382 The Commercial Apple Industry 



ered and can only be met successfully by increasing and 

 maintaining yields. 



Much more detail might be entered into in a discussion 

 of the cost of production in the various regions. It is con- 

 stantly changing with the price of labor and materials. It 

 is important to cut out all unnecessary expense in connec- 

 tion with the orchard and pay strict attention to yield of 

 high quality fruit. However, expenses to the acre should 

 not be spared if it decreases expense a box or barrel. Al- 

 most universally i the grower who spends most on his or- 

 chard when invested in a systematic way, such as proper 

 pruning, fertilizing, thinning and spraying, produces 

 apples at a less cost a box or barrel than the grower who 

 tries to save dimes by lack of sufficient attention to the 

 orchard and loses dollars by lack of a good yield. 



When selecting an orchard or site, it is extremely im- 

 portant that probable cost of production be studied and 

 taken into account. The limiting factor which determines 

 the success or failure of a region may be climate, soil, 

 transportation, topography, labor, cost of materials or" one 

 of many other things. Above all, it is most important 

 to remember that large annual yields of high quality fruit 

 will overcome most unfavorable factors. In fact, high 

 yields are in themselves proof that most factors are either 

 favorable or, if unfavorable, may be overcome. Yields 

 should be based on an average of at least five years. Mis- 

 leading statements as regarding yields are often wilfully 

 made in various commercial publications for advertising 

 purposes. Acreage averages should be used and not tree 

 averages. One is likely to draw erroneous conclusions 

 from the performance of individual trees. 



If cost production figures are based on the average an- 



