70 N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station [Bulletin 257 



moisture control. They received yields of 155 and 130 respectively as 

 compared to an expected normal yield of 100 (Table 27). Did this 

 intensive orcliard management make for high yields? Perhaps so, but 

 Farm 8, putting little time on orchard work, secured yields of 188 per 

 cent, of the expected. Farm 9 had average yields of 208 per cent, of 

 normal and did only a modei-ate amoiuit of work on the orchard. Fai-m 

 1 did a rather intensive job of taking care of the trees and got Jioniuil 

 yields. 



In this study, there is not a sufficient number of farms to draw defi- 

 nite conclusions as to the factors responsible for good yields, but it is 

 barely possible that the site, vigorous stock, and })rovision for pollina- 

 tion are more important than mere cultural methods. In other words, 

 it may be that with good sites, abundant pollination and healthy 

 vigorous trees to begin with, yields will be high. If this is true, then 

 a combination of high yields and extensive methods would make for 

 low costs. And if site and pollination and stock are very important 

 factors leading to good yields, it is doubtful whether too intensive a 

 .system of culture will increase yields materially. Under these con- 

 ditions, the system needs to be intensive in only those o])erations that 

 have much to do with quality. This means that spraying wonUl be 

 thorough and intensive. Pruning of young trees for shape would be 

 essential, but beyond opening up the ti'ee somewliat llu- operation 

 would be unimportant with mature trees. 



Suggestion for Future Studies 



One of the most important results of a general study such as this 

 is the isolation of important problems for future study. 



1. An intensive study of spraying on about 50 farms with a check- 

 up on methods, materials used and the control of disease. fSince spi-ay- 

 ing represents the most difficult orchard management i)roblem, the 

 operation should be studied in more detail on a large number of farms. 



2. A long-time study of yields on various siles. This is hirgely n 

 matter of inventorying about 100 orchards and then securing an nn- 

 nual record of total yields. This should lead to a better understand- 

 ing of expected yields, the infiuence of sites on yield and (piality, .-md 

 the influence of different variety combinations on pollination. 



3. The cost of grading and packing, a study of the economy of gi'ad- 

 ing and packing under varying situations of price and quality of 

 apples. 



4. A minor study of the harvesting of api)les. 



