FOREST PLANTING IN EASTERN NEBRASKA. 



127 



caused by fungus entering where the dead limbs have persisted. The 

 plantations have always been protected against fire and live stock, and 

 every opportunity has been afforded, therefore, for the building up of 

 forest conditions. The crown cover, save for an opening here and there, 

 is quite complete, and demonstrates that catalpa can be depended upon 

 to form a canopy sufficiently dense to shut out weeds and grass. 



The owner has kept a strict account of all expenses incurred in es- 

 tablishing and maintaining these plantations, and the figures given on 

 the cost are taken from his records. The cost is assumed to be the 

 same for both plantations. 



Plantation No. 1 



COST (actual). 



Plants, 2,722, at $1.15 per M.. $3 13 

 Preparation of the ground, 



cultivation, and pruning. . 18 46 



Total $21 59 



Interest on $21.59 for four- 

 teen years, at 5 per cent, 

 compounded 21 16 



Total cost at the end of 

 fourteen years $42 75 



EETUBNS. 



First-class posts, 647^ at 14 



cents $90 58 



Second-class posts, 1,363, at 

 9 cents 122 67 



Value at the end of four- 

 teen years $213 25 



Deducting the cost, $42.75, from the value, $213.25, leaves $170.50 as 

 the net income at the end of fourteen years, which is equivalent to an 

 annual income at 5 per cent compound interest of $8.69 per acre. 



Plantation No. 2. 

 COST (actual). 



Plants, 2,722, at $1.15 per M.. $3 13 

 Preparation of the ground, 



cultivation, and pruning... 18 46 



Total $21 59 



Interest on $21.59 for fifteen 

 years at 5 per cent com- 

 pound interest 23 29 



Total cost at the end of 

 fifteen years $44 88 



RETURNS. 



First-class posts, 18 at 14 



cents $2 52 



Second-class posts, 510, at 9 

 cents 45 90 



Value at the end of fif- 

 teen years $48 42 



Deducting the cost, $44.88, from the gross returns, $48.42, leaves $3.54 

 as the net income at the end of fifteen years, which is equivalent to an 

 annual net income at 5 per cent compound interest of 16 cents per year. 



This plantation would make a much better showing if measured in 

 three or four years. Because of the impoverished condition of the soil, 

 the trees are only just reaching post size. Most of them are sound and 

 thrifty and will make fence posts in a few years. 



These two plantations make it clear that catalpa requires a good 



