PEACTICAL PAPERS—TIMBER GROWING. 
853 
Allowing one-sixth for damage by the elements and loss from 
other causes, we have in round numbers three hundred and 
sixty thousand feet of lumber, which, at fifty dollars, per thou¬ 
sand, would amount to eighteen thousand dollars. The value 
of the tree tops for fuel would be equal to the cost of preparing 
the legs for the mill, and the expense in sawing would not ex¬ 
ceed five dollars per thousand feet. This, added to the cost of 
producing the trees, and the amount deducted from the value 
of the lumber, leaves sixteen thousand dollars for the use of ten 
acres of land for twenty-five years^ and the interest upon the 
amount expended in planting and cultivating the trees ! This 
statement may be deemed incredible, perhaps, by those who 
have not previously turned their attention to the subject, but 
after mUch'study and many years’ observation and measure¬ 
ments of growths of different varieties of trees, I am convinced 
that in all well conducted experiments, in growing artificial 
groves upon our large prairies, the profits will not fall far, if at 
all, short of the rates above stated. It must be borne in mind 
that trees standing at regular and proper distances upon rich 
prairie soil, and receiving good cultivation, will grow much 
faster ihan the same varieties usually found growing in naturab 
groves. For a list of varieties suitable for planting in arti¬ 
ficial groves, I would refer all interested to the lists recom¬ 
mended by our state horticultural society, with the remark, 
that, the planter can hardly be in error, in planting any tree 
which is indigenous in a soil and climate similar to his own ; 
while many trees, whose native homes are found in latitude 
north or south, have thus far proved valuable, as the Osage 
orange and Catalpa, from the south, and the red pine and white 
spruce, and others, from the north. 
Some foreign varieties are equal or superior to any of our 
natives; among which are European or Scotch larch (best of 
all foreign deciduous trees), Austrian and Scotch pines, Nor¬ 
way spruce and white willow. 
I regard this last as probably combining more desirable 
qualities for cultivation in groves for lumber purposes than any 
other variety of the soft wood, rapid growing deciduous trees, 
Ag. Tr,—23, 
