48 REPORT OF THE FOREST COMMITTEE 



aspect or exposure, altitude, soil in respect to kind, depth and moisture, under- 

 lying rock, etc. Other facts are essential in planning large operations, but the 

 considerations named are fundamental in reaching decision as to species on 

 lands formerly well forested and where the presumption is reasonable that they 

 may again be made productive. If similar sites in forest may be studied within 

 the locality, facts will be secured to substantiate the observations of the physical 

 nature of the deforested lands. If species are planted which are poorly suited 

 to locality, the chance of a valuable crop at the end is gone at the outset. Briefly, 

 then, an intimate knowledge of regional and local conditions is absolutely neces- 

 sary as fundamentally affecting the commercial success of reforestation. 



In regions not naturally forested as in the prairie and plains country, data 

 concerning climate and physical factors of locality are even more essential, 

 coupled with a knowledge of the silvical characteristics of forest tree species. 



An accessible market within the region and a reasonable certainty of a steady 

 future demand is necessary to any form of forest management. The species 

 chosen for planting must meet market requirements in addition to being suitable 

 for the sites on which it is to be set. Its rate of growth and relative freedom 

 from insect damage must be known. 



Initial Cost. 



In commercial forest planting a small initial cost is demanded if full profit 

 is to be taken at the maturity of the crop. Since the investment covers a long 

 period, it is desirable that the cost per acre of forested land be as low as possible 

 without menacing th§ successful establishment of the forest. 



Initial cost comprises value of land, cost of trees and all expenses attendant 

 to setting them. Natural forest land without timber is available at low prices. 

 An arbitrary upper limit might be set at $25.00 per acre, and this too high save 

 under exceptional conditions. Most of the land held or acquired for forest 

 planting in the Eastern United States has been much less than this, ranging 

 generally well under $10.00 per acre. The cost of trees has been brought within 

 reasonable limits by development of State nurseries and by the establishment of 

 private nursery companies. 



Cost of setting trees varies greatly, depending upon local conditions of site 

 and availability and quality of labor. It is not difficult to plant successfully at 

 a low figure and this has been done by many classes of owners under varying 

 conditions. A general figure of cost in Eastern forest planting is a cent a tree 

 set. It has often been lower than this, occasionally higher. With a 6' x 6' 

 spacing this would amount to approximately $12.00 per acre. An average figure 

 of $11.86 per acre was secured in compiling data of the total cost per acre of 

 private forest planting in Connecticut. Planting on a large scale by the New 

 York Conservation Commission in the Adirondacks has been done at a much 

 lower figure. 



Excepting on lowlands affording favorable conditions, plains and prairie 

 planting with its additional two years cultivation to ensure initial success costs 

 from $15.00 to $25.00 per acre. Eucalyptus planting costs in California may 



