114 



Fourth Annual Repoet of the 



The records of 1,120 at Seveys and 1,260 at Mountain Pond are 

 about the average of our former plantings. We have found that 

 two men would average an acre per day, which requires 1,100 to 

 1,200 trees. It therefore seems fair to say that the best of 

 convict labor will plant about five-sixths or 80 per cent, as many 

 ■trees as the average of good civilian labor. 



An examination of the planting indicates that this labor can be 

 used for field planting and the results so far show no particular 

 difiiculty. It is not to be expected that they would be as eflicient 

 as average civilian labor, and the progress which they made shows 

 that much can be accomplished by their assistance. 



The real question is the saving effected. Under our arrange- 

 ment with the Prison Department, we were to pay transportation 

 to and from the prison, also maintenance and incidental expenses 

 of the convicts and guards. It is the practice to employ civilian 

 labor locally for planting, therefore the cost of field work usually 

 represents only wages. If men are boarded, the rate of wages 

 is correspondingly less and covers the average price of board. 

 The question of expense, therefore, resolves itself into the ex- 

 penditures in either case. The question of a saving is answered 

 by a comparison of these two charges. 



The following table shows a comparison of expenditures for field 

 work, except transportation of trees. The latter is a variable 

 factor but not dependent upon the kind of labor employed to plant. 



Coynparative Expenditures, Convict and Civilian Labor 



* Men employed locally and boarded themselves, 

 t Labor secured locally and no transportation paid. 

 t Convict labor used. 



