6 Forestry Quarterly 



not only business and residential sections but also, in most cases, 

 rural and woodland districts. Under the usual combinations of 

 functions in the office of the city forester, the latter may have 

 charge of the suppression of destructive forest insects, protection 

 against forest fires, planting and care of park and street trees, 

 and various related matters. With the management of the 

 municipal forest added to the former lines of work, it is evident 

 that the field will be greatly broadened. 



In addition to the town forest, the city of Fitchburg already 

 possesses extensive watershed areas and a large woodland park, 

 together with a number of smaller parks and playgrounds. Freed 

 from the burden of numerous collateral considerations, therefore, 

 the town forest may be managed primarily as such. A working 

 plan for the areas already acquired is in course of preparation, 

 and steps are being taken toward the inclusion of additional 

 land. Compared with the possibilties, the beginning is necessarily 

 small. Apart from its intrinsic moment, however, the Fitchburg 

 movement is significant as the beginning of a new development 

 in American forestry. 



In leading the town forest movement, the city of Fitchburg was 

 especially fortunate in possessing title to a number of tracts of 

 land acquired in the past through various means and for a variety 

 of municipal purposes. Among these areas were four separate 

 tracts of eight, sixteen, thirty-one, and fifty acres, respectively, 

 which for decades had been lying idle and unused for any 

 purpose whatever. Of the aggregate area, about twenty-five acres 

 are covered with White pine aged 30-60 years. Thirty acres are 

 in small hardwoods and sprouts, and the balance is brush and 

 worn-out pasture. The question of the disposal of these unused 

 lands narrowed down to the alternative of selling them for what 

 they would bring, or of permanently and legally segregating them 

 as public domain for the practice of forestry ; and the forestry plan 

 prevailed. The transfer to the municipal forest of a larger tract 

 of about 200 acres is in contemplation. Certain legal questions 

 aft'ecting the ultimate disposal of this particular tract, however, 

 have not yet been definitely settled, but it is expected that an 

 early solution will be determined. 



The formal establishment of the town forest occurred so late 

 in the year that as yet there has been little opportunity for devel- 



