146 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



the end of a certain period receive a capital sum provable 

 by arithmetic without any exertion or enterprise. The 

 question therefore is, Will planting of waste land yield a 

 similar return with an additional profit ? 



At forty years of age the plantation has partly performed 

 this, with a balance of ^15. 6s. 5d. against the planting, and 

 also the capital value of the crop standing upon the ground. 

 After this somewhat lengthened period, the value of the 

 crop quickly increases, until at eighty years there remains, 

 after reaping a goodly harvest, a capital sum of ^200. If 

 ^430 be divided by eighty we have ^5. 75. 6d. per acre 

 per annum, out of which to pay rent, rates, taxes, mainten- 

 ance, &c., truly a handsome return on the original capital 

 expended. It may be said, Yes, but the planter will not 

 reap it. This may be true, but his successor will, and as time 

 proceeds, and planting becomes more general, each succes- 

 sive owner will enjoy the result of his predecessor's foresight. 



In the example we have chosen as a type, there has been 

 success, and a tree for which there is a universal demand 

 has been planted ; but even if Scotch pine be selected, 

 there will still remain a handsome profit. If to all this, 

 which is purely commercial, we add the indirect value 

 alluded to in the text, and further, the benefit arising from 

 reclamation of the waste land, the wisdom of planting on 

 waste lands has been well proved. We may be too 

 sanguine ; but the past experience of thirty five years has 

 proved that substantial profits will follow wise and judicious 

 planting. 



There is no reason whatever, beyond the initial difficulty 

 of finding the money, why all the available waste and suit- 

 able land in Great Britain and Ireland should not be 

 afforested. The benefit to the nation would be enormous, 

 and the tide of emigration might be stayed. 





