The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1907-09-05
PROFIT IN PLANTED FOREST.
Annual Returns in Illinois Of $4.88
Per Acre From Larch.


Per Acre From Larch.
Both soil and climate conditions
In Illinois are favorable to tree
growth, as is we'll shown by the fact
that over 100 species are found. and
many introduced species thrive,
Comparatively few species. however,
those which will furnish posts or
poles at an early AEGEAN be grown
ON the better classes of soil in COM
petition with better farm crops.
During a recent field season the
Forest Service made a field study to,
ascertain the kinds Of trees best
adapted to planting in the prairie
sections of the State. Over 100
plantations were examined and more
than 10000 trees were measured as
a basis for determining the rate of
growth and the value of the planta-
ton. The yield of posts or poles an
acre was computed for the planta-
lions examined, and conservative
prices were assigned in order to find
their present value. Detailed results
and consequent recommendations
are embodied in circular 81 of the
Forest Service, Forest Planting in
Illinois" which will be sent free upon
application to the Forester, United
States Department of Agriculture,
Washington, d. G.
Plantations which show a net an
nual income at three per cent. of 81
an acre or more are regarded as COM
mercially successful. Judged by this
standard, the only species which
would have paid throughout r cat
alpa, with an average return of $5.18
an acre, and larch, with a return of
$4.38 an acre.
With catalpa, ten plantations out
of fifteen whose products were COM
puted have paid more than 81 an
acre, while two of these have paid
1896 and $16.70, respectively.
Though the average indicated return
from catalpa is but little more than
that from larch, it is often preferable
to plant catalpa. 1t grows a trifie
faster, can be utilized for posts and
holes at a smaller size, and its wood
is more durable. Besides catalpa
will grow well on ground that is too
wet for larch, or which is flooded so
often that success with farm crops is
uncertain.
OF the sixteen larch plantations ex-
amined, ten have paid more than 81
an acre, and of these two have paid
more than 81 an acre. This indi-
Gates that If a market developes for
larch posts and poles, as seems likely.
planting larch will at least be as
profitable as raising ordinary farIl
crops.
Because Usage orange has been
planted mainly for hedges it's value
as a plantation tree has been passed
over. That it is unsurpassed in soil
adaptability and in hardness has
been amply demonstrated. The only
danger lies in the northern part of
the State, where it is likely to winter
kill. The two Usage orange plan
tations examined show an average
annual income of 1912 an acre, a
sum which undoubtedly could have
been increased had the original spac-
ing been closer. There is good rea-
son to believe that Usage orange will
pay on ground which is unsuited to
catalpa or larch and which, at the
same time, willnot bring a proper
return from farm crops.
The average return from black
walnut is low, S .ce this tree -equires
many years to reach a size p~roitabls
to cut. 1t is true that one twenty
year-old grove shows an annual in
come of $2.v5 an acre, but this is
computed for posts, and no owner
of a walnut Grove is likely to cut it
for these. Two groves in Whiteside
and Morgan counties show annual
incomes of 1856 and 1892 an acre,
respectively, at the end of f%orty-nine
and sixty-four years. These, how
ever, are by far the best walnut
groves measured. Even under the
best conditions walnut requires at
least fifty years to reach a profitabl,
cutting size. while in one hundred
years the profit should be much
larger. Few persons, however, are
likely to undertake such a longtime
Investment.
in addition to giving tables show
ing the rate of growth of all the
species of trees which have been
largely planted in Illinois, suggcs-
tions are giyeI, as to the best
methods of planting and thinning a
forese %lantation, and reference is
made t. a plantation recently started
by the Northern Illinois State Nor
NAL School at De Kalb, according
to plans prepared by the Forest Ser
vice. One of the most instructive
plantations examined was that estab-
lished in 1871 by the University Of
Illinois at Urbana. This covers
about thirteen acres and contains
twenty species of forest trees, many
Of which have grown well.