64 



N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station [Bulletin 257 



(Table 26). In thiiiiiing, 49 man hours were used on tlie 12 farms 

 and 19 man hours on the 26 farms per 1,000 boxes. This is accounted 

 for by the larger proportion of Wealthy apple trees. In total time 

 requirement, the 12 farms were higher with 370 hours as compared 

 to 311 hours. The 12 farms had 2.215 man hours per 1,000 mature 

 trees as compared to 1,965 for the 26 farms. Spraying costs were 

 somewhat higher on the 12 special farms. 



The total operating costs were $356 on the 12 farms as compared to 

 $303 on the 26 farms per 1,000 boxes normal yield, and they were 

 $2,128 on the 12 farms as compared to $1,848 on the 26 farms per 

 1,000 mature tree units. It would seem from this comparison, how- 

 ever, that the 12 farms were not materially different from the larger 

 sample. 



per- 



4soo 



Co3^ />Or /OOO 30Mff3 Aftt^frta/f^p^cfva Ytetd 

 Co^//>er /aoa Botei Actual r,e/J 



^ 



Wei^/i/^ed Average per ^orma/ ffpecf fd y/ e/d 

 Wei<f/iAed /Jyera^e per Ac/^aa/ y/e/d •. 



6 7 



/-ar/n A't/fnher 



Fig. 15. Operating costs in producmg apples on twelve farms 



In estimating cost, expense of man labor was assumed at 40c per hour, horse 



labor at 20c, truck hours at 75c and tractor hours at $1.50. The shaded area 



indicates the relative cost if yields followed the curve in Fig. 2. The black 



area indicates the relative costs when based on actual yields. 



Appreciation and Depreciation 



Up to this point, little mention has been made of the appreciation 

 or depreciation of trees and the effect of this on the cost of growing 

 fruit in the various orchards. The subject of the value of fruit trees 

 is to be considered in detail in a later publication. At this time it 

 suffices to say that with efificient management if yields follow the curve 

 shown in Figure 2, the maximum value of a tree based on anticipated 

 profits will come at about 19 to 20 years of age. Values appreciate 

 gradually up to this time and depreciate afterward. Using a scale 

 based fundamentally on this conception the orehards varied greatly- 

 in inventory change in tree values. Orchard 1 with the great bulk of 

 its trees just passing the period of highest value had an inventory loss 

 in tree value of $562 in three years. Oi-ehard 3 with many young 

 trees had an inventory gain of $3,488. For all orchards for all years,, 

 there was a gain of $8,114. This inventory change must be con- 

 sidered in discussing the costs. 



