PROEIl. 119 



tions. But whoever plants an orchard and lets the cat- 

 tle destroy it, or the weeds overrun it, or the borer girdle 

 it, or the poverty of his land starve it, must not be sur- 

 prised if he fails to make a fortune. He must not ex- 

 pecl miracles. 



We have had some experience and more observation, 

 and we are decidedly of opinion that no field crop will 

 pay better than peaches ; but they will not pay as well as 

 gardening and trucking where there is a convenient 

 market. 



Take, as an illustration, an orchard of ten acres, one 

 thousand trees, when the trees are four years old. The 

 first cost of the trees and planting we estimate, and it is 

 very nearly the truth, at - - - $150.00 



Interest for four years ... 36.00 



Total expense till it comes in - $186.00 

 The product of the soil in corn, potatoes, etc., will equal 

 the tillage of the trees, so that when they come in the 

 orchard will be in debt - - - - $186.00 

 We estimate the first crop of peaches at one thou- 

 sand baskets, more or less, which are worth to the 

 planter, on the tree, thirty cents, - - $300.00 



This pays the old debt and interest, and leaves $114. 00 

 The second year there may be only two hun- 

 dred baskets ; but owing to a scanty crop the 

 price is doubled, and the planter gets sixty cents 

 a basket on the trees, .... $ia0.00 



The third season, a full crop, three thousand 

 baskets, worth thirty cents, ... $900.00 



The fourth year is a total failure - - 



Four years then give a net income of - $1,134.00 



Which is equal to an annual rent of • $383.50 



Or an annual rent per acre of • • • $28.35 



