APPLES 



261 



is in alfalfa, and oue-sixth of it plowed 

 and cultivated for the growth of trees. 

 With each succeeding year the plowed 

 strip will be a little wider and the alfalfa 

 will be a little narrower, inasmuch as we 

 would endeavor to plow the land about 

 as rapidly as the roots of the tree would 

 extend out in the direction of the center 

 of the row. This plan seemed to work 

 well, except for the difficulty of irrigation, 

 where irrigation is practiced, but there is 

 no question that the soil Is improved by 

 the growth of alfalfa, and that it will 

 yield a profitable crop while the trees are 

 coming into bearing. That which is true 

 of alfalfa is also true of clover, insofar 

 as improving the soil is concerned, but as 

 a hay crop the clover is perhaps not so 

 profitable. 



Profits from TegetaWes 

 Mr. Alexander Miller, a gardener at 

 North Yakima, Washington, gives the fol- 

 lowing figures as possible net profits per 

 acre from various crops: 



Cucumbers, ground heavily ma- 

 nured, per acre, per annum $1,000 



Tomatoes 1,000 



Asparagus 1,500 



Rhubarb 1,500 



Celery 1,500 



Horse Radish 1,500 



Earlv Potatoes 500 



Peas 500 



Turnips 300 



Turnips may follow a crop of early po- 

 tatoes or peas the same year, and that 

 brings the productive value of the land 

 up to $800 per acre. 



The rutaba.gas are about as profitable as 

 turnips and either will yield large returns 

 in proportion to the labor costs. 



These yields are exceptionaly large but 

 knowing Mr. Miller to be an exceptionally 

 good gardner we do not doubt the figures. 



How to .Vrransre the Rows 



The plan here given is merely sugges- 

 tive, and may be varied to suit the condi- 

 tions or the opinions of the planter. Sup- 

 pose, however, we plant rhubarb, aspara- 

 gus and strawberries midway between the 

 rows of fruit trees, one-third of each. We 

 will have to wait for them to bear, but 

 they are very hardy and very profitable, 

 if well fed. This places them one rod 



apart and one-half rod from each tree row 

 on either side. In spraying, the team and 

 wagon can be driven astride these rows, 

 and will not injure them in the least. 



First Tear 



We have now aranged for a profitable 

 crop, one year from planting, but nothing 

 the first year. Between the rows of veg- 

 etables now planted, and the trees, may be 

 planted onions, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, 

 cantaloupes or celery. Ten acres planted 

 in this way ought to yield a living much 

 larger than the average family of the 

 United States receives and larger than 

 the profits from the average farm. This 

 is the critical period, for it is the first 

 year and the one of the least income. 



The next year these crops may be va- 

 ried, except that the rhubarb, asparagus 

 and strawberries remain standing until 

 such time as the trees need the land. 



Second Year 



The second year the same arrangement 

 as the first may be followed or the crops 

 may be varied. This year the asparagus 

 will bear a little and the rhubarb and 

 strawberries yield profitable returns. 



Third Tear 



The third year, any arrangement may 

 be followed that suits the grower, because 

 there are three crops, namely, asparagus, 

 rhubarb and strawberries that will yield 

 good returns. This year the 400 peach 

 trees should yield $3 to $5 per tree. This 

 will, in the aggregate, make a fair living. 



In this estimate of profits from peaches, 

 I am presuming upon fair market condi- 

 tions. During the seasons of 1912 and 

 1913, we have had rather poor markets, 

 not because peaches did not sell for good 

 prices to the consumer, but because of 

 poor systems of distribution. I have 

 known peaches to yield $1,000 per acre; 

 again they would not pay the costs of 

 production and marketing. 



Fourth Year 



The fourth year we would not advise 

 any vegetables between the trees except 

 the three permanent crops of asparagus, 

 rhubarb and strawberries. This year 

 four-year-old peach trees will yield from 

 $5 to $10 per tree and the pears will 



