FOREST PLANTING. 137 



Culture for six years (after which they may be left to them- 

 selves), say $100 per annum _ 600 oo 



672 50 

 Interest on the above for twenty years at 10 per cent 1,345 



Total cost of 21,750 ties $2,017 50 



This makes the cost of the ties less than ten cents each, 

 but it will be observed that I have not included the cost 

 of cutting and hewing, or sawing them out. I believe that 

 if the work were undertaken in the comprehensive and 

 liberal manner which the truest economy would dictate, 

 the proportionate cost of all the items of culture would 

 be reduced to such a degree, and might be so relieved by 

 sales of crops grown in the intermediate spaces that the 

 cost of the ties need not be more than the sum I have 

 stated. Hickory and oak saplings are fit for hoop poles 

 at six or eight years, and cedar, larch, spruce and fir are 

 valuable for fencing stuff at eight or ten years. These 

 should be planted liberally with those which are to remain 

 longer, and their sale would materially diminish the costs. 

 But suppose that no such aid were received, and we allow 

 the cost of cutting and hewing to be twenty cents for each 

 tie, the sum would then be thirty cents each, which is less 

 than half their present price, which certainly cannot 

 diminish unless some new invention supersedes them. 



I am very confident that by judicious management their 

 final cost might be reduced to a less sum than my esti- 

 mate, if not entirely cancelled. An expenditure of thous- 

 ands now may save a future imperative necessity for the 



