FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 'Jl 



About 75% of the output will be white pine, as this tree niaJves 

 the most profitable planting investment for the average soil of 

 this State — being the fastest grower and yielding quickest re- 

 turns. Red and Norway spruce may be desirable on some sites 

 for some purposes ; and the European larch is a very rapid 

 grower, of a good quality of lumber, adapted to wet ground. 



Plantations of white pine have already been grown in this 

 country with great profit to the owner. Thinnings in stands 

 from 20-30 years of age have resulted in surprising returns on 

 the money invested, and the remaining stand made more valuable 

 than ever by the same operation. 



Before a land owner decides to spend money on planting trees, 

 he of course wants to see wherein such action is going to benefit 

 him. In brief, the advantages of establishing a plantation of 

 white pine may be given as follows : 



(i) Every farm has its patch of land that is of use for 

 neither tillage nor pasturage, but which is capable of growing 

 lumber as its sole productive crop. 



(2) A plantation on such land is producing a very valuable 

 crop, however slowly, instead of lying idle ; it is exempting that 

 land from taxation for 20 years — no small item in itself ; it is 

 putting that land on the asset side of the sheet and making the 

 whole farm more desirable and valuable in consequence. 



(3) O" January i, 1929, 15 years from now, it may receive 

 the prize of $500, or one of the four others, as provided by the 

 Benjamin C. Jordan fund. (See Appendix). 



(4) If the farm is to be sold before it is time to thin the 

 stand so that the farmer can get direct returns on his invest- 

 ment — the potential value of the young pine should not only 

 make the sale value greater but would also have a moral effect 

 in putting the sale through. 



(5) If the farm stays in the family, and the planter does not 

 live to reap the harvest of his work, he has left his heirs a val- 

 uable piece of ground instead of a waste stretch, and has set an 

 example that, when emulated by the younger generation, will 

 bring to them a high profit. 



(6) A woodlot has its important ])art to play on each farm ; 

 and white pine is a valuable species in the lumber market. 



(7) After the stand is established it requires practically no 

 care or expense by the owner. 



