THE SOUTHEBN CYPRESS. 59 



The approximate annual money increment of the tree may be 

 readily calculated by multiplying the number of board feet the tree 

 is producing annually by the current stumpage rate. Thus, at $5 

 per thousand board feet/ the trees in Table 16 are increasing in 

 value annually at the rate of about 4 cents each for a 15-inch tree, 

 5 cents for an 18-inch tree, and 10 cents for a 24-inch tree. This 

 indicates also the increasing rate of annual money returns from trees 

 of large size. By ascertaining the number of trees of each diameter 

 group and applying to them the figures shown in Table 17, the total 

 increase of the stand may be obtained in round numbers. Average 

 annual increases in value of about $4 per acre represent approxi- 

 mately the enhancement of a stand of 100 trees per acre of an average 

 present size of 15 inches, growing at the rate of 1 inch in diameter 

 in 3 years; at a slower rate of 1 inch in 4 years the increase will be 

 about S3 per acre. 



In the absence of yield tables, which are difficult to obtain in the 

 uneven or all-aged cypress stands, the above calculation, based upon 

 Table 17 and volume and stand tables, may be used as a satisfactory 

 approximation of the increasing value of young growing cypress. 



In the representative stand used for illustration (p. 57), approx- 

 imately 750 board feet or 6 per cent of the total volume would be 

 left if the original stand were cut to a 16-inch diameter limit; if cut 

 to an 18-inch limit about 10 per cent of the stand would remain. 2 

 Growing at the rate of 1 inch in 4 years, the trees left will increase 5 

 inches in diameter in the next 20 years, reaching the next higher 

 diameter class of 16 to 20 inches. Allowing 10 per cent loss in num- 

 bers for death and permanent injury, there will then be about 9 

 merchantable trees per acre, from 16 to 20 inches in diameter, with 

 a total volume of 1,800 board feet. 3 This is an increase of 1,050 

 feet, or 140 per cent. A stumpage rate of $5 per thousand feet 

 gives a total value of $9, or an increase of $5.25. If the stand is 

 cut to an 18-inch minimum limit, about 1,250 board feet will be left, 

 rained at $6.25. In 20 years the 12 trees will increase by about 

 1,810 feet, or approximately 145 per cent, and be worth $15.30. 

 Stumpage in 20 years may he higher than $5, but only present values 

 are used in these calculations. 



If these figures of money yield do not appear attractive as com- 

 pared with other forms of investment, the unproductive character 

 of the land except for timber growth must not be overlooked. 



1 Good grade of econd-j row th cj pre s, 



I poo 'i ble '.;<). 

 ] ble 15. 



