The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-03-07

STUDIES.

STUDIES.
The following notes OH the rate
of growth Of jack pine and spruce
have been furnished the Pioneer
by Mr.. 4. Z. Duncan Of the diYisi-
on Of forestry Of the Agricultural
Experiment Station at ST. An
|thony Park, as the result of his
recent Investigations in this VII
entity:
All acre of small jack pine
two miles north Of Bemidji showed
645 trees with al average diameter
Eof 80 at breast height from the
ground A sample tree of this size
was 26.7 feet high and "a years old.
Measurements gave 6.34 cords of
wood on the acre. The wood may
pile up to more than that figure as
/ Iallowed 102 cubic feet To thecord,
|a factor which / have found by
actual measurement of a cord of
well trimmed straight wood. An
ordinary cord OF straight wood
with stubs Of branches only partly
trimmed off willcontain much less
than 102 cubic feet Of wood, and
thus increase the number of cords
per acre where the total volnmeis
calculated In cubic feet. The in-
crease on this acre for the last ten
years was 4.9S cords--more than
90 percent compound interest.
The probable increase for the next
five years / place at 3.87 cords, or
|a little more than three quarters
Tot cord per year. On an acre 4
mile and i half west Of Bemidji,
surrounded by tamarack sWamps,
were 442 jack pine trees with an
average diameter Of Z. 6inches and
a height Of 65.5 feet and SO years
old, containing A cords Of wood.
The increase Of wood on this acre
during the past decade was not
less than 2.3 per cent compound
interest. and the prospective IN
crease for the next five years may
be put at 5.67 cords. On third
acre eastof Bemidji were 317trees
fof Sd inches average diameter, 20
wears old and so feet high, contain
ing So cords. The rate Of increase
was here 3.8 per cent compound
interest, with i prospective in
crease for the next Eve years of
i5.3S cords, or about .07 cords per
cent. On the fourth acre, in a
grove Of small stuff north Of Be-
midi were 47S trees averaging
5.5 inches III diameter, AZ IS feet in
height, and 45 yeas in age, with
1885 cords Of wood, Rate of in
crease Of this acre for ten years
was 4 3 percentcompound interest
with a prospective increase for the
coming five years of 3.6 cords.
Now with these figures before US
we may well ask will it pay to
keep some Of the more sandy lands
in jack pine stock for the increase
inS wood2 Suppose you have 100
acres Of jack pille land, which
would not be worth much if clear
led up now, and the wood is in
|creaslng at the rate of one cord
Iperaere each year, what will that
and be worth at the end Of 1905 !?
Can you hold ON and pay taxes Z
|If taxes are too high why not ag-
|itate for a reduction on lands held
Iin growing forest. Bemidji alone
probably uses 1000 to 5000 cords of
wood every year. the product Of
200 acres of ground and the mar
ket is growing while the acreage
is diminishing. Be in no hurry to
cut your jack pine. Unless you
absolutely need the ground for
other purposes, let it grow /. while
longer. Let it grow while you
clean up the tanarack swamps for
meadow.
/ have also examined an
acre of spruce on which there
were $50 trees from 8 inches IN.
diameter up to 9inches, averaging
in height 30.5 feet and 10 years in
age, and 566 trees OF ii smaller
size. Figuring on the larger trees
only there would be 90 cords Of
wood, which has been growing
during the last ten years at the.
rate OF 6 per cent compound In.
terest, and will probably furnish
during the next five years 2.s3
cords more. On the. same acre
were LAT tamaracks from 5 to u
inches III diameter, 81 feet high