39 



sand drift, the additional cost being met from returns from the more 

 productive parts of the farm. It is very doubtful if ideal treatment and 

 protection would greatly improve the quality of the product or raise the 

 yields of the stands native to this region. Fire and grazing protection 

 would make conditions favorable for a gradual increase in the organic 

 matter in the soils with a consequent improvement in physical and chemi- 

 cal composition, yet this improvement measured in increased forest re- 

 turns would probably be very slow. 



In attempts to anchor the sands and turn them to profitable produc- 

 tiveness, experiments have been made by land owners in introducing and 

 planting species not native to these sites. Studies of these plantations 

 and data collected in other states of growth upon similar sites, indicate 

 that pine plantations may afford the best economic use to which the sands 

 can be put. 



Black locust has been planted more extensively than any other spe- 

 cies. It is easily established, binds the soil with its excellent root system, 

 and produces relatively good yields of high-grade post material. In ad- 

 dition to these excellent qualities, it has the ability to build up the nitro- 

 gen content of the soil. It is an ideal tree for the sand regions, but since 

 the appearance of the locust borer in destructive numbers in 1856, only 

 occasional plantations have been successful. The greatest insect injury 

 occurs when the trees are from 3 to 8 inches in diameter. When locust 

 is planted in pure stands, the borers generally destroy the plantation, 

 whereas insect damage seems to be less severe when locust is in mixture 

 with other species. On dune sand in Mason county, a thrifty plantation 

 of oO-year-old trees had an average diameter of 13'4 inches inside the 

 bark on the stump, and a height of 66 feet. From single trees were cut 

 40 split and 6 round posts. Such a plantation yields in 50 years 1,575 

 posts with a market value of 40 cents each, a gross return of $630.00 

 per acre. 



The following costs are charged against the operation : 



Taxes annually $ .50 per acre 4% for 50 years $ 76.33 



Cost of establishing plantation $15.00 compounded 50 years 106.60 

 Cost of cutting and marketing $ .10 per post 157.50 



Total $340.43 



Net income at end of 50 years, $630.00 minus $340.43, equals $289.57. 

 Discounted as a recurring crop or rental with interest at 4%, this gives 

 the above land a value of $47.42 when devoted to locust, or an annual 

 return at 4%, on this value, of $1.90 per acre above taxes, planting, and 

 harvesting costs. This indicates that under favorable conditions locust 

 plantations can be profitable. 



This is one of the two types of the state where black walnut and 

 catalpa plantations are failures. Neither should be planted on any other 

 than fertile well-drained soils. Cottonwood (Populns deltoides) on these 



