222 Strawberry-Growing 



crates an acre, the latter being from small tracts. Col- 

 orado growers estimate that the cost of production is 

 about $1.15 for a twenty-four quart crate. Net returns 

 of $250 an acre frequently are reported. In the Yakima 

 Valley, Washington, a yield of 250 twenty-four quart 

 crates is considered satisfactory for the first three years 

 of the plantation, but 400 crates are expected the fourth 

 year ; after that the yield declines. Yields of 600 crates 

 an acre are not uncommon. The net prices are from 

 $1 .50 to $1 .70 a crate ; there is no profit when it is less than 

 $1.00. On Vashon Island, in western Washington, 

 P. J. McCormick has picked 2458 quarts of Magoon 

 from 1000 hill plants, which is at the rate of 800 crates, 

 or 19,200 quarts, an acre. The average yield, however, 

 is 275 to 300 crates, at a net price of about $1.60 a crate. 

 The great shipping variety of the Hood River Valley, 

 Oregon, — the Clark, — is a shy bearer. The average 

 yield is 150 twenty-four quart crates, but 300 crate-yields 

 sometimes are reported. 



The yield to the acre in California is increased somewhat 

 by the protracted bearing season, but not as much as 

 might be supposed. In southern California, the average 

 yield is 12,000 to 15,000 pint boxes an acre, but yields of 

 30,000 boxes are secured occasionally. Gross returns of 

 $1500 an acre have been reported, but the average is about 

 $500. The cost of production is heavy; it costs about 

 $150 to plant an acre, since it requires 30,000 to 100,000 

 plants. The average cost of producing and marketing a 

 pint box of berries is S^ cents and the average selling price 

 around five cents. In the Los Angeles district, overhead 

 charges are very heavy. The land is worth about $1000 

 an acre ; most of it is rented to Japanese in four or five 

 acre tracts for $20 an acre annually. Irrigation water is 



