42 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



high, and that the cash value of the lot is not far from Si, 200. 

 Comparing this with the outla\', we have : 



Cost of land S225 00 



Setting trees 195 00 



Taxes for 20 years 120 00 



Aggregating $540 00 



D» 



which sum. in 20 years, at 5 per cent compound interest, amounts 

 to $1,431, or $231 more than the estimated yalue of the plantation. 

 But Mr. Pratt says that he did not embark in this enterprise for a 

 profit, but to benefit the inhabitants of the village, and that he 

 might be remembered pleasantly by those coming after him. 



Had he planted this grove with a view to profit soleh', he would 

 undoubtedly have set the trees at intervals of 10 feet b}- 6, instead 

 of 10 feet by 10, thus having 726 to the acre, instead of 425 ; as it 

 is pretty generally conceded that pines standing at G feet b}' 10 

 will make a growth of more value than when planted at a greater 

 distance. When planted 10 feet by 10 there is more growth of 

 branches, which are of little value, and less growth of bod\-, than 

 when planted nearer. Now if 425 trees to the acre brings the 

 value of the lot up to $1,200, then 726 trees to the acre would be 

 worth upwards of $2,000, which sum is 0272 more than the whole 

 investment would have amounted to at 6 per cent compound in- 

 terest for 20 years. 



After receiving Mr. Pratt's letter I visited the lot, and examined 

 it as well as I could, and was well paid for doing so. The plan- 

 tation covers a sterile ridge, consisting of sand and gravell}^ loam, 

 sloping east and west, and evidently well suited to the growth of 

 white pines. So far as m3- examination extended I could discover 

 no vacancies in the rows caused b}' trees dying out. But what 

 surprised me most was the number and extent of the lateral 

 branches. Beginning near the ground, each tree seemed to vie 

 with its neighbor in throwing out horizontal branches in every 

 direction. These limbs were from 5 feet to 15 feet in length, and 

 interlocked with each other in all imaginable ways, forming, in 

 many places, an absolutely impenetrable jungle. The conviction 

 was irresistible that, had these trees been properly- trimmed from 

 time to time (and the wood so obtained would have paid the ex- 



