, SPRAYING THE APPLE ORCHARD. 13 



Again in 1899 there were seventy apple trees per farm 

 in New Hampshire, more than in any state except Maine, 

 and yet less fruit per farm was produced than in any of 

 the North Atlantic states except Maine and Vermont, this 

 being a direct result of many trees poorly cared for. With 

 about 5% of the improved acreage of our farms in fruit, 

 about 41/2% of the net income of the average farm came 

 from that source and amounted to an average of $27.15. 

 But this 5% of the improved acreage, which would be 1.85 

 acres per farm, is not the actual condition, for an orchard 

 of sixty trees is not seen on the average farm, but is merely 

 computed upon the basis of the usual number per acre from 

 the number of trees for each farm which are scattered along 

 fences and roads. Were these trees all in orchards, the 

 income yielded would be at least doubled, for they would 

 then be cared for. The income from fruit is but $13.58 

 an acre, only hay at $10.30 per acre yielding less, and cere- 

 als — to whose growth New Hampshire is admittedly not 

 best adapted — bring a return of $18.29 per acre. A good 

 fruit grower hardly considers a tree worth the ground it 

 stands on which does not yield at least a barrel a year, or 

 $30 per acre. Why, then, with the present trees and prices 

 should not the average New Hampshire farmer receive $70 

 for his fruit crop instead of $27.15? 



Many of our apple trees were planted fifty years or more 

 ago, when the chief market was the cider mill. Then, 

 quantity was of more importance than quality. Today the 

 reverse is true. The best profit today is only secured from 

 first-class fruit. The great American public is hungn^ for 

 apples, and it will pay well for the best. It is well known 

 that for the past few seasons Western apples have been sell- 

 ing in the Boston and foreign markets far above those of 

 the average New England grower. Indeed, a well-known 

 Liverpool firm has recently been quoted^ as stating that 

 for the past five seasons, "Boston" apples, those 



We«7 England Homestead, November 18, 1906, quoting Woodall 

 & Co. 



