COMMERCIAL ORCHARDING IN WEST VIRGINIA. 23 



profits up to a certain point. Besides, thorough spraying is a means 

 of insuring the crop when once it is set on the trees. 



The cost of management is one that varies greatly in this section. 

 The fact that orcharding has been carried on here as an important 

 industry for many years and the further fact that the value of spray- 

 ing trees for fungous diseases is thoroughly understood and has 

 become an established practice make it comparatively easy to get 

 foremen who are reliable and understand these operations. By com- 

 bining this knowledge of the foreman with the business knowledge of 

 a banker, a lawyer, or a merchant it becomes possible to cut down 

 the item for management to the nominal sum of $25 to $50 per month. 

 At $50 per month there would be saved on the orchard proposition 

 above discussed $8,400 during the life period of such orchard. At 

 $25 per month for management, the amount generally paid for such 

 service, it would save $12,600. Unless the manager who is paid 

 $1,200 to $1,600 per year could in some way increase the profits of 

 the orchard more than this amount, such salaries could not be paid 

 on any economic basis. 



A very common method of cutting down operating expenses is the 

 raising of subsidiary crops during the period before the orchard has 

 arrived at the bearing stage, and to some extent afterwards. In 

 this section tomatoes have proved to be the most profitable, and it 

 is believed that they interfere less with the moisture content and 

 fertility of the soil. 



On chert lands a crop of corn is often raised during the first year 

 and on such soils it often pays one year's operating expenses. 



Nearly all orchardists raise the vegetables used on the table in the 

 camps, but as a rule nothing is raised in the orchards except cover 

 crops after the bearing period begins. Some, however, are experi- 

 menting with tomatoes in the peach orchards when the fruit has 

 failed. This practice in some cases is believed to be profitable. 

 Many experienced growers, however, are convinced that it is not an 

 economic practice. 



Diversification is the means by which the general farmer has 

 learned to deal with the conditions which he can not directly control. 

 It has proved to be more profitable in the long run, and it is the safer 

 practice, especially for those with limited capital. There is a marked 

 tendency toward diversification in the fruit industry in this section. 

 No orchard company was found which had invested in peaches or 

 apples alone. Some have combined cherries and pears, and a few 

 are taking up small fruits, trucking, and alfalfa. 



The smaller growers as a rule attempt to raise feed for the stock. 

 As already stated, the teams are idle more than half the year. 

 This fact suggests the possibility of a system of management being 



