130 HARVESTING, STORING, AND MARKETING 



good orchard in the proper location should do much better. 

 Indeed, the statement is made that ^^substantial profits can be 

 realized only where production costs per pound can be kept 

 low by obtaining yields well over the general average of 50 

 pounds per tree/' It is interesting to note that orchards 

 located under favorable conditions and receiving good care 

 were bearing profitable crops at ages much in excess of 25 

 years. 



70| r 1 \ r 



60 



^50 



40 



20 



y7 



loi 



5 10 15 20 25 



Age of Trees in Years 



(Mich. State College) 



Fig. 50. Yields obtained from Montmorency cherry trees at different 



ages in Michigan. 



Sweet cherries yield less than sour but as a rule bring 

 a higher price. In the Pacific Coast section sweet cherries 

 yield much more heavily than in the East. 



A critical point in cherry production is the ability to 

 mobilize a sufficient number of pickers in a short period. The 

 prospective grower will take this into account in making his 

 plans, and the grower already in the business will prepare 

 carefully for the harvest period. Among sour cherries Early 

 Richmond, Montmorency, and English Morello ripen in the 

 order given. Girls are often hired for picking. Some large 



