THE CONDITIONS TINDER WHICH COMMERCIAL PLANTING IS DESIRABLE 



By the Sub-Committee on Forest Planting. 



Chairman, E. H. Clapp, Washington, D. C. 



Acting Chairman, S. N. Spring, Ithaca, N. Y. 



T. T. MuNGER, Portland, Oregon. S. B. DetwilEr, Philadelphia, Pa. 



Presented by Mr. B. H. Clapp, Monday Morning, November 17, 1913. 



SYNOPSIS 



THE conditions under which commercial forest planting is desirable is the 

 topic considered by this sub-comrhittee. The commercial basis for an 

 investment in planted forest includes safety of investment, suitable 

 regional conditions, a ready market, low initial cost of land and planting, and 

 satisfactory returns at maturity. Fire, insects, and fungi need not be considered 

 insurmountable obstacles to such an investment. If species suitable to climate 

 and soil, which have good annual growth, and which meet market demands are 

 chosen, favorable returns may be expected. 



An investment in planting offers the least incentive to private owners since 

 returns do not come within a short period, and money must be invested for 50 to 

 100 years. An exception is the planting of quick-growing species or of slow- 

 growing trees for utilization when snlall, as for post production, where regional 

 or market conditions are favorable. Here returns come earlier and are propor- 

 tionately higher. Long-lived corporations and communities have a much greater 

 incentive to plant forests than individuals. Most of all, a long-time investment 

 like planting is feasible for the States and the Federal Government. 



The report shows the great necessity for an adequate plan of commercial 

 planting by States and the Federal Government. More than $65,000,000 worth 

 of wood is lost annually while the available lands remain deforested. The Federal 

 Government, in co-operation with the States, can wisely expend millions in order 

 to dull the edge of timber famine when it comes. 



The following summary ends the main report of the Committee, which is 

 further supplemented by an appendix containing a condensed discussion of forest 

 planting in each of the natural forest regions. 



(1) Although interest in forest planting is increasing, the actual area planted 

 each year is very small in contrast to the millions of acres which require 

 reforestation. 



(2) An investment in planting should be made relatively safe from loss, 

 especially by fire. Organized fire prevention and control have minimized losses 

 from this source. Adequate fire protection is sure to come if extensive planting 

 is undertaken. 



(3) Successful commercial planting depends upon a good , future market, 

 lands of low value on which to plant, a choice of species suited to the needs of 

 the market and to the conditions, local and regional, relative freedom from sources 

 of damage, a low initial cost of planting, and a return on the money invested equal 



