116 ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



For the next twenty years, the cost of thinning, 

 which is the only expense, will be more than 

 balanced by the increase in value of the wood 

 cut, at 30 cents per tree, over that valuation. 

 During that time, the trees will have been thinned 

 to about 400 trees per acre, which is about the 

 number of timber trees that can be grown to full 

 size. These trees would be worth, for fuel, 

 merely, as they stand, at least 1^5 per tree, any 

 where in Essex county, or $2000 per acre. The 

 account, then, would stand, at the end of forty 

 years, thus : — 

 Profit, at the end of 20 years, . . . $1,688 00 



400 trees per acre at the end of 40 years, at $5 per 

 tree, ...... 20,000 00 



$21,688 00 



Less, previous value given on same, at 30 cents per 

 tree, remaining, .... 1,200 00 



$20,488 00 



.Which sum, large as it may appear, shows the smallest profit 

 to be anticipated from an oak plantation of ten acres, upon suit- 

 able land, of a medium quality, at the expiration of forty years 

 from the time of planting. 



On a poor dry rocky soil, the Scotch larch would offer as 

 marked a profit. Its wood is almost indestructible, and the ra- 

 pidity of its growth is astonishing. Though similar to the 

 American larch, or hackmatack, in appearance, it is totally op- 

 posite in habit, the latter flourishing only in wet humid soils, 

 and the former in soils of a dry and gravelly nature. The seed 

 can be imported through Messrs. Hovey & Co., of Boston, or seed- 

 ling plants can be obtained, at a very low cost, say from one to 

 three dollars per thousand, according to size. 



We shall now conclude our remarks with a few directions for 

 preparing the land, and making the plantation, taking an oak 

 plantation for an example. The first step is to prepare the 

 ground, by ploughing and harrowing it, as it should be done for 



