COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN WESTERN COLORADO. 41 



much above the average. Systematic thinning also increases the 

 yield of marketable fruit. • -• 



The drop or cull apples are not counted in the yields. Generally 

 speaking, these are as yet practically waste in Colorado. A few are 

 hauled to vinegar factories, some are made into cider, some fed to 

 stock, but the great bulk of cull fruit is not marketed in any way and 

 thus can not be credited to the orchard. By systematic thinning, 

 spraying, etc., this unmarketable fruit is reduced to a minimum; 

 indeed is almost entirely eliminated by a few of the more careful 

 growers. 



MARKETING. 



The apples are marketed usually in three grades, namely, "Extra 

 fancy," "Fancy," and "Choice" or "C" grade. In Montrose 

 County, however, there is a tendency to make a jumble pack. 



At the time of this study the fruit was marketed largely through 

 selling organizations, cooperative and otherwise. The growers con- 

 tract with these organizations and agree to allow them to handle 

 their fruit, either at a fixed cost per box or on commission. The 

 usual custom with cooperative selling organizations has been to 

 handle the fruit at a cost of 10 cents per box. Growers often mar- 

 ket their own fruit, but to do this they have to follow it up, and 

 serious difficulties are often encountered. 



MATERIALS AND FIXED COSTS. 



The expenses other than labor may be grouped into "fixed costs" 

 and material costs. (See Table XXXIV.) The fixed costs include 

 taxes, water rent, insurance, interest, and depreciation, while the mate- 

 rial costs include boxes, nails, paper, labels, lime-sulphur, lead arsenate, 

 and all other spray materials. There is also the cost or value of manure 

 charged to the orchard, which is a material cost. Included among 

 cash costs is the spray rig hire. This refers only to the rig itself, as all 

 man and horse labor is charged elsewhere. It is necessary for this 

 cost to appear, since 24.5 per cent of the men in Mesa, 16.4 per 

 cent in Delta, and 6.6 per cent in Montrose hire spraying done, 

 and the cost of the spraying equipment is not charged in the depre- 

 ciation charges which appear. Therefore, the cost of hiring these 

 rigs at 45 cents per hour for the use of the rig alone is distributed 

 over all the records. 



