cost: wild vs. NURSEltY-GROWN SEEDLINGS 68 



There Are Differences in Wild Seedlings. 



The writer does not wish to convey the impression that all 

 wild seedlinc^s of two years or more of age are adapted to 

 transplanting directly into permanent places. One can 

 easily determine the qualities desired in a seedling after a 

 little experience. Only those that are of healthy color, have 

 made good growth, and are handled carefully when dug, 

 will survive. It is believed there are many more of these 

 seedlings to be had than most people realize. Where they 

 are not as strong as desired it may pay to transplant them 

 to the nursery row for a year or two. 



Cost of Using Wild Seedlings Compared With Purchasing 



Nursery -grown Stock. 



No one will dispute but that well-grown nursery white 

 pine seedlings are usually better than those taken from the 

 woods. When we consider, however, the expense and 

 transportation risk involved in obtaining the nursery-grown 

 stock, it would appear that the native can be used practi- 

 cally, while the other can not. 



The writer purchased, a few years since, one hundred 

 thousand four- to six-inch pine seedlings from an Illinois 

 nursery. The price secured was $3 a thousand, plus $20 

 for packing the lot, which was the lowest price possible at 

 the time. These were dug early and sent by freight, taking 

 four weeks to reach their destination. They were trans- 

 planted into the nursery row, where they were allowed to 

 remain for a year and then set into permanent quarters. 

 Only about seventy-five per cent, withstood the long trans- 

 portation and the two handhngs. The expense of handling 

 tAvice, use of land, culture, etc., amounted to approximately 

 $280. If to this sum $320, the first cost, is added, it makes 

 $600, the total cost. The seedlings thus handled when set 

 5x5 feet as commonly recommended covered an area of 43 

 acres. The cost per acre, therefore, was about $14. If to 

 this amount is added the price of land, taxes, insurance 



