THE CALL OF THE LAND 



on any considerable scale would not exceed 

 $8 an acre. The land would not cost over 

 $1.25 an acre, a total initial outlay of $9.25 

 an acre. At 5 per cent compound interest 

 this would amount in fifty years to $106.10. 

 To that sum add the taxes, if any. They 

 would hardly be more than nominal. If the 

 planting were well done, no allowance need 

 be made for care. Thinning might occa- 

 sionally be necessary, but the material re- 

 moved would pay for the labor. 



At the end of 50 years the plant should 

 yield 40 cords an acre, worth at least $4 a 

 cord on the stump, making the gross returns 

 $160 an acre. The total cost an acre at 5 

 per cent compound interest would be 

 $106.10, leaving a net profit above 5 per 

 cent compound interest of $53.90. 



On this conservative estimate the invest- 

 ment, besides paying a good rate of com- 

 pound interest, would net at least $i an acre 

 annually. My reckoning assumes that the 

 forest would be cut clear at the end of 50 

 years, but this would not give the highest 

 returns, since much of the best timber would 



