The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1901-10-17
TREE PLANTING FOR
PROFIT IN THE WEST

| (WiIliam l.. Hall, In Government Forestry
Buletin.)
The area for profitable tree'planting
ten years ago was thought to be linn.
tied to the great plains. Itextends now
to sections in the entire Middle West.
Since the profits of timber growing
have become manifest, people have be-
come imbued with the tree planting
spirit. There will be more trees
planted in the spring of 1901 than
have ever been planted before i'm a
single year, but the number to be
planted will fall short of the number
required. If 500, 900 acres of timber
should be planted annually, we'll dis
tributed throughout the Middle West,
the production would yet be made
quate to meet the requirements of the
country. and the planters could still
hope for liberal profits. Ultimately
this figure will no doubt be reached.
The area of planted timber in the
Middle West aggregates many hum
dred thousand acres. Some of this
timber is on the decline, some at its
best, and some growing into value
each year. To the last class belong
most of the plantations made for
profit.
y large number of plantations have
been established within the last three
years. From these excellent returns
may be expected, for in almost every
case they are in the hands of men
who appreciate their Importance and
know how to manage them properly
for the object in view.
Within the last year nearly one
hundred plantations have been es-
tablished in cooperation with the Di-
vision of Forestry under its plan of
practical assistance to tree planters.
In each case an expert of the division
has made an examination of the land.
and. after consulting the owner on
the objects to be attained. has pre-
pared plan for the establishment
and management Of the plantation.
Profit has not been the sole object in
all cases, but it is a leading feature in
nearly all. The division will direct
the management of these plantations
from year to year, and it is believed
to be possible in this way to make
them fully successful and profitable to
their owners. Most of them are
small, ranging from five to fifty acres.
but many will be extended over larg-
er areas in the future.
1t may be expected that the plan
tations to be first established will be
small. On individual farms such
tracts will be planted to timber as can
be spared from annual crops, usually
from five to twenty acres. Sometimes
men of large farms and ample means
will afforest 100 acres or more. Larger
operations than can be handled with
ease and thoroughness should not be
attempted. The main object of such
plantations should be the production
of materials required on the farm and
in the immediate locality.
While operations will be carried on
generally in small plantations the
time has come when men of means
can get large returns from the devel-
opment of plantations on extended
areas. There are reasons for believ-
ing that the work can be carried on
more successfully by companies than
by individuals. The longtime nature
of the investment adapts it-mOre es-
pecially to company control. The
life of company is permanent, while
the life of an individual may cease at
any time and throw the investment
into hands that fail to carry it out.