88 REPORT OF THB FORESTRY COMMITTEE 



form, especially in plantations, and furnishes a very durable timber. Manna gum 

 grows very rapidly, but it is hardly worthy of consideration, since it is but slightly 

 more frost hardy than the sugar and blue gums, while its timber is inferior to 

 that of either species."* 



Yields and Returns : On proper sites there can be no doubt of the profitable- 

 ness of commercial eucalyptus planting, contingent, of course, upon a reasonable 

 initial investment for land and planting, intelligent management, and accessibility 

 to market. Areas suitable for eucalyptus planting, that is, near transportation 

 and where the minimum temperature is not less than 34° F., can be purchased for 

 about $30 per acre. The cost of preparing an acre of ground for planting does 

 not ordinarily exceed $6. Seedhngs can be purchased for $6 per thousand. The 

 planting of 1,000 trees (enough for an acre) costs about $4. The cost of culti- 

 vating and caring for a plantation for two years does not usually exceed $7 per 

 acre, including the purchase of trees to fill blanks in the plantation. Any thin- 

 nings made up to the time of the first cutting should pay for themselves. The 

 cost of establishing a plantation and carrying it through the first two years, 

 excluding the cost of land, is therefore about $33 per acre. 



Taxes on the class of land used for growing blue gum amount to about 30 

 cents per acre per year. Ten cents per acre per year should be expended in pro- 

 tection from fire. These two items represent a fixed annual charge per acre for 

 the 10-year period before the first cutting. Discounted at 4 per cent, this amounts 

 to a present investment of about $3.35 per acre. The total investment involved 

 in establishing 1 acre of plantation is, therefore, about $56.35. 



Actual measurements show that an average yield of about 6.4 standard cords, 

 or 8.5 California cords, per acre is produced by the best blue gum groves in the 

 State. Individual groves have occasionally done better. One grove was found 

 which produced 185.9 standard cords in 35 years, or about 7.4 cords per year. 

 Another produced over 59 cords in nine years, or nearly 6.6 cords per year. On 

 the other hand, three groves under average conditions, with fair soil and the 

 water table not more than 35 feet from the surface, show an annual growth per 

 acre of only 4.05, 3.9, and 3.7 cords, respectively. Under unfavorable condi- 

 tions, with a deep water table or with hardpan near the surface, the annual growth 

 in two cases has been as low as 1.6 cords and 1.1 cords per acre. An annual 

 yield of 6.4 cords per acre, or 64 cords per acre in 10 years, may therefore be 

 accepted as a fair estimate of what may be obtained upon the best sites under 

 the methods of management heretofore used. 



Assuming a stumpage price of $3.50 per standard cord, this yield would 

 return $160 in 10 years from the wood alone. This represents nearly 13% com- 

 pound interest on the original investment of $56.35. Out of that amount $30, the 

 cost of the land, may be considered as restored to the investor with the harvesting 

 of the crop, and is, in effect, an additional return. 



Sfnce blue gum sprouts rapidly, the same return of .64 cords, worth $160, 

 should be obtained periodically at the end of every 10 years for at least several 



* "Handbook for Eucalyptus Planters," by G. B. L,ull, Circular 2, California State Board 

 of Forestry. 



