A TOWN FOREST IN AMERICA 

 By Page; S. Bunker^ 



Emphasis has rightly been placed upon the fact that in order 

 to prove forestry an economic success, the forest land must be 

 maintained continuously in its use as such for long periods of time. 

 While by no means impossible, it has been decidedly difficult to 

 establish this permanency of use in the case of private holdings 

 in America. In notable and important instances, striking progress 

 has been made, but, in general, the time element has been a 

 deterrent factor in the practice of forestry by private owners. 



Public institutions, on the other hand, are customarily regarded 

 in larger terms, and provided the purpose to which they are de- 

 voted is the highest within their capacity, their continuity ordi- 

 narily is not subjected to interruption. The aims and progress of 

 the great national forests of the United States and of Canada are 

 well known to foresters and in a general way to the better in- 

 formed portion of the public. From their location alone, however, 

 it is evident that these large forest areas can be of but small 

 service as object lessons to the people at large, of whom probably 

 more than ninety-nine per cent, have no direct knowledge of 

 their significance. Provincial and State forests come much nearer 

 to the public, and under fairly favorable circumstances their 

 beneficial effect upon the interests of the country at large can 

 be more readily demonstrated than is possible in the case of 

 national reserves. 



It is possible, however, to bring the demonstration of forestry 

 methods still closer to those who pay for the administration of 

 National and State forests, and upon whose ultimate approval 

 depends the entire future of public and private forestry. To 

 bring about general recognition of the practical possibilities of 

 forestry there must be something more concrete than mere propa- 

 ganda. Examples of practical forestry must be inaugurated 

 where they may be exhibited and explained. The economic 

 status of forest conservation must be as clearly demonstrated 

 as is that of scientific agriculture of any other form of economic 



'Mr. Bunker is apparently the first "city forester" with a real forest to 

 manage. 

 4 



