14 



N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station [Bulletin 257 



farms. It is to be noted that in 1927 tlie 11). 132 trees were eciuivalent 

 to only 6.475 mature trees. Also that Farms 1 and 12 in 1927 have 

 about the same number of trees, but that when reduced to mature tree 

 units. No. 1 has 550 to No. 12 "s 364. In comparing- orchards from 

 the view point of efficiency, this seems the most logical unit. 



In most cases, each operation up to harvest was calculated on the 

 basis of hours per mature tree equivalent, hours per expected normal 

 yield, and hours per actual yield. While none of these measurements 

 is perfect, the combination of all may give a good picture of the 

 situation. Where orchards are of about the same bearing age, ex- 

 pected normal yield is probably the best measure in any one year. 

 The actual yield is perhaps the best measure when orchards are of 



Spray management is the chief factor in determining best unit of size of 



orchard. If one can spray an orchard thoroughly, the other operations up 



to harvest can be done without too heavy a draft upon available labor. 



similar ages if the data cover a long enough period to warrant accept- 

 ance as average yields. The mature tree equivalent is best where or- 

 chards vary in age, especially if some have a large proportion of young 

 trees. 



