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



must be charged against the apple orchard. Hence, it is quite 

 possible that the rate per hour of man and horse labor would be much 

 higher than on a well-diversified farm, where the labor is better dis- 

 tributed throughout the year. The lowering of this rate on a diversi- 

 fied farm comes about through the other farm, enterprises utilizing 

 the labor during the periods when it is not needed in orchard work. 



Persons taking up fruit growing as a specialty without any other 

 sources of farm income are not following the experience of the best 

 growers in the oldest apple-producing .regions of this country. The 

 Wellman farm is an excellent illustration of growing fruit in con- 

 nection with other farm crops. The crops, such as beans, wheat, 

 and hay, form no small part in lessening the operating costs of this 

 orchard, in that fruit growing constitutes only one item of the farm 

 business. In this way the overhead costs chargeable to the orchard 

 are materially decreased, while in the case of the specialized apple farm 

 all such costs must be borne entirely by the orchard. The reader is 

 urged to bear in mind that the data which have been presented refer 

 only to a particular orchard on a single farm and give only the 

 expense factors incident to the maintenance and operation of this 

 well-cared-for mature orchard. This publication is intended to 

 illustrate a method which, if followed by apple growers, will enable 

 them to analyze the important factors entering into the cost of 

 operating and maintaining their orchard industries and to deter- 

 mine the relation which the various cost factors bear to one another 

 in years of varying crop production. By adopting this method the 

 independent grower will be able to determine the actual cost of 

 maintaining and operating his fruit enterprise on his own farm. 



No intelligent grower will assume that these figures are actual 

 costs on his own farm, but he should determine for himself the cost 

 of producing his fruit. 



Apple growing as a commercial business has in many regions 

 reached a high state of development. With the increased develop- 

 ment keener competition will result. In order to realize profits, 

 the producer must manage his business efficiently. The men most 

 favorably situated and who are experienced and efficient will be 

 able to produce apples cheapest. The lessening of the cost will not 

 necessarily be due to differences in cultural methods, the reduc- 

 tion of package costs, or the decrease in the wages of the help, but 

 to better management of the farm as a unit. 



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