18 The Colorado Experiment Station 
far better not to ship this fruit at all, as it competes with the bet¬ 
ter grades on the markets. 
The shipping of second-grade fruit in baskets will most likely 
become more popular with the growers in the future, as it affords 
a cheaper method of putting up the fruit, and the baskets them¬ 
selves are much more useful to the ordinary consumer than the 
boxes. This should be especially true with apples and pears. An¬ 
other advantage in marketing in baskets is that the consumer can 
see the quality of the product he is getting and it sells itself on 
sight more often than when packed in boxes. 
FARM EFFICIENCY 
There are very few fruit growers in Mesa County who keep 
any kind of records of their transactions. Thus it is almost im¬ 
possible for them to know where they are gaining or losing money, 
what the different operations cost, or where they could save money. 
Neither do most growers follow any system in their work, but 
go at their work blindly, often doing things several times where 
one time properly done would suffice. The men who have been 
making money during the low-price period have, in nearly all 
cases, been men who study their business and keep a set of books 
to show where they stand financially. They are also usually men 
who are ready to listen to suggestions for improvement in their 
methods. 
It is very important that a set of books be kept and a system 
worked out which will give the greatest possible efficiency. The 
aim should be to avoid all waste, and arrange the work so that it 
will not conflict and so that there will be always something to do. 
This will materially add to the profits of the farm. 
DIVERSIFICATION 
The question of diversified farming arises in connection with 
fruit growing, especially in view of the recent poor years for fruit. 
The majority of farmers in the Valley, when interviewed, were of 
the opinion that diversification would pay in connection with fruit 
growing. With land at its present prices and cut up in tracts of 
ten acres or less, diversified farming is hardly practicable. How¬ 
ever, there is little doubt that with 20 acres or more the vast ma¬ 
jority of growers would benefit by diversifying. 
There are a few of the best fruit growers who can always 
make more money with fruit than anything else. These men are 
the exception and not the rule. Every grower should at least have 
a cow, a few pigs and chickens, and a small garden patch. The 
first cutting of alfalfa or clover may be used for hay where there 
is a good stand in the orchard, but no more should be taken. Many 
