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The trees were cultivated for four successive years, until they had 
attained sufficient size to fully shade the ground and suppress the 
growth of weeds. The closeness of their stand is forcing a straight 
and upward growth with but few lateral branches, which in time will be 
removed by a natural process. 
This brief statement indicates the fundamental requisites of success 
in timber culture. Proper preparation of the soil, intelligent cultiva- 
tion of the growing trees until large enough to take care of themselves, 
and close planting to secure height-growth and straightness of stem, 
the plan pursued by nature herself in rearing mighty forests. To this 
is to be added the necessity of selecting the most valuable kinds for 
the object in view. 
Considering the history of the plantation in its relation to the corpo- 
ration to which it owes its existence, it will be seen that three condi- 
tions favored its rise and development, which, under circumstances lack- 
ing these favorable influences, would never have taken place, or like 
former attempts, would have resulted in failure. To illustrate: a man 
largely interested in railway property, and conversant with the agri- 
cultural topics freely agitated in the United States, issues the order for 
a plantation. At first his subordinates attempt to execute this order, 
but soon become disgusted with a work so utterly foreign to the operat- 
ing service of a railroad. Thus the project is. in danger of being 
dropped. But an ardent pioneer of forest culture steps forward to save 
so far-reaching an enterprise, hoped for these many years, shoulders 
the financial risk involved, and performs the work under a great sacri- 
fice of his personal comfort, assisted, however, by the hearty co-opera- 
tion of the executive officers of the road. 
The conditions indispensable to every similar enterprise are, that the 
order come from the financial headquarters ; that there be unerring, 
sound judgment in the execution of the work, and good-will and co- 
operation on the part of the executive officers of the respective roads, 
without which, though well planned and conducted, the work may be 
greatly impeded by delays, and even practically fail. 
In the report of the Department of Agriculture for 1883 there will 
be found an account of this forest tract, together with one of the growth 
of the trees planted in three successive years, and of the financial aspect 
of the enterprise, given by the manager of the plantation, and by the 
general manager of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad; by 
which it is plainly demonstrated that railway corporations can contract 
with reliable parties for the planting, cultivation, and care of extensive 
forest tracts at very moderate prices, thus relieving the executive offi- 
cers from all cares and responsibilities incident to arboricultural enter- 
prises, in the successful management of which, as a rule, they have no 
experience, and consequently no desire to enter into them. 
Time only can develop the full result of this pioneer enterprise. 
Whatever success may attend it iu after years, these stately blocks of 
