122 The Commercial Apple Industry 



under thirty feet An ultimate removal of one-third to 

 one-half of the trees seems almost unavoidable. Even 

 under such circumstances it hardly seems probable that 

 the western irrigated orchards will remain in profitable 

 bearing as long, for example, as the western New York 

 orchards, the reason being not the longevity of the trees 

 so much as the necessity for producing the highest grade 

 fruit. The success of western irrigated orchards has been 

 in the marketable superiority of its fruit. High quality 

 fruit is more easily produced on young trees and it seems 

 probable that the western grower will be inclined to aban- 

 don older orchards and set new trees which quickly come 

 into bearing under his system of orchard management. 



Diseases and insect pests. 



Several commercial apple regions have entirely passed 

 out of existence on account of the prevalence of certain 

 insects and diseases. A bewildering list of insects and 

 diseases might be suggested to the prospective investor 

 since each locality has a special number of pests which 

 are more or less serious. This subject is treated more 

 fully in Chapter X. 



In most regions spraying enters very materially into 

 the cost of production, representing in some cases over 

 12 per cent of all costs. This figure, however, is only 

 an item of expense. It in no way indicates the loss in 

 fruit or injury to trees which may result from the depre- 

 dation of prevalent orchard pests. 



The prospective investor would do well to study the 

 spraying program of the locality which he is considering 

 and inform himself as to the number and character of the 

 applications necessary to the production of high marketable 



