12 



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



the apples were hauled 1.5 miles to storage, at a cost of 36 cents per 

 ton per mile. The cost per barrel per mile was 3 cents. 



On return trips from storage the driver passed near the barn, tak- 

 ing a load of empty barrels to the orchard. The time required for 

 this operation was small and considered part of the marketing cost. 

 At noon, on the way to dinner, a load of unsorted apples was usually 

 hauled to the barn. Generally a load was hauled also at the close 

 of the day. When the weather would not permit outside work, the 

 apples were packed in the barn. This cost was considered under 

 packing. Even though the cost of packing in the barn was higher, 

 this was doubtless more than offset, as the help was able to work 

 during bad 'weather. 



The principal labor operations which were performed on this par- 

 ticular farm in order to produce marketable fruit have been de- 

 scribed. There are many minor factors which would influence the 

 cost of these operations. Definite figures which could be used uni- 

 versally can not be given. Each farm is a unit, and the several enter- 

 prises are managed differently on each farm. The figures presented 

 are suggestive and illustrate the method used in arriving at the total 

 labor cost of producing a marketable barrel of apples on the Wellman 

 farm during the two years specified. 



A summary is given in Table V of (1) the cost of operations up to 

 picking time and (2) the cost of handling the crop. Although the 

 1912 crop was more than double that of 1911, the cost of handling it 

 was only one-half a cent less per barrel. Up to picking time in both 

 years the operating cost per tree was about the same. 



Table V. — Summary of labor costs on the 14-74-acre Wellman apple orchard, containing 



527 trees, in 1911 and 1912. 





1911 



1912 



Item of cost. 



Per tree. 



Per bar- 

 rel. 



Per tree. 



Per bar- 

 rel. 





SO. 341 



.017 



SO. 192 

 .347 



$0. 310 

 1.315 



SO. 078 





.329 







Total 



.958 



.539 



1.625 



.407 







CASH COSTS. 



In the cost of the production of apples there are certain items for 

 which a more or less direct outlay of cash, or its equivalent, is neces- 

 sary. Such items as spray material, cover-crop seed, fertilizer, 

 manure, barrels, storage, freight, etc., come under this head. 



The manure cost is found by adding to the value of the manure 

 the cost of applying it to the field. The total cost of the application 



