APPLE GROWING AS A BUSINESS. 47 



should be the unit at the start for the average farmer apple grower. 

 A few well-cared-for and profitable apple orchards scattered over 

 many sections of New England, serving as a valuable object lesson 

 as to the possibilities of this line of effort, would do more for the 

 upbuilding of the industry than a few large orchard enterprises, 

 even if they should chance to be well managed. No one thing will 

 add such permanent value to our naked lands as will the planting 

 upon them of apple trees that are of the varieties that are suited to 

 their several localities. The value of a season's growth on an apple 

 tree should be at least SI, and with the proper cultural treatment 

 it should approximate $3 per tree. This measure of increase will 

 add value to land very rapidly. For the further promotion and 

 development of orchard planting in New England it might be well 

 for the several States to pass statutes permitting the exemption 

 from taxation of tracts of land planted out in orchards from the 

 time of planting until maturity. Laws in our New England States 

 should be amended so that orchardists should be better protected 

 from the ravages of the deer. Outside the San Jose scale, the deer 

 is the most serious menace to orchard operations which we have. 

 Strange that we should handicap our agricultural development and 

 prosperity by a misplaced sentiment regarding the proper measures 

 of control of these animals. 



As a distinct business proposition for the investment of capital 

 under able, honest and efficient management, I cannot think of 

 anything more inviting than an apple-growing company under 

 corporate management. A company organized for this purpose 

 and successfully conducted could not fail of assisting very materially 

 in establishing the apple industry of our section on a far higher 

 plane and firmer base. I cannot refrain from mentioning a few 

 of the many points of advantage in a corporate form of management 

 of orchard properties: First, the ability to purchase the best avail- 

 able locations for such orchards. Second to conduct all operations 

 from the start on a basis of reducing expenses to a minimum. 

 Third, to introduce modern methods of management which look to 

 the ultimate end of fruit production of the best quality and the 

 largest quantity, and to dispense with much of the usual crop 

 producing that is found necessary in the average orchard. Fourth 

 to plant orchards and care for them until the bearing period, and 



