SECRETARY'S REPORT. 209 



of the pitch pine is considered as safe and as profitable a crop 

 as can be raised on light, sandy soils. That which tiiirty years 

 ago was experimental and uncertain, is now considered safe and 

 profitable. 



In the year 1832, Mr. Otis bought two acres of poor land, 

 and made thereon some experiments in planting forest trees. 

 He planted pitch pine, oak, chestnut, and balm of giload. Tliis 

 small experiment proved that a profit would be realized by 

 planting the pitch pine, and he accordingly bought from time to 

 time, about one hundred and fifty acres at an average cost of 

 one dollar and fifty cents per acre. He kept an account with 

 three several tracts, and knows the exact cost of each. But it 

 is not necessary to particularize, — those who are seeking 

 information on this subject want general results. 



At first he ploughed th'e land into ridges, planting on the ridge 

 and in the bottom of the outside furrows. The seed planted on 

 the ridges did not germinate as well as that planted at the bot- 

 tom of the furrows. Afterwards he ploughed furrows, about 

 eight feet apart, and planted by hand, in the bottom of the fur- 

 rows. This was an expensive method, and is now discontinued ; 

 yet if a man has only a few acres to plant, it is a method to be 

 recommended, substituting a common planting machine or seed 

 dropper, to planting the seed by hand. 



In 1839, he had a machine constructed to plough a shallow 

 furrow, and to drop and cover the seed at one operation. With 

 this machine, which cost less than five dollars, a man and a 

 horse could plant five acres in a day — thus reducing the cost of 

 planting to fifty cents the acre. Some improvements have since 

 been made in the construction of pine seed planters, and they 

 are now generally used. 



The pine seed costs about one dollar per quart, cleaned and 

 ready for use. Half a pint, if evenly planted, is sufficient for 

 an acre ; but as there will necessarily be some loss, it is better 

 to use a pint. If the trees are too thick at first, they will die 

 out, and no material damage will ensue. 



Insurance against fire is an element of cost which should not 

 be overlooked. A few years ago, woodland was considered the 

 safest of safe investments ; now, fires in the woods are of 

 frequent occurrence, rendering that species of property as 



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