146 YEAKBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AC4RICULTURE. 



with trees of no practical value: where winds are terrific and almost 

 constant, plantations have been established toward the quarter from 

 which no winds blow; trees that thrive best close together are planted 

 far apart; those that thrive in porous soils are unhappily placed on 

 clay. It all shows that there is not yet an adequate conception of the 

 value of forest trees and the purposes they can be made to serve. 

 Some plantations, established with no thought of returns, have grown 

 into considerable value on account of the posts, poles, and fuel they 

 have produced; but these are exceptions. 



A limited number of plantations have been established and devel- 

 oped for profit. Most of these are Catalpa plantations in Kansas and 

 Nebraska. Locust (Black Locust), Black Walnut, and Ash have been 

 much planted in these and adjoining States. Some Red Juniper (Red 

 Cedar) has been planted in Nebraska and Iowa. 



The majority of these plantations fall short of their maximum returns 

 from lack of congenial soil or proper management, but some of them 

 are striking exceptions to the general rule, revealing skill and wisdom 

 in their conception, and giving promise of rich returns. A 10-year- 

 old block in the Catalpa plantation of L. W. Yaggy. near Hutchinson. 

 Kans., showed a net value of $197.55 per acre. 1 A 25-year-old planta- 

 tion of Red Juniper of F. C. F. Schultz, near Menlo, Iowa, showed a 

 net value of $200. 54 per acre. Many other plantations showing the 

 same values could be named. These equal or exceed the returns given 

 by agricultural crops for such a period of years." 



The value of the above-mentioned plantations proves conclusively 

 that timber can be grown for certain uses in a comparatively short 

 time, and that it has a high value when grown. 



Past planting shows that the growing of forest trees is a profitable 

 enterprise, but it also shows that the work must be beg*un and carried 

 out with judgment and skill if satisfactory returns are to be had. No 

 mere probabilities of soil or trees can be accepted; no slipshod methods 

 can prevail. The same careful management must prevail in tree grow- 

 ing as is required in any other business. 



We have ample experience from past operations to understand fully 

 the conditions necessary for success. For more than twenty years 

 planting has been carried on, under great diversity of soil, moisture, 

 and temperature, with all kinds of trees, and by every sort of method. 

 The results present ever} 7 degree of variation from absolute failure to 

 perfect success. A careful study of these experiences reveals in every 

 locality the methods requisite to the successful development of plan- 

 tations. 



1 The Division of Forestry has this year made extensive investigations in plantations 

 of this character. The estimates here given are based upon actual measurements of 

 the trees and present prices in the market. 



