CITY AND TOWN FORESTS 45 



wooded resources as to meet an appreciable proportion of the local 

 demand. It goes hand in hand with the farmer's development of his 

 woodlot and state acquisition of forest areas. It fits into the whole 

 scheme but is by no means a solution of itself. 



The City of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, claims the distinction of 

 having officially set aside the first community forest in the United 

 States. The laws of the State authorize such action on the part of 

 communities, and Fitchburg took the initiative in 1914, doing so with 

 the threefold purpose of providing demonstration of practical forestry, 

 of getting profit from the sale and use of forest products and resources 

 and of furnishing a site for public recreation. In 1921, 100,000 feet 

 of pine suitable for box boards were cut from the comparatively small 

 tract, netting the city a profit of $417.09. 



Other Massachusetts communities including Petersham which 

 forested its poor farm ; Walpole, which enlisted the aid of the schools ; 

 Brookline, which manages its watershed along practical forestry 

 lines have taken action. The Massachusetts Forestry Association 

 has made an offer to plant 5000 trees, or five acres, for any town or 

 city legally establishing a local forest of 100 acres or more. About 

 100 communities have considered or are considering such action. 



Rapidly increasing its distribution of nursery seedings, the State 

 of New York has encouraged the creation of local forests. Nearly 

 200,000 acres are believed to be now so set aside in the State. 

 Rochester, Glens Falls, Gloversville and the City of New York are 

 among the 40 or more communities with home forests. Cincinnati and 

 Oberlin are among the five Ohio communities with local forests. 

 Seven cities or towns in Colorado boast community forests. In New 

 Jersey more than 35,000 acres are so owned. 



This activity shows the gradual growth of the movement, which 

 has progressed now to a point where the momentum of public senti- 

 ment should carry it more rapidly forward. The following of a list 

 prepared by the United States Forest Service and designed to show 

 approximately the situation in the establishment of community forests : 



