

March, 1934] Studies in Economics of Apple Orcharding 21 



of application, yet even when the distribution of labor in spraying is 

 charted by days, there is no uniformity in distribution. It is also true that 

 there is a greater tendency for the sprays to overlap on extensive farms. 

 On Farm 7 dusting was practiced following the bloom period ; the appli- 

 cations were made more frequently than if liquid spray had been used, 

 but the time required for each application was much less. 



Since orchards in New Hampshire are largely sod mulch, there is no 

 very serious peak of horse labor requirements. As in the case of man 

 labor, the most serious conflict may come at the brief definite spray 

 periods. But since the crew is busy spraying at these times, there is usual- 

 ly no large demand for horses for work other than spraying. 



DISTRIBUTION OF TIME ON OTHER ENTERPRISES 



Diversification in the case of apple farms has two objectives: first, a 

 diversified source of income as insurance over years unfavorable as to 

 yield and price; and second, continuous employment of permanent labor 

 in productive work. 



The need of other sources of income to balance the erratic fluctuations 

 in returns from apple production is obvious. On one farm, the gross 

 returns from apples were $1,063 in 1926, and $6,277 in 1927. Two years 

 of unfavorable yields and low prices bring difficulties and hardship to the 

 average man, and a series of such years is disastrous. Then, too, the sea- 

 sonal demand for money to carry the apple crop to harvest is often a 

 serious problem on farms producing apples only. 



Continuous employment for the operator and perhaps one or more reg- 

 ular men by means of diversification with other crops results in lower 

 cost for the labor on fruit. If regular labor is maintained in order to be 

 available for the requirements of the orchard and is not able to find pro- 

 ductive employment when orchard work is slack, then the orchard must 

 pay not only for the time actually spent on it but also for that which was 

 not used. If the regular help can produce other crops advantageously in 

 slack periods, the whole farm enterprise is more profitable. 



It is obvious that certain crops or enterprises would supplement and 

 others would seriously compete with apples for the available labor. A 

 study of time distribution on apples and on individual enterprises indicates 

 the relation. In each case, the orchard is considered the major enterprise, 

 and the combination is studied from the viewpoint of how the other enter- 

 prises fit into apple growing. 



Strawberries: 



The chief operations on strawberries are: (1) uncovering old beds, (2) 

 preparing soil and setting new beds, (3) cultivating and hoeing new beds, 

 (4) harvesting berries, and (5) mulching beds. Each of these must re- 

 ceive attention within a certain time range for best results. Uncovering 

 of old beds is a comparatively minor operation. If delayed it tends to re- 

 tard blossoming and harvest, which is usually desirable. Setting of the 

 new bed should be completed by the first week in May ; otherwise the 

 plants may not throw as many runners as is desirable, nor produce as 

 much fruit per runner plant. If the plants are check-rowed when set and 

 the proper equipment is available they may be cross-cultivated and the 

 labor of hoeing and weeding thus kept at a minimum until about July first 



