Orchard Survey of Fremont County 
9 
chard soon begins to deteriorate and becomes unprofitable. The bringing 
1 tck or restoring of such orchards is always difficult, and in many cases, 
j-ipossible. They often become centers of insect infestations and are a 
I enace to the neighboring orchards. It would be . far more profitable to 
.e owners and better to the community if the fruit trees were entirely re- 
r ved and the land utilized for other crops. 
^ The fact that some of the growers have small holdings of from one 
r five acres has made secondary cropping a common practice, and the 
^ndition of the fruit-bearing trees show the bad effect of it. It is a well 
! cognized fact that orchards of less than eight or ten acres cannot be 
^ofitably operated, without additional land for the growing of other crops, 
his is due to high overhead charges, such as management and necessary 
”;uipment, for the cost is practically the same for the small orchard as for 
ji orchard of 30 or 40 acres. 
These small land-owners would find it more profitable to cut out their 
;ees and devote the land to small fruits and truck crops. This would 
I'ovide for more labor and eliminate losses due to failure of fruit crops and 
Iw prices. This suggestion is especially applicable where the soil and 
“Dst conditions are more or less unfavorable to fruit growing, or where 
je varieties grown are unprofitable or unsuited to the locality. 
> The land values are too high and the individual holdings too small 
make general farming profitable, and should not be attempted. The sec- 
m as a whole, except the Penrose district, is pre-eminently a horticultural 
j ction, and for this reason alone, any changes should be in the direction 
I' growing a greater variety of horticultural crops. 
I' While pointing out some of the bad conditions that exist in this sec- 
m, we should not overlook the brighter side of the industry. There are 
^ large number of wide-awake, up-to-date and successful fruit growers 
^aose orchards are as well managed as any in the State, and who have 
monstrated the fact that fruit growing in this section is highly profitable, 
r The contrast between a well-managed orchard and a neglected one is 
j- apparent that visitors are apt to go awMy with the belief that the many 
hor orchards that now exist indicate a poor fruit district. A number of 
: >orly-cared-for orchards have a depressing influence, not only on land 
lues, but also on the fruit industry as a whole. 
i CROPS GROWN IN THE ORCHARD 
I A study of the accompanying table shows that out of a total of 687 
j yhards, only 150 are in clean cultivation; 270 orchards are in alfalfa 
I d 181 planted to truck crops. The table does not show the fact that the 
jfalfa is universally cut for hay or cropped like an ordinary alfalfa field, 
he fruit trees, instead of being benefited by the alfalfa, are actually in- 
ured, since the fertility removed is as great or greater than the fertility 
Amoved by a crop of fruit. The same is true of all other crops raised 
tween tree rows and removed from the land. Many orchards show the 
tect of this double cropping system. 
