UTILIZATION OF LAND 19 



present condition should be taken into consideration. The most important 

 guides in regard to the present condition are the proportion of land in farming, 

 the percentage of improved land in farms, the value of farm land, and the density 

 of population. If the major part of the town is represented by abandoned farm 

 land, it might be to the advantage of the community and all concerned in locating 

 public forests to take up the whole town area in order to lift from the local people 

 the burden of paying taxes for schools, roads, and other public expenditures. 



Summary and Conclusions 



L A considerable decline of the land area in farming and of the proportion of 

 improved farm land in the last few decades has resulted in the presence in iVIassa- 

 chusetts of many idle acres which create an important problem in land utilization. 



2. Largely as a result of the abandonment of farm land, about one-third of the 

 total area in towns with a population of less than 10,000 isowned by non-residents. 



3. The greatest abandonment of farm land and development of non-resident 

 ownership occurred in the hilly sections and communities with poor farm land as 

 indicated by the percentage of the town area in farming, the amount of improved 

 land in farms, and farm land values. 



4. In the towns situated on the coast and in some inland towns, especially 

 in Berkshire County, the land owned by non-residents is utilized to a great extent 

 for recreational purposes. However, most of the abandoned farm land held by 

 non-residents in other areas is represented by idle acres co^'ered by brush and in- 

 ferior woods. 



5. Except for the coastal towns and a few towns in Berkshire County, there is 

 no substantial evidence that development of recreational uses encroaches upon 

 farmland. 



6. The development of recreational uses in communities with a large area of 

 idle land benefits the local population by providing a greater amount in tax re- 

 ceipts, a local market for agricultural products, and some employment for the local 

 people. The negative effect in some cases is found in lack of interest in local in- 

 stitutions and occasional competition with the farmers for hired labor. 



7. In many towns there are exceptional opportunities for the development of 

 recreational uses of land, and while the number of summer homes in these areas 

 is increasing it is not commensurate with the amount of land available. 



8. Althougn the indications are that with a further development of good roads 

 a considerable amount of the present area of idle land will betaken up in the near 

 future for part-time farming, recreational and residential uses, the major part of it 

 has to be utilized for the growth of trees. At the present time about 115,000 

 acres of land are in 47 state forests, 25,500 acres in town forests, and small areas 

 in forest land held by various public and semi-public organizations. 



9. Any program for land utilization in individual towns or sections of the 

 State should be based on a careful study of local conditions. This would involve an 

 intensive survey of both physical and economic factors. As a general outgrowth 

 of this study, the following policies are recommended: 



a. In planning further acquisition of land by the State and other public institu- 

 tions for forestry or recreational purposes, it is advisable to e.xercise more care not 

 to include towns where the improvement of present roads and the construction 

 of new highways is likeh* to create in the near future a considerable development 

 of part-time farming and summer homes. 



