‘ 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 
Contribution from the Office of Farm Management 
W. J. SPILLMAN, Chief 
Washington, D. C. Vv : | ~ April 20, 1918 
COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN YAKIMA VALLEY, 
WASHINGTON. | 
A detailed study of the current cost factors involved in the maintenance of orchards 
and the handling of the crop on 120 representative bearing orchards. 
By G. H. Miter, Assistant Agriculturist, and S. M. Tomson, Scientific Assistant. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page 
Introduction 4524.23--2 5-57 pra eos BN ihyete Scie ile aes iment teresa oe eaern gee Fe ag ie ace ee 11 
Facts brought out.....--.-- eee Soe oe eee 2; We OUCH ALCS ates 2S ks 1's sie Sei eee a 14 
ines vealkamm ae Stitt Cie a ec tee eee 2 | Orchard maintenance........--.- aR cate 19 
History and development of the industry.... As Handline thie crop ase ae eee eee ee woe 49 
Method of presentation .-.-....--.----------- Shi Totallabormcostesc.5- 2. : pest sr tee Mata eect aa 
Harm) orsani7abl Omen sar see ate aie cr 8 | Expenses other than labor.....-.-..-.- pe eeeae 65 
Siero trance neta oe ae eet et sls erate Opie Ota OL AUNCOStSs cre ceeeny ce eee ere 72 
Hypesroleran Chers eee see ese oe ee oy cele 10 ra 
INTRODUCTION. 
This bulletin presents the results of a study of apple orcharding in 
Yakima Valley (Washington) made by the Office of Farm Manage- 
ment during the summer of 1915. As with previous surveys con- 
ducted in the apple-growing districts of the Northwest, the object of 
the study was to determine the cost factors involved in apple produc- 
tion, and to gather such information as to the different methods of 
orchard management practiced by the growers of the valley as might 
have a bearing upon cost of production. 
Data were obtained by the same method used in Wenatchee Valley 
in 1914. A sufficient number of orchardists were visited to give a 
reliable average, and complete and detailed information was gathered 
regarding the usual methods of procedure in orchard management, 
1 This is the fourth of a series of bulletins on the cost of apple production. Department Bulletin No. 446, 
“The Cost of Producing Apples in Wenatchee Valley, Washington,” Department Bulletin No. 500, “The 
Cost of Producing Applesin Western Colorado,” and Department Bulletin No. 518, “The Cost of Producing 
Applesin Hood River Valley,’ have already been published. 
Notre.—Acknowledgment is due to the Office of Horticultural and Pomological Investigations of the 
Bureau of Plant Industry for material assistance in the preparation of this bulletin; also to Mr. J. Clifford 
Folger, who aided in securing the necessary data, and Mr. F. E. De Sellem, Horticultural Inspector at 
Large, North Yakima, for helpful suggestions. 
13116°—17—Bull. 6141 
