390 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



from encroaching grass. Unless the soil is carefully cultivated, 

 forest plantations in many situations will almost immediately fail. 

 Hardy catalpa plantations should always be cultivated. To secure 

 a straight, clean sprout for the main stem, such trees as hardy 

 catalpa, Osage orange, Russian mulberry, and locust may be cut 

 back to the ground during the winter of the second year after plant- 

 ing. During the first season of sprout growth one good, tall sprout 

 should be chosen and the rest cut off. In this way the tendency to 

 irregular and crooked growth may be avoided. To force them into 

 good proportions for fence posts, trees like Osage orange and Russian 

 mulberry should, except when in shelterbelts, be kept well pruned 

 of low side branches. The hardy catalpa sheds its dead branches 

 very slowly, often letting in decay. It is therefore advisable, if the 

 best results are desired, to keep the dead limbs trimmed off. 



Cost and Returns. Two hardy plantations were established in 

 Pawnee County, Nebr., in 1890 and 1889. By contrast, they 

 show well the possibilities and limitations of the species. No. 1 

 was planted on well-prepared virgin prairie soil; No. 2 on adjacent 

 worn-out farm land. The soil was a deep, sandy loam underlaid 

 with clay. The plantations received cultivation and pruning at the 

 proper time. 



PLANTATION No. 1. 



Cost per acre. 



Plants, 2,722 at $1.15 per thou- 

 sand $ 3.13 



Preparation of the ground, culti- 

 vation, and pruning 18.46 



$21.59 



Interest on $21.59 for 14 years 

 at 5 per cent interest com- 

 pounded $21.16 



Returns per acre. 



First-class posts, 647 at 14 



cents $ 90.58 



Second-class posts, 1,363 at 9 

 cents 122.67 



Total returns at end of 14 



years $213.25 



Total cost at end of 14 years.$42.75 



Net profit per acre, $170.50. 



This profit represents an annual net return, with 5 per cent 

 compound interest, of $8.69 per year. 



PLANTATION No. 2. 



Cost per acre. 



Plants, 2,722 at $1.15 per thou- 

 sand $ 3.13 



Preparation of the ground, culti- 

 vation, and pruning 18.46 



$21.59 



Interest on $21.59 for 15 years 

 at 5 per cent interest com- 

 pounded $23.29 



Total cost at end of 15 

 years $44.88 



Returns per acre. 



First-class posts, 18 at 14 cents. .$ 2.52 

 Second-class posts, 510 at 9 cents 45.90 



Total returns at end of 15 

 years $48.42 



Net profit per acre, $3.54. 



