Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-09-20
VALUE OF THE WALNUT.

planting forest timber with view to
profit would, at first glance, appear as
an absurd proposition. 1t is true that
it would require almost generation
before the crop could mature; but,
notwithstanding this fact, little re-
Election will bring up many strong ar
guments in favor of such an under
taking.
The first point to be considered, OF
course, is the kind of trees which
would likely prove most profitable.
We would not undertake to answer
this question, because there is too much
room for difference of opinion, and
there are too many different kinds OF
trees that would seem to promise all
the advantages that could be suggested
for any one. Some years ago there
was considerable agitation in this Sec
tion of the prospective advantages OF
the pecan trees. Quite number oi
people were interested and not few
of them went so far as to act. AS the
result there are now in York county
many hundreds of vigorous young
pecan; trees that are just now begin.
ming to. bear, and which, in few years
more, will prove q source of more or
less profit and satisfaction TO the intel.
ligent people who had the foresight to
put them out. We know of one gen.
tleman in Yorkyille who has abont a
dozen of these and whatever may be
their value, that gentleman feels so
much pride in them that we feel sure
that he would not sell them today for
$25 each.
But it is not pecan trees that we
propose to write about just now.
This article is suggested by conver-
sation that the writer had few days
ago with Major James F. Hart, OF
Yorkville. Major Hart has given a
great deal of intelligent attention to
the cultivation of different kinds of
trees, especially fruit trees, and be
knows something about forestry. His
knowledge is not altogether theoreti-
cal. OF this fact, any one who accom-
panies him through his orchard and
grounds will become quickly con.
vinced. 1t was while the writer was
engaged in such stroll that the con-
versation referred to occurred, and
from grape vines and fruit trees, Major
Hart's remarks drifted to the ordinary
walnut, formerly so common in this
section and now growing so scarce.
"Did you ever think of it," Major
Hart said, "what a fortune some of the
large groves of walnut that we used
to have in this country would be to
some man who might own them now.
Walnut is the most valuable timber
that grows in this section. 1t is grow
ing scarcer every year, and conse-
quently higher in price. Many a cord
of walnut that was worth from $50 to
500 per 1000 feet have been used for
fuel, and most any kind of walnut
lumber now q days is worth $50 per
1000 feet. From that, the prices
range on up to about $3.50. Though
not in the lumber business, and know
ing practically nothing about it, a
number of years ago I bought,
standing, number of walnut trees on
about eight acres of land. In places
the trees stood quite thickly on the
ground and in other places there was
only scattering tree here and there !;
but I thought it would prove neat
little speculation. had to cut down
the trees, have them sawed, and haul
ed to the depot; but Notwithstanding
all this, I got of some 10000 feet of
sawed lumber, and made a profit of
about 5000. If I had had the informa-
ton as to the best shape in which to
cut the lumber and had known how to
market to the hest advantage, I am
sure my profit would have been much
larger. But, of course, not being in the
lumber business, ignorance of many
of these details affected the proceeds.
"Now it is these facts" continued
Major Hart, (which lead me to reflect
on a matter which may be of practical
utility. 1t is very clear that there
will never be another over-supply
of walnut timber in this country, and
neither is it likely that walnut will
ever be cheaper in this country than
it is now. On the contrary this tim
ber is constantly enhancing in value
and there is no telling what the price
may be 80 or 40 years from now.
Suppose, for instance, man had plant
ed grove of several thousand trees
on waste lands as far back as 40 years
ago, what would be the value of such
d grove now? Well, since the grove
was not planted 80 or 40 years ago,
why not plant it now? Of course no
middle aged man could ever expect to
derive any personal benefit from such
an undertaking but do you not think
it would be as good as an insurance