132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Pratt of Bridgewater purchased 25 acres of worn-out land in 

 North Middleborough, near the village of Titicut, for which 

 he paid $9 per acre. Having a desire, as he says, to improve 

 the view, and to learn the result from a moderate outlay, not 

 anticipating a profit, in the spring of 1863 he had it set to 

 white pines, at an expense of $6 per acre. Two years after, 

 he paid a man $47 to fill up the vacancies, where some had 

 died, making the whole cost of setting $200. The plants were 

 from 6 inches to 18 inches in height, and were set in straight 

 rows 10 feet by 10 each way. Last December, in answer to 

 some inquiries, Mr. Pratt wrote that they were from 12 to 16 

 inches in diameter, in a thrifty condition, and that he has, from 

 time to time, been awarded premiums from the Plymouth 

 County Agricultural Society for the best plantation of pines. 

 The lot is taxed for $800, which is based on a two-thirds 

 valuation ; and as towns are inclined to favor experiments of 

 this kind, it is fair to presume that the assessor's valuation 

 is not too high, and that the cash value of the lot is not far 

 from $1,200. Comparing this with the outlay, we have — 



Cost of land, $225 00 



Setting trees, 195 00 



Taxes for 20 years, 120 00 



Aggregating $540 00 



— which sum, in 20 years, at 5 per cent, compound interest, 

 amounts to $1,431, or $231 more than its supposed value. But 

 Mr. Pratt says that he did not embark in this enterprise for a 

 profit, but to benefit the inhabitants of the village, and that 

 he might be remembered pleasantly by those coming after 

 him. Had he planted this grove with a sole view to profit, 

 he would undoul)tedly have put them 10 feet by 6, instead of 

 10 feet by 10, thus having 726 to the acre instead of 425. It 

 is generally conceded that pines standing 6 feet by 10 will 

 make a growth of more value than when planted at a greater 

 distance apart. When planted 10 feet by 10 there is a greater 

 growth of limbs, which are of little value, and less growth of 

 ti'unk than when planted nearer. Now, if 425 trees to the acre 

 brings the value of the lot up to $1,200, then 726 trees to the 

 acre would be worth the round sum of $2,000, which is $272 



