Cultivation of the Orchard 169 



ordinary tractor at present is not adapted for use on the 

 small farm, particularly a small intensive fruit-farm. It 

 is not necessary that the orchard be large, but if the fruit 

 acreage is small a tractor will not be profitable unless con- 

 siderable general farm land is being operated in conjunc- 

 tion with the orchard. Orchards of less than 30 to 40 

 acres, unless connected with a general farm, will hardly 

 warrant the purchase of a tractor at present prices. There 

 should be at least twenty days' work a year for a tractor in 

 order that it may be profitable. Four to 5 acres of plow- 

 ing or 18 to 20 acres of double discing may be considered 

 a day's work for the average tractor. A two-horse team 

 will plow about iy 2 acres a day in the orchard and disc 

 from 6 to 7 acres. 



2. A tractor represents a considerable investment. On 

 account of the initial cost of a good tractor, efficiency is 

 necessary if sufficient returns are made to pay such over- 

 head charges as interest, depreciation, upkeep, and the 

 like. A man of limited capital, particularly if he is oper- 

 ating a young orchard from which there is little cash 

 return, is likely to find a tractor a rather heavy burden 

 on his working capital. 



3. Experienced labor is necessary to operate and care 

 for a tractor. While the use of such a machine may save 

 the labor of one or two additional men, it is important to 

 realize that the man who operates a tractor should be exper- 

 ienced and have some knowledge of machinery. When 

 traced back to their origin, it has been found that a great 

 number of complaints with reference to the use of tractors 

 are primarily due to the lack of experience and mechanical 

 knowledge on the part of the operator. 



4. There is a heavy depreciation when tractors are care- 



