Profitable Tree Planting 



The Bureau of Forestry has a "Co-operative Tree-planting 

 Plan," simple as the Woodlot Plan, in fact a phase of it, by which 

 owners of land who wish to put some acres into a wood crop can 

 have expert advice as to selection of kinds, and care of the crop. 

 An agent of the Bureau visits the neighbourhood, and meets in a 

 conference all who may be interested in planting. Advice is 

 based on examination of soil, drainage, exposure, climatic con- 

 ditions, and a study of the experience of planters in like regions 

 and under like conditions. 



Of the many plans now in force the majority are on the 

 prairies, but many are in the "abandoned farm" regions of 

 New England. The great treeless belt from the Dakotas to 

 Texas has been the inevitable centre of activity in general tree 

 planting. Forty acres planted to trees entitled a man to a 

 quarter section of land under the Homestead Law. Failure 

 marked much of this "tree-claim" work, some honestly, some 

 dishonestly done. Cottonwoods, box elders, silver maples and 

 willows, quick-growing but short-lived trees, were generally 

 planted because they could be depended upon to grow. Grad- 

 ually better trees were introduced, with higher timber and fuel 

 value, as well as ability to stand against the winds and to give 

 shade and protection to homes, orchards and crops. Altogether, 

 tree planting has been vague and unsystematic but persistent 

 in the treeless belt. It has been an evolution and an education 

 to the people, and it is going to become a financial success. 



The forests of the Mississippi Valley are giving out, but the 

 demand for posts and railroad ties and telegraph poles increases 

 as the country develops. Telephone and trolley lines are threading 

 the country, doubling the demand for poles and cross ties. The 

 Kansas farmer cannot aflFord to buy fence posts grown in Canada, 

 Oregon or Maine. Neither can he do without. His shrewdest 

 move is to raise his posts as he would any other crop, and sell 

 the surplus to his less provident neighbours. 



The growing of wood crops for profit is the logical outcome 

 of Western experimentation. Railroad companies have begun 

 to raise their own ties. Landowners have put some of their best 

 land into tree crops. Among the latter are many farmers. The 

 quickest crop is fuel; the next, posts; next, cross ties; and last, 

 poles for telegraph, telephone and trolley lines. 



The search has been for a tree that can stand hot, dry winds 

 ^7' 



