122 Agriculture of DurJiam. 



Let me now conclude by giving a comparative financial state- 

 ment, which, I think, will very strongly enforce the recommenda- 

 tion, that large quantities of land in this county should be 

 planted. 



Prospective Valuation of tlie Amount to be realized by planting 100 Acres of 

 Land with Larch. 



Planted 1854, Avith 2,700 trees per acre, or in all 270,000. 



£. s. d. 

 In 1864 thin out 500 per acre, sold at a net profit of 



Id. each 208 G ' 



In 1869 thin out 500 per acre, at a net profit of 2d. each 416 12 



In 1874 thin out 500 per acre, at a netprofit of 4fi. each 833 4 



In 1879 thin out 500 per acre, at a net profit of 8(Z. each 1,666 8 



In 1890 thin out 250 per acre, at a net profit of 4s. each 5,000 



In 1892 thin out 250 per acre, at a net profit of 5s. each 6,250 

 In 1894 there would be 20,000 trees left standing well 



worth, on an average, deducting expenses, of 10s. each 10,000 



£24,374 10 

 Deduct — 



£. s. d. 

 Loss of agricultural rent, 100 acres at 3s. 



]ier acre, for 40 years 600 



Expense of draining and planting 100 acres, 



at, say 5Z. per acre 500 



Woodkeeper's wages, 2080 weeks at 14s. 1456 



Expenses of selling wood 118 10 



■ 2,674 10 



Extra profit derived from the 100 

 acres £21,700 



If my estimate be correct, the proprietor, or his heir, at the end 

 of 40 years, will be in possession of no less than 21,700/. more 

 than he Avould have been under the old system ; and in addition, 

 after the roots are stubbed up, and the lands receive a moderate 

 degree of good treatment in the shape of manure, he will have 

 his 100 acres of land in a better condition for agricultural purposes 

 than it was when he commenced.* 



I have now completed my task ; whether it shall be successful 

 or not I cannot tell ; but this much I may be allowed to state, 



* With reference to the above estimate, it must be remembered that, on very 

 poor land, out of 2700 trees per acre, a large number would never grow to have 

 any pecixniary value. I am informed by an experienced planter, that in the 

 South of England ti'ees must grow very well for 500 to be taken out in the first 20 

 years worth on the average 3(/. each, vinless the best were taken out ; and that 

 •where carriage is expensive, poles of 40 years' growth do not often fetch more than 

 from 2s. to 3.s. &d. each. Proximity to railways, to the sea-coast, or to coabpits^ 

 may perhaps raise the price in Durham, but it must be remembered that tlie land 

 here spoken of is assumed to be worth no more than 3s. per acre. — T. D. Acland. 



