182 
how to advise, involves sO many ques- 
tions that it is a difficult undertaking. 
Under the heading of Districts, this sec- 
tion, the lists of fruits recommended 
py the American Pomological Society are 
given, and while none will agree with 
them on every point, when all things are 
considered it is the best list published 
and perhaps the best that can, with 
present information, be adopted. 
Cost of Production and Value of Good 
Varieties 
The selection of good varieties, and the 
production of the best qualities of what- 
ever varieties are chosen, cannot be over- 
estimated in a desire for large net 
profits. It costs almost as much to grow 
poor varieties and poor grades as it does 
to grow the best, and the results are 
vastly different. Suppose, when the or- 
chard comes into bearing, the land it 
occupies is valued at $1,000 per acre. In- 
terest on this amount at 7 per cent is 
$70 per acre, on 10 acres, $700." We will 
suppose the average cost of irrigating 
water, in sections where irrigation is 
practiced, to be $1.50 per acre, or for 
10 acres, $15. We will estimate the cost 
of food for team, depreciation of the 
value of team, wear and tear of ma- 
chinery, harness, etc., at $25 per acre, 
for 10 acres, $250. This makes a total 
per acre of $96.50, or for 10 acres, 
$965. Under fair treatment, this or- 
chard should yield 650 boxes per acre, 
or 6,500 boxes. This estimate is high 
except in case of large trees. The cost 
as thus far estimated, will be approxi- 
mately 14 cents ($0.14) per box. Now, 
suppose we add the cost of Spraying, la- 
bor, irrigating, picking, assorting, pack- 
ing, box-materials, boxing and hauling to 
market. According to a consensus of 
opinion gathered from a wide range of 
inquiries, we will place these expenses 
at 47 cents ($0.47) per box. This, added 
to the 16 cents per box, which includes 
interest on land, water, taxes, etc., places 
the cost of producing a box of apples at 
61 cents ($0.61). Generally, the inter- 
est on land, taxes and labor of the 
owner are not counted, because it is ar- 
gued they furnish the owner a home, a 
profitable place to work, and steady em- 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
ployment. We estimate it here, however, 
because in our purpose of showing the 
difference between the giowing of goog 
or poor varieties, it occupies a logical 
place, and the estimate would not be com. 
plete without it. See tables on cost of 
producing apples for further estimates. 
Suppose, then, an orchardist grows va. 
rieties of apples that sell at $100 per 
box; he has a net profit of 39 cents per 
box, or $2,585 on ten acres of 6,500 boxes, 
He has had interest on the money in. 
vested, has had pay for his labor, a place 
to live and work and $2,405. This, of 
course, would yield him an income suf. 
ficient to enable him to live, to avoid 
the trouble of moving, paying rent, and 
to pay him for responsibility, care, long 
hours of labor which he often performs, 
and unforeseen emergencies. All these 
are important items, and are as much as 
many expect, because many come up to 
the close of life with nothing saved. 
Suppose, however, that instead of grow- 
ing varieties or grades that sell at $1.00 
per box, he grows fruit that will sell at 
$1.50 per box; he has in addition to the 
estimates we have already made, 50 cents 
per box net profit, or on one acre $325; 
on 10 acres, $3,250. This, added to the 
profits of $2,535, already obtained under 
the system that produced apples at $1.00 
per box, equals on ten acres $5,785. The 
difference between the two profits of 
$2,535 and of $5,785, is a difference of 
choice of varieties, and proper manage- 
ment. 
We would not overlook the emphasis 
upon “proper management,” because even 
if the best varieties are selected, and 
they are not properly adapted to soil 
conditions, to frost conditions, sprayed, 
pruned or thinned, they may result in 
disappointment. If not sprayed for scale, 
or codling moth, 90 per cent of the crop 
may be unmarketable. If not properly 
thinned, it may be of good quality; but 
be too small to bring high prices on the 
market. We may have as many boxes 
of unthinned small fruit as we would of 
thinned well-developed fruit; but our 
small fruit will bring a small price, while 
our well developed fruit will bring a good 
price. 
