10 BULLETIN 130, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



make a difference of less than 1 cent'per barrel. In the late summer 

 of 1911, the year the orchard was plowed, a cover crop of oats, clover, 

 and cowhorn turnips was sowed. There was an excellent growth of 

 clover, and the latter part of the following June it was cut. Consider- 

 ing the total acreage of the orchard, only about one-half of it was cut 

 with the mower, as it was impossible to get near the trees with the 

 machine. It was the original plan to form a mulch with this clover 

 and the crop which might have followed, but on account of the de- 

 structive work of the army worms this was not possible. 



The exact proportion of bearing apple orchard and tillable cropping 

 land which would make the use of labor most efficient is not known. 

 It may not be possible to arrive at such a figure, but it is worth being 

 considered by every grower of fruit. 



A very important question arises in this connection: Can the 

 specializing fruit grower produce, handle, and market his fruit for 

 less than the general farmer who makes the growing of the apple 

 one of his farm enterprises ? 



HANDLING THE CROP. 



The handling of the apple crop in the apple belt of western New 

 York is a serious problem with many growers. Labor requires a 

 high wage, and at times it is difficult to get efficient help. Some 

 growers near the cities are able to get a little experienced help at 

 harvesting time. Tramp labor often proves efficient, and many 

 growers depend upon it. 



The men with large bearing orchards are most seriously affected. 

 The men on the general farms have some advantages over those on 

 specialized fruit farms. On the general farms labor is needed the 

 entire year, and this labor is often sufficient for the apple harvest. 



The method adopted in picking apples depends to some extent on 

 the size of the crop. The cost of the operation is influenced by many 

 factors, of which the expertness of the picker is perhaps the greatest. 

 The variety and quality of the fruit, the time of picking, the quantity 

 of fruit on the tree, the shape and height of the tree, and the equip- 

 ment used in picking the fruit are other factors which materially 

 affect the cost. 



In 1911 regular labor and a small amount of extra labor were used 

 to pick the marketable crop of 937 barrels. This was done at a 

 cost of 15 cents per barrel. In 1912 the early apples, 284 barrels, 

 together with 108 barrels of Baldwins, were picked by regular labor 

 and a small amount of extra labor at a cost of 11 cents per barrel. 



