THE TIMBER CULTURE LAW. 587 



plant much thicker than required by law, with the view to 

 thinning out as the trees increased in size. 



CHANGES IN THE LAW. 



The attention of Congress was called to this fact, and in 

 1878 the law was radically changed, so as to require but ten 

 acres to be planted in timber. It further required they should 

 be planted four feet apart, or twenty-seven hundred trees in 

 round numbers to the acre ; that five acres should be broken 

 the first year, prepared for the planting during the second year, 

 and that they should be planted the third year ; that the second 

 five acres should be broken the second year, prepared for plant- 

 ing the third year, and planted the fourth year ; and that if the 

 timber were kept in a growing condition (provided not less 

 than six hundred and seventy-five trees were thus growing on 

 each acre), a patent should be issued for the quarter section of 

 land at the expiration of eight years. 



PRODUCTIVE OF GOOD RESULTS. 



The amendment was a wise one. Experience had taught 

 that too much had been required under the old law. Many 

 that desired to avail themselves of its benefits had not the 

 means to faithfully comply with its requirements. There is 

 little room left for improvement, except Congress should pro- 

 vide that one-quarter of each section should be set apart for 

 the cultivation of timber, and that if the tract at any time be 

 abandoned, it could only be taken again under the Timber 

 Culture Act. In that event there would be at least one grove 

 of ten acres on every section, whereas, under the present law, 

 a timber culture entry may be relinquished, and converted into 

 a homestead or pre-emption entry, and the country thereby 

 deprived of the influence the forest would exert. It would 

 also tend to discourage speculation in this class of claims. In 

 this connection it is also thought that it would be a wholesome 

 amendment to the homestead law, if it was amended so that at 

 least four acres of timber be required on all homesteads on 

 prairie lands, before proof could be made. The indirect 

 influence of the Timber Culture Act in educating the masses 



