116 



Botanical Department. 



[Bulletin 108 



W. Tourney, pages 21 to 24. The table summarizing the cost of grow- 

 ing and marketing the crops is reproduced here. 



From careful measurement of typical areas in the plantation, it was 

 calculated that the gross value of the timber crop produced in ten 

 years was, in January, 1900, $267.15 per acre. Following is an esti- 

 mate of the cost and profit of the plantation per acre (pp. 23, 24). 



" Counting the rent of this land at two dollars per acre, the expenses of grow- 

 ing the crop and marketing the product at the present time are therefore to be 

 summarized for one acre as follows : 



Rent of land ten years, at $2 $20 00 



Cost of raising plants from seed 3 60 



Cost of planting 3 20 



Cost of cultivation, first year 1 20 



Cutting back and sprouting . , 2 50 



Cost of cultivation, third year 1 20 



Cost of marketing crop 20 00 



Total $51 70 



"Deducting $51.70, the total cost of growing and marketing the timber grown 

 on one acre, from $267.15, which is the gross value of the product in hand, there 

 remains a net value of $215.45 per acre, or, including the interest on the invest- 

 ment, an annual profit of $21.54. Allowing six per cent, compound interest on 

 the expenditures, from the time incurred until the expiration of the ten years, 

 the total expense per acre was as follows : 



"Deducting $69.60 from $267.17, the gross value, we have a net profit of 

 $197.55 per acre. 



"These results show the value of an acre at the present time, when the trees 

 are but ten years old. It would be very unwise to remove all the trees at this 

 time. If only a portion of the trees are marketed each year for the next ten 

 years, and the trees cut out are distributed so as to give more sunlight to those 

 that remain, the net profit per acre will be very much increased." 



Mr. Yaggy writes (letter of February 28, 1902) as follows: 



"In reference to the present producing value of my plantation, probably the 

 greatest returns, for the present, at least, would be to cut the entire field off and 

 sell the posts. There are now 2000 trees to the acre, and the trees will average 

 two posts apiece, making about 4000 posts to the acre, that can be sold at an 

 average of ten cents apiece. The stay posts and fire-wood will about pay for the 



