REVIEWS 



Working Plan for a Communal Forest for the Tozvn of Ithaca, 

 New York. By John S. Everett, Cornell Exp. Sta. Bui. 404. 



The possession and development of communal forests in the United 

 States, especially in the densely populated areas of the East, should 

 appeal to the public. To a forester it seems rather remarkable that so 

 few cities avail themselves of this method of providing extensive 

 recreational grounds, and a profitable income from wood products 

 grown on land which in many cases provides a water shed for the 

 municipal supply. Such municipal forests would furnish opportunity 

 for labor, a desideratum of no mean moment in times of business 

 depression. 



The bulletin reviewed offers a means for interesting the thousands 

 of municipalities which could profit from the establishment of munici- 

 pal forests. 



The bulletin starts out with some generalities or suggestions to the 

 point, such as the size of the average municipal forest, ultimately about 

 1,000 acres or more, the cost of land to be purchased at seldom more 

 than $10 per acre, the methods of acquisition possible, such as by gift, 

 purchase, condemnation, and lease, provided the State has passed laws 

 authorizing acquisition and development of municipal forests. 



The usual regular order of procedure after acquisition follows, 

 cuch as surveying and marking the boundaries, the preparation of 

 topographic and type maps, including cultural features, and the areas 

 needing reforestation. 



Next comes the development of the area with permanent improve- 

 ments, such as roads, trails, and fire lines, and with forest planting, 

 which is sure to play an important part. 



Thinnings and improvement cuttings plans are then outlined for 

 portions of the area, and administrative details and arrangements are 

 always necessary. The above are the general considerations usual to 

 all municipal forest problems. 



The author then proceeds to apply the principles in a working plan 

 prepared for a communal forest for Ithaca, As to the specific plan 

 for the Ithaca forest, the description is complete, and the plan proper 



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