Cost of Bringing a Peach Orchard into Bearing 
Item First year Second year Third year Fourth year 
Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars 
per acre per acre per acre per acre 
Greenimaniteypeaesctenem ene chen 8.10 8.10 8.10 8.10 
PIUNIN asco aektchict emer cele ten lie 8.10 20.30 28.50 40.70 
Otherc. ctcn- reper eaenersn cit 4.10 14.60 23.60 27.70 
Laborer... cehcuencttey euswors ior suis 26.00 29.30 37.40 42.30 
Manure (includes spreading). . . 19.50 19.50 29.30 34.20 
Spraying ns toastisde teu erenensy eens 16.30 27.70 34.20 39.00 
[rripationcecie seco eseonc enone. che 26.00 50.40 61.00 65.10 
shinning. cep eemeeeer. does - - 4.10 16.30 
Harvesting -a-tswein e) eaenellelsieyle - - 16.30 65.10 
Motal ie yewects costene ever 108.10 169.90 242.50 338.50 
Source: Le Pécher, Direction Departemental de I’ Agriculture du Gard. 
Prices Paid by French Canners for Fruit Delivered to Canning Plants 
Commodity 1965 1966 1967 Peaceee 
| Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars 
per per per per 
short short short short 
ton ton ton ton 
ApriCOtsne sta eycncien ol kelkekel oie 201 237-255 138 129 
Clingstone peaches........ ) ) 82.70-91.90 82.70-91.90 
109) 137) 
Freestone peaches ........ ) ) ( 54.70 
Re arSpets ccicpertcveure kare stoner clic 164 155-137 137.80 64.30-79.00 
Not available. 
Cultural practices 
In the preparation of newly irrigated areas for peach production in Herault and Gard, native scrub is first 
bulldozed away and suitable windbreaks (mainly native pine) are provided bordering the fields. The soil is dressed 
with calcium, potash, and phosphorus. Nitrogen is applied later. Trees are planted at 16 x 20 or 20 x 20 feet spacing. 
Most popular clingstone varieties are Vesuvio, Fortuna, Shasta, Vivian, Jeronimo, and Sudanell. The first originated 
in Italy, the last two are Spanish, and the remainder are from the United States. Rye grass is sowed between the rows 
in August or September as a cover crop to be plowed under in February or March. Two types of pruning are 
practiced, the classical method of forming a goblet shaped tree and that of forming three or four main branches as 
nearly vertical as possible. Trees are normally irrigated six to eight times during the season. In a bearing orchard 
irrigation generally continues after harvest until about mid-September. Heavy rains sometimes occur during harvest, 
and trees are treated to prevent brown rot. 
Irrigation developments 
Irrigation is utilized generally throughout the five major fruit production regions in France. Many systems have 
been in operation for hundreds of years. 
