126 The Commercial Apple Industry 



a fair labor income. The acreage will of course vary with 

 the regions. For the more general farmer, the size of 

 the orchard should be governed by the acreage to which 

 careful attention can be given. Ten acres or even less may 

 be advisable since an orchard very often suffers from a 

 pressure of other farm work. The day of poorly cared 

 for commercial orchards has passed. 



Necessary capital. 



All available capital should not be invested in raw land 

 for planting or in non-bearing orchards. The more or 

 less hazardous nature of specialized farming emphasizes 

 the need for sufficient capital to tide the farmer over the 

 poor years. The fruit-grower must follow a far-sighted 

 policy if he is to maintain his orchard in a high state of 

 productivity. Such a policy requires considerable expen- 

 diture at times when there may be no returns. If the 

 trees are allowed to suffer one year, the effect may be 

 noticeable for many years to come. Neglected orchards 

 are explained in many instances by the owners not actually 

 having available capital to meet necessary expenses. It 

 is not because they fail to recognize the wisdom and im- 

 portance of careful spraying, pruning and the like, but 

 rather because immediate needs for living expenses must 

 receive first consideration. 



Specialized apple-growing can not be undertaken suc- 

 cessfully on the small margin which suffices for general 

 farming. In other words, the investor who expects to 

 devote himself exclusively to apple-growing should have 

 several thousand dollars or outside income in order that he 

 may safely buy and operate a farm sufficiently large to 

 yield a good labor income. Nothing less than a 50 per 



