26 



THURSDAY, MARCH 15, \906 

 JO O'CLOCK 



'This session opened with a lecture on 



FRUIT GROWING IN NEW ENGLAND 



By PROF. F. W. CARD 



Rhode Island Agricultural College 



Commercial fruit growing is the product of modem con- 

 .ditions. It, therefore, demands modern business methods. 

 The old time self-centered farm which aimed to supply 

 nearly all its needs has given place to the specialized farm 

 of today in which the farmer becomes a business man. 



All agricultural production demands the co-operation 

 of land, labor and capital, though land forms one phase of 

 the capital. Farm capital may be classified as follows : 



A. Fixed or invested. 1. Land. Natural value. Land 

 Improvement. Drains, roads, orchards, etc. 2. Buildings. 

 Dwelling, Farm Buildings, Building Equipment. 3. Equip- 

 ment. Teams. Implements. Live Stock, etc. 



B. Circulating or working. 1. Seed, feed, fertilizer, 

 supplies. 2. Market crops and market live-stock. 3. Mon- 

 ey for labor, etc. 



Unlike manufacturing, fruit-growing offers the oppor- 

 tunity of a gradual investment. The natural value of much 

 fruit land is low, and the introductory cost of planting mod- 

 erate. It affords the further advantage of an appreciating 

 investment. The value of a factory or a dairy barn begins 

 to decrease the moment it is completed. The value of an 

 orchard goes on increasing for years after it is planted. 

 This increase in value is difficult to estimate but none the 

 less real. Fruit growing offers unusual opportunities for 

 combination in investment and returns. Orchard trees may 

 br interset with small fruits. The small fruits may be 

 again interspersed with vegetables, so that a return may be 

 had from the beginning, while the permanent investment 

 in the larger fruits is developing. 



Against buildings there must be an annual charge for 

 depreciation, repairs and insurance. The fruit farm de- 

 mands a very moderate outlay along this line, hence this 

 charge is small. In the ownership of implements, several 

 items go to make up the cost; these include interest on the 



