COTTONWOOD IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 47 
The possibility of pulp companies growing cottonwood near their 
plants is of special interest. It does not seem unlikely that the much 
higher stumpage value of pulp wood located within hauling or short 
shipping distance of such mills may even justify the use of fairly 
good farm land for this purpose. Jor example, if a company, by cul- 
tivation, thinning, etc., could raise a crop of cottonwood in 12 years, 
with a yield of 47 cords per acre, worth $2 per cord on the stump, 
it might be feasible to invest as much as $50 per acre in land, pro- 
vided it were rich, moist, but well-drained bottom land naturally - 
adapted to the tree. Land as expensive as this would be already 
cleared. It could be put into condition for planting by plowing, 
etc., for $2 per-acre. Assuming that 6 per cent return would satisfy 
a company growing its own pulpwood, the following outlay per acre 
would be adequate :* 
Interest on cost of land at $50, 12 years, at 6 per cent___-____________ $50. 61 
Initial outlay (stock $1.50, planting $2.50, soil preparation, $2), $6, 12 
VOATS AEP eT CRs Bonnie S ret ee FN ee NG 12. OT 
Taxes (2 per cent on one-half value), 50 cents per year, 12 years, at 
5 IO NCO Tae = OE etre Se eee se ee ge ee 8. 43 
Thinning at eight years, $2, site Veacs= at Oper Cent =. = us eee ee ee 
CultivaliGn= + perwyeat fitSt two years. = a ee 15. 64 
89.27 
The gross returns would be represented by 47 cords of pulp wood 
at $2 per cord, or $94. 
The crop would be renewed by stump sprouts at practically no cost, 
except cutting back all but the 2st sprout on each stump during the 
summer after felling. This should not exceed $2 per acre. Culti- 
vation would be necessary, since the renewed stand would be only 
half as dense. Because of the more branchy growth pruning would 
doubtless be needed after 3 or 4 years, but no thinning would be 
required. A 10-year rotation would probably be ample for this cop- 
pice growth, so that the new crop could easily return 8 per cent, as 
shown by the following costs and returns per acre: 
Interest on cost of land, at $50, 10 years at 8 per cent__________________ $57. 95 
Cutting off sprouts, $2, 10 years, at 8 per cent__ it le 4,32 
Taxes (2 per cent on one-half valuation), 50 cents, 10 years Se 8 per 
Gelb e tS oo 3 Pi RTD Fed VN ECTS 1 NEA EEA TTA Ne TR ENT SE CES Bae (. 24 
Cultivation, $4 per year for first two years at 8 per cent___ A ne Fe re dG, 63 
Prams wren years-old, bd ates DEE cent. 2) ares ee 7..93 
Sara i esata se a sd VERS AE wen So TAT Os AS Pak eee 94. OT 
StSs TELWENS 177. COrus PUlp WoOO0d" At $2052 TO DOG tat tos Si ee SiO 94. 00 
1 No filling in of blanks will be necessary because of the close planting and thorough 
prepartion of the ground. 
