Value in Apple Orchards 



In the universal interest in country life which during the last 

 decade has grown and developed to an unusual degree, the cul- 

 ture of the apple has attracted widespread attention. There has 

 been voluminous writing upon the subject, and quantities of 

 literature sent out, some of which unfortunately has been mis- 

 leading in character. 



In another booklet now under way, entitled "Farming as a 

 Business,' 7 the subject of markets and marketing will be fully 

 created. 



For the past twenty years the value of apples has ruled so 

 high as to prohibit their liberal use by the average consumer. 

 In 1896 the apple crop of the United States reached 70,000,000 

 barrels. Since that time there has been a steady decline in pro- 

 duction until the range is from 22,000,000 to 56,000,000 barrels 

 annually, and this in the face of rapidly increasing population. 



By those who have given orchards the best of care, large 

 value per acre has been received. Facts and figures have been 

 given wide publication concerning instances wherein large 

 profits have been realized. These published statements have 

 given rise to an extensive speculative movement in the purchase 

 of cheap unimproved land, much of which is unsuited to the 

 culture of the apple, or, being located far from markets, with- 

 out adequate transportation facilities is too difficult of' access 

 to be profitably worked. Under such conditions thousands of 

 acres have been planted to trees of many varieties without 

 knowledge of or regard to their adaptability to the locality or to 

 their proximity to markets. Land so obtained has been divided 

 and subdivided into tracts or units of one-half acre — one acre 

 — five — ten — twenty and more, and sold to investors at a 

 high price with an agreement at the end of five years to turn 

 over the orchards on a basis of profit sharing. Millions of dol- 

 lars have been poured into this channel of investment, by vast 

 numbers of city people who, through attractive exhibitions of 

 fruit put on display in the cities for several weeks, have been 

 made to believe that fortunes may be realized by buying one 

 of these small orchards, that many would never even look upon. 



There are Orchard Companies, however, that have secured 

 suitable land in desirable places — that have the capital neces- 



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