The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-11-01

Another lesson we should learn, and
without learning it we may meet with
much disbursement, and that is,
not to base our estimate of what we
can clear on our crop annually on
the phenomenal prices of this year.
Let me illustrate in way that all
can understand. Suppose that next
year the whole country should have
phenomenal crop-and this some
times happens-and prices should be
cut to one-half of this year. Then let
us suppose that some man has just
as many apples as he has this year,
would his profits be just one-half as
much as this year? Strange as it may
seem, many would think that they
would, but in reality they would not
be more than one-fourth what they
are this year, and might be much less.
Last year we sold thousands of boxes
of Ben Davis apples at so cents per
box. At the cost of labor and boxes
and paper this year, there would be
no net profit whatever, as it costs
about so cents per box to deliver a
box of apples at our station. This
year Ben Davis apples are selling at
81. 90 to $3.50 per box. All above SO
of difference between no profit at all
and so cents to $1.00 per box. | have
shipped by express many box OF
peaches, in past years, to Seattle that
sold for 40 cents per box My profit
on each box was about 10 cents. When
the price went up to 80 cents my
profit was As cents per box, or by
doubling the selling price my profits
1a1f limo oC
Doubling the price, therefore, often
means quadrupling the profit.
=
Another thing should be guarded
against. Many real estate men will
try to convince people that they can
make as much each year as has been
made this year. This may be done,
in many cases, in ignorance, some
times it may not be- People should be
on their guard about such statements
The profits in fruit growing are good
enough without unreasonable claims
Honesty would demand that no one
try to twist phenomenal yields or
phenomenal prices so as to m1slead
people. But someone may say II the
business is a safe one what harm can
be done? A good deal, if a man is
lead to pay more for an orchard or
for orchard land than it is worth, then
such manipulations may do much
harm.
+
While apples will be lower some
years than they are this, there is one
thing that is very encouraging to the
intelligent grower, and that is, we
can grow a grade of apples that can
not be equalled in many portions OF
our great country. There is an almost
unlimited demand for a very high
grade apple and this demand is not
local but extends to all our large cities
and to Europe and Asia. Here is our
most hopeful outlook. The crop some
years may be great and common grade
apples may be a drug on the market
and often Improbable, yet our high
grade Spitzenbergs, Newtown Pippins
Winesaps, Arkansas Blacks and iona
thans, we'll colored, clean from all
blemishes, well sorted, wrapped in pa
per and put up in an attractive box
will always be in demand and at such
prices that money can be made rails
ing them.
T
The question is often asked me
which is the most profitable apple
That is not an easy question to an
swer. The apple that sells the high
est is not necessarily the most profit
able apple for it may not be prolific
bearer Much depends on location as
to this point. The apple that is the
best bearer is not the most profitable
one to raise. If | were living at Hood
River, or Medford, Oregon, or at Cash
mere, Washington, l think | should
say the Spitzenberg is the most profit
able to grow and next to it the Vel
low NeWtOWn pippin. The growers in