130 FOREST PLANTING. 



" Here we have the views of a gentleman who has given the subject 

 much thought and attention, and his views should be received as com- 

 ing from a source entitled to credit. 



" We ask the aid of the Government, because we look upon this 

 work as being of NATIONAL IMPORTANCE and this experiment on 

 such a scale as to be of permanent value, requires the outlay of a 

 large amount of capital, from which no return can be expected for 

 years, and without the aid and encouragement of Congress, the amount 

 of capital necessary to carry it forward cannot be enlisted. 



" We do not expect to raise forests to supply the necessities of the 

 country, or to meet the demands of the future, but we propose to 

 make such experiments, and on such a scale, as to show how it can be 

 done, and publish the results of our successes and our failures to the 

 whole country, so that all may be benefited by them. 



No ONE INDIVIDUAL CAN AFFORD EITHER THE LAND, THE LABOR 

 OR THE NECESEARY EXPENDITURES OF MONEY TO MAKE THESE EX- 

 PERIMENTS, and hundreds of men who are willing to plant forest 

 trees on the plains, are waiting to profit by the experience and ex- 

 penditures of others who must first point out the proper way and 

 kinds to plant. When the experiments are properly made and the 

 necessary information given, there will be plenty to imitate. Every 

 tree grown by our association, or that by our example and influence 

 may be grown, will be just where it is wanted, and where it will do 

 the most good. Our association will not only be obliged to expend 

 vastly more than what these lands are worth to carry on this enter- 

 prise successfully, but will in addition have to expend a large portion 

 of the lands also in order to get the necessary labor located where it 

 will be available for our use, and what land we can save, and the 

 growth of our trees, will be our reward for capital and labor expend- 

 ed. If we are not successful in growing these trees, the Government 

 loses nothing by the work we do. Almost any other expenditure, in 

 any legitimate enterprise, will yield a speedy return commerce, 

 manufactures, crops or herbs but in the planting of trees it -will be 

 years before the profits for skilled labor and capital expended will 

 show any return. No great and complete efforts have ever yet been made 



