COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN YAKIMA VALLEY. 



23 



DISPOSAL OF BRUSH. 



Several rather widely varying methods of brush disposal are em- 

 ployed, hence there is considerable range in the cost of this operation. 

 A normal time could not be expected where there is such a wide varia- 

 tion in controlling factors. The regularity of pruning, the amount 

 and kind of wood removed, as well as the method of handling and 

 disposing of the brush, each has a considerable bearing on the time 

 required for this operation. The cost of disposing of brush is nearly 

 proportionate to the cost of pruning. 



Table XV.— Annual cost of disposing of brush in orchards in Yakima Valley. 





Num-' 

 ber of 

 rec- 

 ords. 



Acres 

 in orch- 

 ard. 



Hours. 



Cost. 



District. 



Man. 



Horse. 



Per 

 acre. 



Per 

 tree. 



Per 

 box. 



Under clean-cultural management: 



43 

 32 



75 



21 



24 

 45 



64 

 56 

 120 



5.49 

 7.70 

 6.44 



4.52 



7.85 



. 6.30 



5.18 



7.77 

 6.39 



10. 54 

 12.21 

 11.25 



10.46 

 12.98 

 11.81 



10.51 



12.54 

 11.46 



12.50 

 10.98 

 11.85 



11.26 



9.88 

 10.53 



12.09 

 10.51 

 11.35' 



$4.51 

 4.70 

 4.59 



4.30 

 4.73 

 4.53 



4.44 

 4.71 

 4.57 



$0. 057 

 .068 

 .061 



.056 

 .071 

 .064 



.057 

 .069 

 .062 



SO. 0095 



Zillah 



.0112 



North Yakima and Zillah 



Under mulch-crop management: 



.0102 

 .0099 



Zillah 



.0129 





.0114 



All orchards: 



.0096 



Zillah 



.0118 

 .0106 







There is little difference in the cost in the orchards under clean- 

 cultural as compared with those under mulch-crop management. 

 Considering all the records taken the former cost per acre is $4.59 

 and the latter $4.53.' (See Table XV.) 



The two more common methods used in disposing of the brush are : 



1. A crew of either one man and one horse or two men and team 

 with a wagon or sled is used to pick up, haul, and burn the brush left 

 by the pruner. 



2. The brush is often placed in piles. A crew, varying in size as 

 stated above, pick up the brush either by hand or with forks, haul, 

 and burn it. 



In some instances a horse rake is used to clean up and carry the 

 brush to a burning-place. However, two-man and two-horse crews 

 are. most commonly used in brush disposal in both the upper and the 

 lower valley. 



It is a general practice in some orchards where large limbs are 

 removed to have the same trimmed up and used for fire wood. Where 

 such a practice is usual, the time required for trimming up, together 

 with the hauling of the wood to the ranch house, is considered and a 

 credit to the orchard is made for the same. 



There is little difference between the cost of removing brush in the 

 North Yakima and in the Zillah districts. Considering all records 



