West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-01-01

orcharding in West Virginia which
pectation OF unusual profits causes many
people who know little about the details
to take NJ the management OF peach
orchards. While it is true that an orchard
has paid over l0096, under the
most skillful management average divid-
end of over % per cent are practically
impossible. To date the actual costs in
that section have probably far exceeded
receipts. This should not be the case,
however, in future, il work is undertaken
| by a good manager who considers the
principles OF economy, in this section
which has so nan fayorable locations
for commercial orcharding.
To determine where to spend more in
the line of operations, and where to spend
less to increase net profits, IS the most
difficult problem for thc farm manager.
Land, of course, is a fixed expense to be
paid for, and the advantages of the soil,
weather conditions, topography and dis
lance from Shipping point are all factors.
At the present time land on which
peach orchards are developing will cost
from $40 to $50 per acre. the average
price of cleared land being about $50,
which amount will be taken as a basis Of
calculation.
Like all regions where q new industry
is developing, the tendency has been to
speculative value on land. For the
purposes of taxation and for use the
farmers in this section value such land at
about S. per acre.
The original cost OF land, improvements,
planting o ftrees, equipment, accumulated
interest, and the cost of routine operations
for the development and maintenance of
the orchard may at the end OF four years
be considered 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 investment at
4 years of age and should have returned
to the owner or stockholders all it coss
except the market valne of the land and
equipment at the end of the period.
The cost estimates of the Departments
ag~Iiculturists are higher than those given
by most orchardists in this section. Few
or~chardists, however, do as thorough cult
vetion. aud. -spraving AZ is-asspqnad tRi
working out the unit costs of the Depart.
ment's scientists. A table in the bulletin
summarizes the costs per acre and pei
tree OF bringing a peach orchard to the
bearing stage at the end of 4 years of age
and OF operating it alter this time till Ia
years OF age, when j tmay be expected to
have lived its period Of profitable exis-
tence. The conditions specifies relating
to smooth land are clean cultivation, a
cover crop, thorough ''worming'' and
spraying, and 5 $1,000 per year for the
manager. The size of the orchard is as.
sumed to be 200 acres.
Many good orchardists economics on
buildings. This may be done with profit
in those cases' where the buildings foi
board and lodging. cottages for farmers,
and stables for stock are summer quarters
only. Packing sheds may be contracted
at very little expense also, il regarded as
temporary. If thG however, is to
1e the home of tbl md foreman
the year round, then The Dehgs must
be constructed for home purposes and
will cost much more.
: Two items OF greatest expense on the
thinner soils are cultivation and ~fertilza.
ton. Probably the great majority oil
orchardists cut down mostly on these
items. No special data are yet available
to prove positively that this policy is not
wise.
While the cost of spraying is a large
item IN the expense recount, it may be
expected TO increase directly the profits
up 20 a certain point. Besides, thorough
spraying il the means of insuring a crop
when once il is set on the trees.
A very common method of cutting
down operating expenses is the raising Of
subsidiary crops during the period before
the orchard has arrived at the bearing
stage, and TO some extent afterwards
In this section tomatoes have proved to
be the most profitable, and it is believed
that they interfere less with the moisture
N'hpeib ahh ttItiiity oi the aOll.
On ebert lands a crop Of corn IL often
raised during the fret year and OF such
soils IL often pays one years operating
expenses.
Nearly all orchardists raise the veoe-
tables used on the the table in the camps.
but IS a rule nothing IL raised in the
orchards except cover crops after the
bearing period begins. Some, however.
ase9xPgrWep6pg with tomaLGns in Tie
hPeach orchards when the fruit has failed
%his practice in some cases is believed 10
betproGtable. Many experienced growers.
however, are convinced that IL is not an
economic practice.
Disqualification ~ the means by which
general farmer has learned to deal
~ the conditions which he can not
%irectly control. II has proved TO be
more profitable in the long run. aud II r.
the safer practice, especially Tor thos.
with limited capital There is a marked
tendency toward dig~ersifcation in tho
fruit industry in this section. No orchard
company was found which had invested
10 peaches or apples alone. some have
combined cherries and pears. and a few
are taking up small fruits. trucking and
alfalfa. The smaller growers as = rule
attempt 70 raise feed for the stock.