CARE OF THE WOODLAND 207 



things; by retaining the fallen leaves on the ground and by 

 keeping the ground well covered with a heavy growth of 

 trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants. The fallen leaves 

 decompose, mix with the soil and form a dark-colored 

 material known as humus. The humus supplies the tree 

 with a considerable portion of its food and helps to absorb 

 and retain the moisture in the soil upon which the tree is 

 greatly dependent. A heavy growth of trees and shrubs 

 has a similar effect by serving to retain the moisture in the 

 soil. 



Improvement by planting: The planting of new trees 

 is a necessity on almost any wooded area. For even where 

 the existing trees are in good condition, they cannot last 

 forever, and provision must be made for others to take their 

 place after they are gone. The majority of the wooded 

 areas in our parks and on private estates are not provided 

 with a sufficient undergrowth of desirable trees to take the 

 place of the older ones. Thus, also, the open gaps must 

 be planted to prevent the soil from deteriorating. 



Waste lands on farms which are unsuited for farm 

 crops often offer areas on which trees may profitably 

 be planted. These lands are sufficiently good in most 

 cases to grow trees, thus affording a means of turning 

 into value ground which would otherwise be worthless. 

 It has been demonstrated that the returns from such 

 plantations at the end of fifty years will yield a six per cent 

 investment and an extra profit of $151.97 per acre, the 

 expense totaling at the end of fifty years, $307.03. The 

 value of the land is estimated at $4 per acre and the cost of 

 the trees and planting at $7 per acre. The species figured 

 on here is white pine, one of the best trees to plant from a 

 commercial standpoint. With other trees, the returns 

 will vary accordingly. 



