FORESTRY COMMISSTONER 119 



The value of the state forests, including timber and 

 soil, aggregates 1903, $ 86, 306,000. Hence the value per 

 acre is $195. The annual expenses for administration 

 for the year 1903 were $1,270,800. In the year 1903 the 

 annual gross revenue amounted to $3,338,500; the annual 

 net revenue to $2,067,700. 



The entire area planted annually varies according to 

 circumstances. On the average it will reach 6, 500 acres. 

 Of these 6, 500 acres 500 acres are planted up with seeds 

 and 6,000 acres are planted up with plants. The ques- 

 tion whether plants or seeds shall be employed for re- 

 stocking cleared ground depends on the condition of the 

 soil. As a general rule, seeds are planted only on such areas 

 which do not produce grass and weeds to a large extent and 

 which at the same time are of sufficient fertility and 

 well protected against late frost. The sowing or planting 

 of seeds must be done not later than in the second year af- 

 ter the final removal of the former tree crop. Strips about 

 three feet wide or places about six feet square are cultivated 

 with a spade before the seed is thrown on them. Only in 

 rare cases the entire area to be planted with seeds is 

 ploughed and harrowed and the seeds spread over it 

 broadcast. The plants used for planting up a clearing 

 are as a rule two years old or older. The age of the plants 

 selected depends on the condition of the area to be planted 

 aside from depending on the species itself. Spruce, 

 Scotch pine, fir and larch, as a general rule, are used two 

 to five years old; beech, oak, ash and maple, as a gener- 

 al rule, are used three to six years old. The plants are 

 raised in nurseries. Only in rare cases they are taken 

 from areas previously planted with seed in the open forest. 

 The number of plants used per acre ranges between 1500 

 and 2500, according to the species, the size of the plants 

 used and the condition of the area to be planted. 



