1044 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



FIFTY-YEAR-OLD WHITE PINE PLANTATION 



The author estimates that waste land in Massachusetts planted this year with four-year-old pine seedlings would, in 1965, after deducting cost 

 of planting and care, interest on investment and taxes, yield a net prorit of $140,000,000. 



and planted, either at random or in rows, and spaced 

 at distances varying from four to fifteen feet. At tlie 

 end of that period there were in Massachusetts alone 

 forest plantations to the extent of 10,000 acres. 



Interest then began to decline, owing to the immense 

 supply of lumber brought in from the region of the 

 Great Lakes at a low rate of transportation, and also to 

 the inadequate methods of combating forest fires. These 

 conditions tended to gradually dampen the enthusiasm of 

 the forest planter. 



Some of the plantations still remain. Despite the fact 

 that they have received little or no treatment and, with 

 one or two exceptions, have not been thinned, they have 

 reached maturity, and stand as a rcord for the present 

 generation of what the results of reforestation will be. 



During the winter of 1914 the writer made and inves- 

 tigation of these old stands in connection with his work 

 in the State Department of Forestry. Something as to 

 the history of the plantations was learned from the 

 owners, and then they were measured, either as entire 



WIIITtC PINE PLANTATION AT RKHOHOTH, MASSACHUSETTS EXTERIOR VIEW 



This plantation is fiftv-five years old. Pasture trees were used, being planted about eight to ten feet. Careful measurement showed that there 

 are in this tract about 43,.500 board feet to the acre. The regularity of the growth is due to the great care originally exercised in lining 

 up the rows. 



