7* THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



168| bushels per acre. The average value of this quantity of first-class apples disposed 

 off direct to consumers is, per bushel : Kitchen, 3s. 6d. = 29 10s. 7d. ; cooking or 

 table, 4s. 6d. = 37 19s. 4jd. ; dessert, 6s. = 50 12s. 6d. ; mean of gross returns, 

 = 39 7s. 6d. per acre. Expenditure : pruning, sticky banding, and spraying trees, 

 3 15. ; gathering, storing, packing, and delivering fruit in grower's baskets, 8 15s. ; 

 rent, 4 ; tithe and rates, 1 5s. ; interest (5 per cent, on outlay up to period of profit- 

 able bearing, and constituting a vested interest in the land of 22 ls.)l Is. = 18 16s. 

 This, deducted from the gross returns, shows a profit of 20 11s. 6d. per acre for apples 

 sold locally by a cottager, small holder, or farmer. 



When the apples are sold and delivered to fruiterers in the growers' baskets, the 

 prices average, per bushel: kitchen, 2s. 6d. = 21 Is. 10|d. ; culinary or dessert, 

 3s. 6d. = 29 10s. 7d. per acre. Expenditure (as above), 18 16s. = 10 14s. 7|d. 

 profit per acre. The expenses allow for delivery to from 4 to 7 miles from the place of 

 production ; if within 3 miles, add 1 10s. to the profit per acre. 



Sending produce packed in salesmen's baskets by road, water, or railway, has a 

 varying result. Taking an average and transmitting by railway a distance of 50 to 100 

 miles, the returns (clear of railway, market, and salesman's charges) are, per bushel : 

 Kitchen, 2s. = 16 17s. 6d.; cooking or eating, 3s. = 25 6s. 3d. ; dessert, 4s. = 33 15s. ; 

 mean of gross returns, 25 6s. 3d. per acre. Expenditure, as before, less 1 10s. for 

 baskets = 17 6s. ; and the profit is 8 Os. 3d. per acre. 



The rent, tithe and rates, cost of production and marketing in the cases cited are on 

 the highest scale, and are necessary to secure the best returns, for low rents and out- 

 goings signify indifferent land, and the returns are extremely variable. Nevertheless, 

 fairly good profit is derived from land rented at 2 (including outgoings) per acre, 

 planted with useful varieties of apple trees on grass, and left (beyond protection) to take 

 care of themselves. Such trees in the fifteenth year have produced the quantity of apples 

 before named 75 trees, 2 bushels each = 168f bushels per acre ; and been gathered, 

 packed in salesman's baskets, and delivered on rail at a distance of 7 miles at a cost 

 of 6 1 5s. (no-purpose journeys being made and only delays allowed for, as other goods 

 were laden with on the return journeys). Sent 150 miles by rail, delivered in the market, 

 sold by salesman, and after paying all charges for transit, toll and commission (this being 

 done by the salesman), the returns averaged, per bushel: Kitchen, Is. 6d,= 

 12 13s. l|d.; cooking or eating, 2s. Od. = 21 Is. 10d. ; dessert, 3s. \5d. = 

 29 10s. 7|d.; mean, 21 Is. 10d. per acre. Expenditure, 8 15s.; profit, 



