Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1883-10-27
Apples the Most Profitable Farm Crop


Apples the Most Profitable Farm Crop
New England Farmer.
Apples are the most profitable farm
crop raised on many New England
farms. There are some farms where
apple trees do not thrive and where
it is not advisable to try to raise many,
but there are other farms where the
apple tree seems to delight to grow.
Many of these farms are worth very
little for tillage purposes, but if an
apple tree gets start upon them it
shoots up vigorously its long, smooth
branches and trunk. By setting such
farms to apple trees largely, man
might in few years become forehand.
ed, but on the other hand should he
try to get a living from one of these
by tilling it, without having an orchard,
it would always be "a struggle for ex>
istence" with him. There are many
orchards in Maine that bring to their
owners more money than all the rest
Of the farm.
THE ORCHARD THE MOST PROFITABLE
PART OF THE FARM.
Land set with apple trees and well
cared for, becomes the most valuable
part Of the farm. One acre of land
set with trees thirty feet apart each
way will contain about fifty trees. If
these trees are well cared for, in ten
years they will be worth ten dollars
each or $500 per acre. Ten acres of
such orchard would be worth $4,000.
The apples which had been produced
during the first ten years ought to be
sufficient to pay all the cost of care and
culture. Then there remains an in>
crease in the value of the farm of $4,000.
a handsome increase in property to be
made in ten years. Besides, a farmer
having such an orchard would be in
position to do a,proftable business in
orcharding. During the next five
years these trees ought to average at
least barrel of fruit each per year and
perhaps there would be two barrels
each, But at only one barrel each
there would be fifty barrels per acre,
or five hundred barrels on the ten
acres, which are 50 per barrel would be
$1,000 per year as the income from the
orchard. Such an addition to the in
come of almost any New England
farm, would place the owners financial
affairs in very satisfactory condition.
After the trees had attained the size
of fifteen years, the yield per tree
would be likely to average from two
to four barrels per year or from one
hundred to two hundred barrels per
acre, or from one thousand to two
thousand barrels per year from the ten
acres, affording more substantial in>
come than the average merchant, or
professional man obtains. Such res
suits are attainable on any good fruit
farm where the soil is suitable and the
location favorable. If some of the
young men who are uneasy and want
to get away from the farm, because
farming does not pay very well, would
set themselves resolutely at work to
start good orchard, they would soon
bring the revenues of the farm into a
satisfactory condition.
UNFAvoRABLE SOILS MAY BE AMENDED.
In raising an orchard, it is a great
advantage to possess a soil naturally
adapted to the growth of apple trees,
yet those having soil less well adap-
ted to fruit growing should not despair
of being able to raise good trees. Well
directed efforts will do much to over
come and remove obstacles in the way.
If land is too wet for trees, it should