Cost of Production 385 



yields ; the higher the yield, the lower the cost of produc- 

 tion a unit. 



2. Maintenance practices such as spraying, pruning 

 and cultivating, greatly influence yield. As a general 

 rule, increase in maintenance costs to the acre means a 

 decrease in cost a box or barrel. It is poor economy to 

 neglect orchard practices which are necessary to high yields 

 of good quality fruit. 



3. The average commercial grower in the United 

 States could effect a considerable saving in his cost of pro- 

 duction if he spent more time in thinning his fruit. At 

 the present time only growers in the Pacific Northwest 

 thin extensively. Even there this operation could be prac- 

 ticed more systematically with profit. 



4. Growers with mature orchards or those reaching ma- 

 turity can in many cases greatly increase annual yields 

 and thereby lower cost of production, if they will give more 

 attention to soil management and fertilization. No phase 

 of fruit-growing is of more importance than the mainte- 

 nance of soil fertility. 



5. The relative acre value of apple orchards should be 

 determined largely by average annual yields. Low yields 

 with excessive fixed costs limit successful production in 

 many widely advertized regions. 



6. The cost of production is exceedingly variable de- 

 pending so largely on yield, labor rates and overhead costs, 

 all of which are so variable that no definite figure which 

 will hold can be given. However, it has been found that 

 under 1919 conditions box apples could not be put in the 

 car for less than $1.20 a box, while barreled apples ordi- 

 narily averaged about $2.50 a barrel, f. o. b., in cost of pro- 

 duction. The cost of boxes was figured at 22 cents, of 



