the rented orchards 

 up to the average is to give leases for a longer time. The commonest 

 reason for not doing this is the fear that a shiftless tenant will secure 

 the place and retain it. There is abundant reason for this fear, but if 

 the renter changes every year or two, the chances of a bad one at some 

 time are multiplied. Such a man may do more damage in one year than 

 can be overcome in many years. A fairly good man, or even one that 

 is below the average, if kept from year to year will give better results 

 than a rapid succession of good and bad tenants. 



As one travels through orchard after orchard, he becomes more and 

 more impressed with the desirability of maintaining the American 

 ideal of every farm owned by trie man who works it. But if the owner 

 secures the best renter possible, gives him a lease of several years, 

 requires good care of the orchard, and then is willing to bear part of 

 the expense of renovating the orchard where this is necessary, the 

 renter ceases to be a menace to the apple industry. 



