FOREST PLANTING IN EASTERN NEBRASKA. 



133 



income at 5 per cent compound interest of $3.97. It is estimated that the 

 rental value of the land as a hog pasture has been at least $1 per 

 acre, which added to $3.97 gives nearly $5 as the total annual net in- 

 come per acre above 5 per cent compound interest. 



HONEY LOCUST. 



Honey locust is an exceedingly valuable tree for planting in Ne- 

 braska. It is hardy, enduring extremes of both heat and cold, is 

 drought resistant, and fairly free from insect attacks and fungous dis- 

 eases. Like green ash, it thrives best on well-drained bottomland soils, 

 but it is unusually well adapted for upland planting in the dry sec- 

 tions. It should be widely planted in the western counties. 



The economic uses of the timber of honey locust are chiefly for 

 fuel and fence posts. It will produce about one cord of fuel yearly 

 per acre. Its rate of growth in diameter is somewhat more rapid than 

 that of green ash, and it reaches post size earlier. Yield Table 8 shows 

 that one plantation near Grand Island has produced 2,141 posts in twen- 

 ty-nine years, or 73 posts per year; while another near Verdon, in 

 Richardson County, gave a yield in thirty-five years of 2,644 posts, or 

 an average of 76 posts per year. The timber to ne durable in contact 

 with the ground must be well seasoned. 



TABLE 8. — Yield of honey locust and Osage orange. 

 HONEY LOCUST. 



OSAGE ORANGE. 



1 Nemaha. ... 2.17 32 6.3 453 2046 23.8 760 522 1283 



23.8 16.3 



40.1 



0.7 



Plantation No. 4- — This plantation is situated in the Platte River 

 Valley, and its relative altitude is only a few feet above the river. The 

 absolute altitude is about 1,860 feet. 



The soil is a sandy loam, dark gray to blackish in color. It is 

 deep, fresh, mellow, porous, and exceedingly fertile. The subsoil is a 

 light-colored, porous, loamy sand, intermixed with small gravel. 



Only very meagre data could be obtained on the history of this plan- 



