May, 1931] Studies in Economics of Apple Orcharding 49 



In several instances, labor records are available of the same block of 

 trees under the sod mulch system and under cultivation (Table 19). 



For instance, the non-bearing orchard on Farm 3 was cultivated in 

 1928 and was in sod in 1926. When reduced to the acre basis to allow 

 for difference in size of block, the sod mulch cost was $3.57 per acre 

 as compared to $13.28 for cultivation. On the 1,000 tree basis, the 

 sod mulch cost $69 and cultivation $250. 



Again in Orchard 2, a block of old trees was cultivated in 1927 and 

 was in sod mulch in 1928. The acre cost was $13.58 and $1.94 respec- 

 tively, or 47.9c and 6.8c per tree. On three small blocks of young 

 trees in this orchard, inter-tillage with truck crops and strawberries 

 was practiced. When the plowing and fitting of land was charged to 

 the trees, the cost averaged $15.57 per acre or $168.20 per 1,000 trees. 

 In a young bearing orchard on the same farm the mowing cost was 

 $2.03 per acre, or $30.20 per 1.000 trees. 



To sum up, tillage costs were about $16 per acre and sod mulch 

 about $3. 



THINNING 



In years of heavy production, some thinning and propping is done 

 on most farms, but there is little uniformity in the use of labor on 

 thinning. Some of the operators are doubtful whether thinning pays 

 but do a little on a few trees. Others hire extra help and make a 

 general practice of going over the entire orchard. Farm 1 put on 

 956 hours per 1,000 tree units which is more than other orchards. 

 In this case, 22 per cent, of the trees over 10 years are of the Wealthy 

 variety, and these set so heavily with fruit that the operator finds it 

 necessary to thin them every year. The other varieties are thinned 

 in part. While the work was done in an otherwise slack time, so 

 much thinning involved hiring three extra men for short periods. On 

 Farm 7 about 18 per cent, of the bearing trees were Wealthy, and 

 these and some other trees were thinned usually by the regular help. 

 The average time in thinning was 290 hours per 1,000 mature tree 

 units ; 48 hours per 1,000 boxes normal yield ; and 44 hours per 1,000 

 boxes actual yield (Table 20). 



Mr. H. A. Rollins reports the results of thinning Baldwins on sev- 

 eral farms as follows :i 



YIELD IN POUNDS PER TREE 



Thinned Not Thinned Difference 



Under 2i^ 27 58 -31 



21/4 to 21/2 65 146 -81 



21/2 to 234 134 211 -77 



234 to 3 153 164 -11 



Over 3 119 103 -fl6 



Total 498 682 -184 



The thinned trees produced a higher per cent, of large apples, but 

 the total yield was 184 pounds less. The quality was somewhat better 

 on thinned trees. 



IH. A. Rollins — The value of thinning Baldwin apples — Rpt. Am. Soc. Hort. 

 Science 1930, p. 286. 



