9 



up he thinned them to about 2 feet m the row. They were carefully 

 tended for two or three years, and then nothing more done to them. 

 The trees soon thinned themselves to the present condition, about 4 feet 

 apart in the row. The stand is very dense, being heavier than that 

 found in any other plantation except No. 8. This crowding has 

 resulted in the production of remarkably straight, smooth trunks, and 

 consequently the trees can be utilized very closely for posts. This is 

 by far the most profitable plantation examined. 



Plantations 6 and 7, taken together, are the largest and in some 

 respects the most important examined. They are situated in the low 

 bottom of the Mississippi in Marion County, Mo., about 3 miles from 

 Quincy, 111., where conditions are identical with those on many areas 

 on the Illinois side of the river. The conclusions drawn from a 

 study of these plantations, therefore, apply also to many localities 

 in Illinois. 



The two plantations were established at the same time and are sepa- 

 rated only by a slough. The soil is sedimentary, rather heavy, and has 

 occasional gumbo spots. The normal water level is 8 to 15 feet below 

 the surface. Farm crops do well on the land when not damaged by 

 floods, but these may occur at any time. It is said that within the last 

 twenty years the plantations have suffered 15 inundations, and that 

 the ground has been under water for a month at a time. Washing is 

 prevented by the surrounding natural forest. The larger plantation 

 comprises approximately 8 acres, the smaller 1J acres. The latter is 

 3 or 4 feet nearer water level and contains much better trees. 



Both plantations were established by contract. The cost is said to 

 have been $675 for the trees and planting, and $75 per year for ten 

 years thereafter for care. These figures are excessive, especially since 

 the trees appear to have received no attention except cultivation. 

 Many trees were suppressed and died when 2 to 3 inches in diameter. 

 Most of these have fallen to the ground, though some are yet standing. 

 No cutting had taken place up to the time the plantations were 

 examined. 



In the larger plantation nearly 60 per cent of the trees are affected 

 at the base by rot, brought on through infection from decayed 

 branches. This often causes a loss at the butt of from 1 to 3 feet in 

 merchantable length. In the smaller plantation the trees are much bet- 

 ter formed than in the other, and not more than 30 per cent are rotten 

 at the base. Aside from rot, however, the general condition of both 

 plantations is good. 



The plantations have recently changed hands, but because of the 



excessive initial cost and lack of proper management they would have 



brought little profit to the original owner. Notwithstanding this, 



however, they demonstrate beyond doubt that the best use to which 



20479— No. 81—10—2 



