Locality and Site for the Commercial Orchard 125 



Damp rainy weather at blossoming time may be even a 

 more serious factor than frost, since it prevents insect 

 activity in pollination; furthermore, it interferes greatly 

 with necessary spraying operations. Such unfavorable 

 weather conditions often exist throughout the Middle 

 West at blooming time. Hail injury and loss by heavy 

 windstorms are much more prevalent in certain regions 

 than in others. While personal investigation of the im- 

 portant points is necessary, reference to official weather 

 records will prove an invaluable guide. Meteorologists 

 agree that climate does not change, but state that it may 

 run in cycles. A study of a several year period is, there- 

 fore, advisable. 



Size of farm. 



The size of farm to buy depends on whether apple-grow- 

 ing is to be the sole or only one of several important enter- 

 prises. A discussion of farm organizations has been given 

 elsewhere. An orchard of less than fifteen acres even in 

 the most intensive regions seems hardly advisable, since 

 the overhead for equipment and general supervision would 

 scarcely permit economical management of a smaller 

 acreage; furthermore, the gross income would necessarily 

 limit very large returns. The average farm in the inten- 

 sive irrigated sections is scarcely over ten acres and twenty 

 acres is often considered more than one man can handle. 

 There is a surprising relation between the maximum yields 

 and limited acreage, particularly for the farmer who 

 diversifies. In other words, a small acreage well cared 

 for very often gives a greater total production than a much 

 larger acreage. For the intensive apple-grower, an annual 

 production of at least 5,000 bushels is necessary to insure 



