132 



NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



common marker. Furrows were then run 8 feet apart at right angles 

 to the marks. The nuts were dropped at the intersection of the furrows 

 with the marlis, thus giving a spacing of 4 feet by 8 feet. One nut was 

 planted at a place, making 1,360 nuts per acre. It required 25 bushels 

 ("shucks" on) to plant the 12^7^ acres. They were purchased from the 

 Indians at 25 cents per bushel. After the nuts were dropped, they were 

 covered by filling the furrows with a harrow. This covered them rather 

 too deep, so that only two-thirds of the number came up the first year. 



In the spring of 1870 corn was planted in every other row, thus 

 giving nearly a half stand. Both the corn and the trees were thoi'oughly 

 cultivated and a good half crop of corn was raised that year. In the 

 spring of 1871 the land was sowed to oats and an excellent crop was 

 raised. The oats wei-e harvested with a scythe. The ground was left 

 in the stubble and the plantation has received no further cultivation. 



In the spring of 1872, and again in 1875, the trees were pruned, at 

 a total cost of $2 per acre. No further expense has ever been incurred 

 in the care of the plantation. The practice has been to cut the suppressed 

 or otherwise inferior trees. These have furnished about 1,000 fence 

 posts, or 80 posts per acre, and the additional firewood has paid for the 

 cost of harvesting the posts. The plantation has beeti moderately pastured 

 to hogs since the third year of its life. 



There is only a trace of humus. The litter consists of leaves and 

 twigs and is from one-fourth to one-half an inch deep. Bluegrass and 

 weeds cover the entire surface though the sod is nowhere dense. An 

 occasional clump of elderberry and a few gooseberry bushes constitute 

 the only underbrush. 



The trees were pruned early and there is a large percentage of 

 clear, straight boles. A few would make small saw logs. They have 

 made an excellent height growth and are in a healthy, thrifty condition. 

 The practice of making gradual thinnings to favor the best trees leaves 

 the present stand comparatively free from disease or defects of any 

 kind. 



The statement of the cost of this plantation is taken from the own- 

 er's record. The two field crops raised in the plantation paid for its en- 

 tire cost, which is, therefore, not considered in calculating the final re- 

 turns. 



COST (actual). 



Plowing the ground $0.75 



Harrowing and marking 25 



Nuts, 2 bushels, at 25 cents . .50 



Planting 40 



Pruning 2.00 



Total $3.90 



RETURNS. 



First-class posts, 1,862, at 



121/2 cents $232.75 



Second-class posts, 316, at 



8 cents 25.28 



Posts sold in the past 80.00 



Value at the end of 



thirty-four years ...338.03 



Three hundred and thirty-eight dollars and three cents as the net 

 income at the end of thirty-four years is equivalent to an annual net 



