76 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY 



be more profitable. One should also remember that tolerant 

 trees must be planted closer than intolerant trees in order to 

 secure equally good pruning. 



Cost of planting varies enormously and depends primarily on 

 the stock used, price of labor, spacing of the plants, and condi- 

 tion -of the planting site. Often adverse weather conditions or 

 other factors cause heavy losses, and extra expense is required 

 to secure a complete reproduction. Good stands have been 

 secured for less than $5 per acre and sometimes more than 

 S}o per acre have been spent. On the average New England 

 planting site, using three-year-old transplants at $5.50 to $6 

 per thousand, set six by six feet apart, and with labor at $1.75 

 per day, the cost per acre should not exceed $15; it can rarely 

 be brought below $11. This does not allow for the unusual 

 losses which sometimes occur, due to prolonged droughts. 

 Where areas as large as several thousand acres are to be planted 

 and the stock is grown by the planter, the cost may be a few 

 dollars an acre less than this estimate, which is based on stock 

 that is purchased. 



The success of seeding is governed so largely by chance and 

 weather conditions that the cost of a successful sowing is more 

 uncertain than that of a plantation, and cannot be figured 

 accurately in advance. The few successful sowings which have 

 come under the observation of the writers have cost more than 

 the amount given for an average plantation. It is believed 

 when sufficient care is taken in preparing the site, and securing 

 the -ame success as would be obtained by planting, that the cost 

 in every case would be higher than that of the plantation. 



With plantations carefully made there is seldom a loss of over 

 15 per cent, but where careless methods are used, or where 

 planting is followed by extremely dry weather the loss may easily 

 be as high as 50 per cent. 



It is unnecessary to fertili/e a forest plantation, and little (are 

 is necessary beyond protection from fire, grazing, insects, and 

 fungi, described in later chapters. 



