Profits in Fruit Growing 201 



tile, virgin soil, where the climate is mild and where the 

 fruit or vegetable industry is more or less well developed. 

 This is particularly true of the far Western and Southern 

 states. It seems that where a number of persons in one 

 locality are engaged in the same line of business there is 

 a stronger spirit of optimism and mutual assistance, which 

 work greatly to the advantage of the grower. 



The following are representative samples of the letters 

 which have come to the attention of the writer bearing on 

 the matter of profits that are obtained in fruit growing. 



Here is one from Bedford County, Virginia: "On 32 

 apple trees which are about 60 years old, and occupying 

 about one acre, the crop in 1909 sold for an even $1,000. 

 Its yield in some seasons past has brought a return of 

 $1,500. The land near this orchard is valued at from $20 

 to $60 per acre. Near this orchard is another one which 

 produced 240 barrels on one acre, and sold for $2 per bar- 

 rel, or a valuation of 16 per cent on a valuation of $3,000 

 per acre." 



The profits from growing fruit come not alone from 

 the harvest of fruit each year, but also from the increased 

 value of land, which brings good returns. A Virginian 

 says: "When I came into possession of my property it 

 sold for $7,500 and was not readily, saleable at. that figure. 

 Through the planting of orchards I have been able to sell 

 off land in this tract to the amount of between $25,000 and 

 $30,000 and retain a property worth two or three times- 

 the original value." 



Apples are the leading fruit crop in some sections of 

 the far West and have been known to bring fabulous re- 

 turns in some instances, but not every one can get such 

 enormous profits. The average profits will run like this 

 grower in the Yakima Valley of Washington got. He says 

 that his three and one-half acres of apples have, in five 

 years, brought a gross return of $20,000. In Parker Bot- 

 toms of this same valley a pear grower made a net profit 

 of $26,616 from 618 pear trees planted in 1894. This is an 

 average yearly net profit of over $1,100 per acre. 



