PLANTATION FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES. 



23 



ing the interior conditions of the grove, and located far enough within the planta- 

 tion to be entirely uninfluenced by the open ground. 



The results of the measurements are shown in the following table: 



From these figures it appears that the gross value of the timber crop 

 produced in ten years is $2G7.15 per acre. 



In reckoning the cost of the plantation per acre, Mr. Yaggy's own 

 figures have been used. They are as follows: 



I bought the best river-bottom land, with rich, moist, loamy soil, for which I paid 

 $25 per acre. It was cultivated in corn two years before I planted trees upon it. 

 The cost of raising sufficient trees to plant an acre was $3.60; cost of planting with 

 listers and plows, $3.20 per acre. The rows being 6 feet apart, rows of corn were 

 planted between the rows of trees. In cultivating the corn the trees received nearly 

 as much cultivation as was necessary. About three cultivations were sufficient the 

 first year, cost $1.20. The second year the trees needed no cultivation. The third 

 year three cultivations were sufficient. After that time no more care was required. 



It costs about $2.50 per acre to cut back the trees and sprouts. If the cutting off 

 is done early, the cost is small; if it is done when the trees are 3 or 4 years old, the 

 wood pays for the cutting. One sprouting in July (the year following cutting 

 back) is sufficient. 



The foreman of the farm states that it costs 1J cents each to cut and 

 deliver posts at the station ; from which statement we estimate that 

 the cost of marketing the present crop is $20 per acre. 



Counting the rent of this land at $2 per acre, the expenses of 

 growing the crop and marketing the product at the present time are 

 therefore to be summarized for 1 acre as follows: 



Rent of land 10 years, at $2 $20. 00 



Cost of raising plants from seed 3.60 



Cost of planting 3. 20 



Cost of cultivation, first year 1.20 



Cutting back and sprouting 2.50 



Cost of cultivation, third year 1.20 



Cost of marketing crop 20. 00 



Total 51. 70 



Deducting $51.70, the total cost of growing and marketing the timber 

 grown on 1 acre, from $267.15, which is the gross value of the product 

 in hand, there remains a net value of $215.45 per acre, or, including 

 the interest on the investment, an annual profit of $21.54. Allowing 

 6 per cent compound interest on the expenditures from the time 



