The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-12-17

nIppIng point are all factors.
Al the present time land on which
leach orchards are developing will
ust from $40 to $35 per acre, the
average price Of cleared land being
about $50, which amount will be TAX
IN as a basis OF calculation. Like all
regions wherela new industry Is de-
clipping, the tendency has been to
jut a Speculative value on land. For
The purposes OF taxation and for use
the farmers in this section value such
land at about IS per acre.
The original cost of land, improve
ments, planting Of trees, equipment,
accumulated interest, and the cost of
,outInc operations for the develop
nent and maintenance of the orchard
may at the end OF four years be con-
sldered the investment in the bust
ness. At this time the orchard should
begin to yield an income. BY the end
Of It's life the orchard should have
paid a reasonable dividend on the in
vestment at years of age and should
have returned to the owner or stock
holders all it cost except the market
value Of the land and equipment at
the end Of the period.
Cost Estimates Higher.
The cost estimates Of the DEPART
ments agriculturists are higher than
those given by most orchardists in
this section. Few orchardists, how
ever, do as thorough cultivation and
spraying as is assumed in working
out the unit costs of the depart
ments scientists. A table in the bull
letln summarizes the costs per acre
& la PEI tTee OF prihgfngaa peach Or
.cliard to the bearing stage at the end
of 4 years of age and OF operating it ,
after this time till II years Of age,
when il may be expected to have
lived its period Of profitable exist
encr. The conditions specified re-
lating to smooth land are clean Gul-
tIvation, cover crop, thorough
"worming" and spraying, and $1,000
per year for the manager. The size
of the orchard is assumed to be 2UO
acres.
Many good orchardists economize
on buildings. This may be done
with profit in those cases where the
buildings for board and lodging, cot
tages for farmers, and stables for
stock are summer quarters only.
Packing sheds may be constructed at
very little expense also, II regarded
as temporary. II the site, however.
is to be the home of the manager and
foreman the year round. then the
buildings must be constructed for
home purposes and will cost much
more.
Two Items of EXPENSE,
Two items OF greatest expense on
the lnlnner SOILS ure cultivation ana
fertilization. Probably the great ma
iority of orchardists cut down most
W nm these items. No special data
are vet available TO prove positively
that this policy is not wise.
While the cost of spraying IS
large item in the expense account, IL
NAV be expected to increase directly
The profits up to certain point. BE-
sides, thorough spraying is the means
Of insuring crop when once 1t is set
on the trees.
very common method Of cutting
down operating expenses Is the ralS'
ing of subsidiary crops during the
pcriod before the orchard has ar
rived at the bearing stage, and to
some extent afterwards. In this sec
linn tomatoes have proved to be the
most profitable, and it Is believed
that they interfere less with the
maisture content and fertility oil the
soil :;
On ebert lands a crop OF corn Is
orten raised during the first year ana
on such soils II often pays one years
operating expenses. - ---.-.,. -
Nearly all Orchardists raise the
vegetables used on the table in the
5omns. bnt as rule nothing is
raised in the orchards except cover
crops after the bearing period be-
Gins. Some, however, are experiment
ling with tomatoes in the peach or
chards when the fruit has failed
This: practice In some cases Is be-
Illeyed to be profitable. Many cS-
nerienced growers, however are con-
yInced that it is not an economic
practice.
Diversifoation. =,
DiversirlcatiOn IS the means U!
which the general farmer has learned
to deal with the conditions which lie
can not directly control. 1t has
proved to be more profitable in tue
lIopr run, and It is the safer practice
csuecially for those with limited cap
IuaI There is marked tendency 10
ward Investigation in the fruit III.
idus,ry in this section. Nm orchard