THE BILTMORE FOREST FAIR 



This picture of the Douglas Fir is poor; the plantation is 

 not much better; so far, it exists; it does not thrive. 



It may (I suppose it will) disappoint the pessimists in the 

 future. 



The reward for hard work is more hard work. 



The Sugar Maples are bully. Look at the soil, and see it 

 covered with a dense layer of humus! Look at the tops of the 

 saplings, and see the height growth proportioned to the position 

 of the individual stem in the bottom of the hollow here, and ^t 

 the edge of the hollow yonder! 



The Black Cherries have done poorly; I have "doctored" 

 them by Pitch Pines in the East, anno 1900; by White Pines in 

 the West, anno 1908. 



In the Fall of 1897 I had planted: 

 48 Bushels of White Oak acorns, 

 34 Bushels of Chestnut Oak acorns, 



8 Bushels of Walnut nuts, 



1 Bushel of Hickory nuts. 



This part of the plantation covers an area of fourteen acres 

 on the Eastern aspect of Long Ridge. 



The expense was : 



For seeds $71.88 



For plowing 8.82 



For planting 39.60 



Total expense $120.30 



I also had "fixed," at that time, the erosion in the gullies. 



When you see these plantations you will be amazed; I am 

 not going to tell you the reasons for your amazement, unless 

 you come to see the plantation. There can be no denying of 

 the fact that, even today, miracles do happen. 



If men should hold their peace, the trees would cry 

 aloud : 



"Honor and thanks to you, George W. Vanderbilt!" 



