116 The Commercial Apple Industry 



general farming and as is the case with all specialized 

 industries the inexperienced individual is at somewhat of 

 a disadvantage in passing on the relative merits of dif- 

 ferent investments. 



CHOOSING THE SITE FOR A FRUIT-FARM 



In the purchase of a fruit-farm, the prospective in- 

 vestor should keep many points in mind. In the following 

 discussion, the more important points will be considered 

 in the purchase or selection of a site for an apple orchard. 



Raw versus planted land. 



The first problem is whether to purchase a bearing 

 orchard or to buy raw land and set trees. The relative 

 cheapness of undeveloped land is usually a most attrac- 

 tive feature and the investor very often overlooks the fact 

 that it requires from eight to ten years in irrigated sec- 

 tions and from twelve to fifteen years in non-irrigated 

 districts for an apple orchard to attain real commercial 

 bearing. If the investor has other income or can afford 

 to wait for returns, the planting of an orchard in a favor- 

 able locality will usually prove profitable. 



Buying raw land in the hope of paying for its develop- 

 ment and of making a living at the same time by farming 

 between the rows is seldom feasible. No definite recom- 

 mendations can be made to fit all cases, but as a rule 

 the more profitable ventures result from the investment of 

 at least a part of the available capital in bearing orchard. 

 Very often adjoining raw land may be purchased which 

 can be set to trees if the owner desires to extend his 

 plantings. 



