DIVISION OF FOEESTRY. 



201 



The cost for planting 512 acres Cunplanted portions of tlie tract were not 

 suitable for trees) with 2,600 trees per acre, and the care of them for 

 four years was $30 per acre, or for 512 acres 15, 3G0 00 



Total first cost 24,160 00 



To this add interest, compounded at 7 per cent, for twelve years on cost 



($S,eCO)ofland and fencing 10,912 00 



Interest on cost of trees planted (§15,360) compounded at 7 per cent, for 



eight years 11,059 00 



Taxes for twelve years 1,200 00 



Care of plantation for eight years 6, 4c0 00 



Estimated total cost of plantation at tlie end of twelve years 53, 811 00 



The average cost of the trees per acre at the end of twelve years will he §105.10, 

 which may properly be reduced by the value of the land after the trees have been 

 cut. There were planted about 2,600 trees per acre, and at the end of twelve years 

 they will be of sufficient size to yield 3,000 fence posts per acre, worth at present 

 prices 15 cents eacb, or §450 per acre. Already the growth of the trees is sufficient 

 to warrant this estimate of yield. The catalpa (Sj^eciosa), the kind of tree planted 

 on the Farlingtou plantation, is easily propagated, rapid in growth, and is well 

 known for its durability when exposed to moisture, whichquality makes it especially 

 valuable for fence posts and railroad ties. The reports of ilr. R. Douglas, of Wau- 

 kegan. 111., who planted the trees, and of Mr. G. C. Brackett, who is secretary of the 

 Kansas State Horticultural Society, in regard to their present condition, copies of 

 which you have, give information which I will not take the time to duplicate. 



]VIr. Eobert Douglas makes the following report of results of his work 

 in tree planting, for the abovo-uamed raih'oad. company, under date of 

 September 30, 1885 : 



I would respectfully report that the contract of Robert Douglas & Sons for planting 

 and cultivating the tree-section at Farlington, Kans., is now completed. 

 The number of trees planted and cultivated are as follows : 



Acres planted six years 57.50 



Acres planted five years 76.67 



Acres planted four years 106. 00 



Acres planted four years 9. 50 



Acres planted three years 104.00 



Acres planted three years •. i 76.00 



Acres planted three years 14.20 



Total 443.87 



We turned over to the company in — 



Acres. 



1882 100 



1883 75 



1684 200 



Total 375 



Leaving 6S.87 acres now ready to be turned- over. 



Height of the trees now, and circumference of the stem near the ground: 



Circum- 

 ference. 



Cat.ilpa speciosa 



Do 



Do 



D.i 



Ailanthtts 



Do 



Do 



Inches. 

 12 to 18 

 10 16 

 8 12 

 6 

 10 15 

 10 13 

 6 9 



The above is the licigbt in general, but there are spots of "gumbo" or alkali soil 

 where apparently tlso surface soil has been removed at some previous time, on which 

 the trees make a stunted growth. Fortunately, however, there is very little of this soil 

 in the land that we have planted, so that there is not an acre planted by us that will 



