GROWING PINE TIMBER EOE PROFIT IN THE SOUTH 13 



contact is made with the farmers. The primary purpose of all of 

 this work is to convince those in the community, and the State as 

 well, that the practice of forestry will react definitely to their 

 benefit. This not only helps the fire-prevention program but also 

 encourages the growth of timber by farmers on their own idle lands. 



TIMBER GROWING AS AN INVESTMENT 



By Austin Gary, Logging Engineer, Forest Service, United States Department 



of Agriculture 



My faith in growing timber as an investment is best shown by the 

 fact that about half of my property is in that form. For more than 

 20 years I have owned such property in my native State, Maine, and 

 it has done fairly well by me. When I first got acquainted with the 

 South and realized the rapid growth of timber there, the opportunity 

 for such investment very strongly appealed to me, and I bought as 

 soon as I felt that I understood the country. 



That first purchase in 1920 has turned out reasonably well from 

 the financial standpoint, though a disappointment from one point 

 of view that I had at the start. During the five years I owned this 

 property I was trespassed on numerous times, while in spite of the 

 best I could do to prevent it my land was was repeatedly burnt over. 

 I sold it after five years' holding. 



Just about the time I sold out I bought elsewhere some stock in a 

 large land-owning company, with turpentine operation and the rais- 

 ing of timber its business plan. I own that yet and hope to all 

 my life. I am also at the present time buying more land — this in 

 association with some younger foresters who have the same ideas I 

 have. I am using what I previously learned in making these later 

 moves. Thus with little in the way of actual experience to recount 

 at this date my faith is shown by my action. 



Timber grows wonderfully fast on much land in the South. Some 

 day, when we in the United States have realized that fact and its 

 bearings and acted on the knowledge, much of the country will be a 

 timber garden, a mecca for foreigners interested in that way. Both 

 immense benefits to the region and generous private returns will, in 

 my opinion, follow. So great in fact is my appreciation of these 

 things that, if I were younger, knew what I know now, and felt per- 

 sonally fit and capable, I should be in the South to-day committing 

 my whole strength to this line of enterprise. 



o 



