114 Fruitgrowing under Irrigation 



require no expensive trellis, and their cultivation 

 and priming for the first year is also somewhat 

 easier than is the case with vines. 



Deciduous trees, however, take a few years longer 

 to come into profitable bearing than do vines ; and 

 seven years is generally considered the time before 

 peaches and apricots are in full bearing, although 

 some fruit is usually obtained in their fourth year. 



If the trees have been well looked after they 

 should yield 400 Ib. dried per acre in their fifth 

 year. At 7Jd. per Ib. net this shows an income of 

 12 10s. per acre. Allowing for harvesting ex- 

 penses at 5 5s., and expenses for cultivation, 

 ploughing, pruning, and water rates at 10 15s., 

 this makes a total expenditure of 15, or a loss of 

 3 10s. per acre on the fifth year's crop, which 

 has to be added to the capital account. 



Probable Income One Acre Stone Fruits. 



s. d. 



13 cwt. dried fruit at ?d. net per Ib. . . 45 10 



13 cwt. dried fruit at 7d. net per Ib. .. 42 9 4 



Annual Expenses. 



s. d. 



Cultivation, ploughing, watering . . 7 



Pruning and spraying . . . . . . 3 15 



Manures . . . . . .' . . . . 2 



Water rates and rent . . . . . . 1 15 



Harvesting expenses . . . . . . 16 



Management and supervision expenses 200 



Total .' .. 32 10 



Depreciation. 



s. d. 

 On channels, trays, provision for 



drainage 2 10* 



