101 



We would not agree to do this, however, for several 

 reasons. In this account, no reckoning has been made of the 

 cost of bringing this orchard to bearing and to its present 

 state of productivity. $150 per acre is probably less than 

 the actual cost of the orchard. "We do not know how much 

 this cost is, although our records on our younger orchards, 

 throw much light on the subject. Moreover there are too 

 many risks in a long-time investment of this nature, which 

 have not been taken into account, such as a decline in the 

 price because of over-production, heavy winds and hail 

 storms, which may destroy not only the crop but the trees 

 fclso, and the depredations of old or new insect pests or 

 fungus diseases which are difficult to control. All these 

 lisks demand a much larger rate of interest than five per 

 cent, to make it pay for a person to make such an investment 

 for a period which cannot well be less than 50 years. "We 

 should want a guarantee of not less than $1,50 a barrel to 

 make such an investment temptingly profitable. 



SUMMARY 



Our experience has taught us that : — 



1 . It will require from $20 to $40 an acre to establish an or- 



chard. 



2. It will require from $10 to $20 an acre a year to main- 



tain an orchard. 



3. An apple orchard at 8 to 10 yrs. of age which has cost 



less than $100 to $150 an acre is an exception. 

 4.= Under our conditions we can produce enough on the 

 land by intercropping to nearly pay for the cost of 

 growing to 10 yrs. of age, and under favorable con- 

 ditions in 5 years. 



5. The average apple orchard cannot be counted on to re- 



turn a profit under 10 yrs. nor the average peach or- 

 chard under five years. 



6. A barrel of apples costs from 88 cents to $1.73 and aver- 



ages $1.07. 



7. It costs from $50 to $100 an acre to grow apples in a 



mature orchard. 



