COST OF PRODUCING APPLES IN YAKIMA VALLEY. Al 
Propping (see Table XX XIII) is done any time throughout the 
latter part of the growing season when the weight of the fruit has a 
tendency to bear the limbs down so that there is danger of their 
breaking. The props usually are made of 2- by 3- inch or 1- by 4-inch 
strips between 8 and 12 feet in length, so notched at one end as to 
hold up the limbs securely. The propping is done as the need pre- 
sents itself. Pine and fir props may be obtained for $15 to $20 per 
thousand feet. The amount of depreciation will vary to a consid- 
erable extent, depending upon the care given them. Many of the 
erowers believe that, with proper handling and shelter, these props 
would last from 10 to 15 years. 
TABLE XX XIII.—Number of man-hours and horse-hours and cost per acre required for 
propping orchards in the Yakima Valley. 
Per acre. | 
District. ber of Num- | Num- er ae 
: ber of | ber of tree. ies 
ords. |. Trees. SaaW Es IMac lh COS p 
hours. | hours. 
Under clean-cultural management: 
North sake a ep eee fs eee Se 43 | .79.2 5. 32 4.61 | $2.02 | $0.026 79. 07 
7 AeA Ve a oh a ae So a ey UU nee ee 32] 69.1 2.93 3.12 1.20 017 50. 00 
INorth Yakimaand Zillah sss 2 2 5 75 | 74.9 4.30 3. 98 1. 67 . 022 66. 67 
Under mulch-crop management: 
IN Ont ne Yasin aac eae cee) ee. ee. 21 | 76.3 4.85 3. 99 1.81 . 024 66. 67 
FALE OF os Sans ee ARNG elaine Pe a pee 24 | 67.0 2.65 2.51 1.04 - 016 33. 33 
North Yakimajand Zillah... 22).2.....2.-: 45] 71.3 3. 67 3. 20 1.40 - 020 44,44 
All orchards: 
INOnEhAYakcsimains iat ses sman aes a eee Pie 64 | 78.2 5. 16 4.41 1,95 025 75. 00 
ZN NS Br eee eee eS Ae Sense see 56] 68.2 2.81 2. 86 1.13 017 42. 86 
North Yakima and Zillah...........-...-- 120] 73.6 4.06 3.69 1.57 - 021 60. 00 
Several methods of handling props are practiced. On smaller 
plantings some men carry their props into the orchard and prop 
where needed. Others use a team for hauling out the props, placing 
them in convenient piles throughout the orchard. Setting up props 
is a Separate operation. Many of the men haul the props out and 
set them as the hauling is being done. When these props are hauled, 
a crew of one man and two horses is used ordinarily. So few men 
followed any one particular method that it is impossible to give a 
fair average for any particular crew in performing this operation. 
As a rule, after the season is over the props are hauled and piled 
in a sheltered place. Few men allow their props to remain in the 
orchard. A little more time is required for this operation in the 
clean-cultured than in the mulch-crop orchards, owing mostly to 
the difference in yield. 
Considering all records that were taken, regardless of the method 
used, the annual propping charge is 4.06 man-hours and 3.69 horse- 
hours, at a cost of $1.57.per acre. 
