FOREST, FISH AND GAME COMMISSION. 95 



It is evident that the native trees will return in time if the fires are kept out ; 

 but the thick growth of scrub oak and mountain laurel seems to be able to hold its 

 place to the exclusion of valuable trees for a very long time ; and, in some places, 

 permanently, unless removed artificially. The objects to be obtained in planting 

 are, a regular, dense cover, of depth sufficient to retain moisture in the soil ; a 

 better quality knd larger quantity of timber; and quicker returns. 



The financial results maybe indicated as follows: Assume the land worth $3 

 per acre, annual taxes 5 cents per acre, protection from fire 10 cents per acre per 

 year, time of harvesting the planted crop 50 years, rate of interest 4 per cent, 

 compounded each year; 



Cost of planting per acre, - -.-- -- - - $10 00 



Value of land " -- 30c 



)i3 00 



Value of acre in fifty years at 4 per cent compound interest, - $92 39 



Taxes per acre at 5 cents per annum, with compound interest at 4 



per cent, - - - - 7 55 



Fire protection at 10 cents per acre per year, compounded at 4 



per cent, ----------- 15 10 



;ii5 04 



As shown before, the following income may be expected from the planted land : 



At thirty years $40, which compounded at 4 per cent for 20 years 

 becomes, --------- 



At 50 years, timber cutting, - - - - - 



Value of land, --------- 



Total, --------- 



Less cost, -- .----.-. 



m 



64 



250 



00 



3 



00 



■ $340 



64 



"5 



04 



$225 



60 



which can be spent on an acre during the term of 50 years, and still leave the 

 investment a good four per cent. This is equivalent to an annual additional 

 expenditure of $1.49^ per acre. 



If the land should be left untouched it would require, under good conditions, 

 from ten to fifteen years for it to become stocked ; and on account of a crowded 

 growth would require a longer time to mature — say fifteen years. Then we can 

 assume a crop in 80 years, with a partial crop in 50 years. It is evident that the 



I 



