136 FOREST PLANTING. 



hearty interest, and applications were received during the 

 winter, and have been since filled, for more than sixty 

 miles of hedging. 



Without going deeply into estimates, whose results 

 would be dependant upon many contingencies, it is not 

 difficult to prove by very simple calculations that the future 

 interests of every road which crosses the plains are so 

 intimately connected with the work of tree planting that 

 it cannot afford to forego the advantages it offers. As I 

 selected the item of ties as the simplest article with which 

 to illustrate the amount of timber consumed, let us again 

 make use of it as a basis of calculation of possible results. 



Seedling larch trees of two years growth can be had at 

 the nurseries for $5 per 1,000. If set in nursery rows, 

 the plants being a foot apart, and three feet between the 

 rows to allow room for culture with a horse-hoe, an acre 

 would contain about 14,500 plants. From year to year 

 the alternate plants, and after a time the alternate rows, 

 should be transplanted, till an average of 400 trees to 'an 

 acre was attained, when the original occupants of the 

 single acre would cover about forty-three acres. In fifteen 

 years from the time of first planting every tree would fur- 

 nish, at least, one tie. Supposing every alternate tree to 

 be then cut we should have 7,250 ties. Five years later 

 every remaining tree would furnish two ties (14,500), 

 making in all 21,750 ties in twenty years from time of 

 planting. 



The following is an estimate of the cost : 

 Original cost of 14,500 plants at $5 per 1,000 $ 72 oo 



