94 :massachusetts horticultural society. 



Our poitable mill operators who are to be found in nearly every 

 country town are generally speaking our best and most public 

 spirited citizens, and as a matter of fact the leaders of the communi- 

 ties. These men also are the most approachable men in the world 

 and willing to foster and further every reasonable and commend- 

 able project. These men I am confident will be the men of the 

 future to be relied upon to do things in forestry. The fact that 

 forest products are valuable and likely to increase rather than di- 

 minish, it l)eing an easy matter to demonstrate even at present 

 prices that reforestation and better forest management will pay, 

 gives life and interest to the undertaking. 



Go into any rural section, or city for that matter, in Massachu- 

 setts today and discuss modern forestry intelligently, beginning 

 with the collecting of the seed, time of year to gather it, when to 

 plant, how to care for the seedling, distance apart to set for results, 

 when to thin and whether to prune, number of years to maturity, 

 the kind of soils for different species, probable returns upon the 

 investment, etc., and there is little trouble in interesting our people. 



For the rest of my time today I want to give some forestr}^ data 

 likely to be of interest. Any data given upon forestry is generally 

 speaking only suggestive, but if the basis of estimating is also given 

 comparative adaptations can be made where conditions vary. 



In giving the following estimates, I have taken precaution to be 

 conservative. It is better it is thought to give the data as it really 

 exists although the picture may not be as attractive. The rate of 

 interest, the price of land, and the assessed valuation upon the incre- 

 ment growth are all variable and elastic factors for basing compu- 

 tations. 



Profits from Woodland under present conditions in 

 Massachusetts. 



Term of years 40. Taxes and valuation figured at 4% com- 

 pound interest. Average price of woodland free of growth esti- 

 mated at SO. 00 per acre. As the trees grow an addition of $5.00 

 per acre every 10 years is allowed as follows: — 



1st 10 years SO.OO; 2nd 10 years $11.00; 

 3rd 10 years 16.00; 4th 10 years 21.00. 

 The average tax rate throughout the state is $17.00 per thousand. 



