46 



LANCASTER. 



The proportion of wooded land to the total area of the town 

 is about 60 per cent. The best woodland lies in the southwest, 

 between the river valley and the town line, along the George 

 Hill and Ballard Hill ridges. The types are usually well de- 

 fined, the most important being pine, oak, chestnut, soft maple 

 and birch, in clear and in mixed stands. Reforestation is popu- 

 lar on the larger estates; white pine is preferred. The planta- 

 tions show rapid and healthy growth. 



The area in the northeast corner, bounded by Crumbury 

 Pond, Shirley Road and the Nashua River, has a good covering 

 of young pine, both white and pitch. The growth is not uni- 

 form, however, and a large amount of brush, dead trees and 

 fallen birch should be removed to bring it into the best con- 

 dition. 



The rest of the town, except for a few acres surrounding the 

 lakes, has been swept by forest fires. The reproduction consists 

 of oak, chestnut, birch, soft maple and aspen, and in some cases 

 a little pine. 



Practically no cutting for lumber is done by residents of 

 Lancaster. There is one small chair factory on the Leominster 

 road at Wekepeke Brook. The owner is W. W. Bartlett of 

 Lancaster. Some cutting is done in this town by the lumber- 

 men of Clinton. 



