36 



N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station [Bulletin 257 



Man labor in brush disposal (Table 20) averaged 170 hours per 

 1.000 mature tree units. Farm 11 was lowest with 13 hours. Farm 4 

 was highest with 341 hours. In the first ease brush was disposed of 

 along the nearby fence rows. 



An average of 101 hours of horse labor was used per 1,000 mature 

 tree units in brush disposal (Table 21) and varied from 10 hours for 

 Orchard 11 in which little attention was given to brush to 172 hours 

 for Orchard 4. Based on expected yields, an average of 17 hours 

 was used per 1,000 boxes, and based on actual yields, 15.4 hours. 



With assumed rates per hour for man labor, horse labor, etc., the 

 weighted average cost was $88.71 per 1,000 mature trees, $14.84 per 

 1,000 boxes expected yield and $13.45 per 1,000 boxes actual yield. The 

 cost on the basis of actual yield varied from $2.18 on Farm 11 to 

 $23.65 on Farm 3 per 1,000 boxes. 



6 7 



F^RM Number 



Fig. 9. Mayi hours nsed in applying fertilize)- per unit of 1,000 Diatnre trees 

 Fei'tilization is an important operation but consumes little time. Peak de- 

 mands for labor and power are avoided by the use of the sod mulch system, 

 in which the relatively small task of spreading fertilizer is the only soil 



cultural operation of early spring. 



FERTILIZING 



Fertilizing the apple orchard is a minor operation in the spring. 

 While considerable skill and judgment is required in determining the 

 amount to use, the actual operation can be done by unskilled help; and 

 within the limits of about three weeks, more or less, it is optional as 

 to time. As actually practiced by the twelve farmers there is no 

 particular regularity as to time of application. The operation ac- 

 counted foi' about 4 per cent, of the man labor prior to harvest. In 

 most cases, the fertilizer was applied by hand around each tree. Farm 

 4 broadcasts a complete fertilizer over the entire orcluu'd area. 



An average of 7cS man hours per 1,000 mature tree units was used 

 in application of ferliliz»M- (Table 20). The requirement varietl from 

 45 hours on Farm 11 to 133 hours on Farm 3. The higher amount is 

 due to the application of available hen and cow dressing. 



Horse Hours 



The horse hours used in fertilizing are relatively unimportant as 

 the total time is small and the work is generally done in slack periods. 



