1042 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



CYPRESS KMCK USED AS A FLOWER JARDENIERE 



they could be utilized. At present they are occasionally 

 used locally for rustic furniture such as lawn tables and 

 benches, but no extensive use has been made of them. 



An accompanying photograph shows how cypress 

 knees have been utilized for flower jardinieres at the 

 Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Many 

 other similar uses might be made of them and a number 

 of such uses are indicated in the other illustration. 



The principal difficulty experienced in making such 

 articles is in properly drying the knees. They generally 

 check badly, but with a demand for them well estab- 

 lished, some satisfactory method of treatment and sea- 

 soning might certainly be perfected. 



THE FIRST TOWN FOREST 



FITCHBURG, Mass., claims to be the first mun- 

 nicipality in the country to have officially set 

 aside under a State law an area which is not 

 connected in any way with its parks or water supply 

 system for the express purpose of growing trees for 

 profit. The action of the city government was taken in 

 accordance with the Town Forest Law known as the 

 Public Domain Act of PH.'i by which cities and towns 

 within the Commonwealth may own, control and operate 

 forests. For this purpo.se. four tracts aggregating 105 

 acres in extent have been set .-ipart to be known and used 

 as a Town Forest. These tracts contain 50, 3L 16 and 8 

 acres, respectively. About one-fourth of this land- is 



now covered with white pine ranging in age from 20 to 

 00 years. The remainder is cut-over land, now partly 

 covered with sprout growth so common in Massachusetts. 



The city forester, Mr. Page S. Bunker, will prepare 

 working plans for this area and the planting of the cut- 

 over land to white pine will begin next spring. Mr. 

 Hunker was connected for many years with the United 

 States Forest Service and is ably fitted to develop an 

 efficient forest for the city. He has been in his present 

 position but a few months. 



This action by the city government was inspired 

 chiefly by the Park Commission, and the Fitchburg 

 Branch of the Massachusetts Forestry Association. A 

 petition was presented by the chairman of the Park 

 Commission, Dr. D. S. Woodworth, asking that this land 

 be utilized as a Town Forest. It was supported at the 

 hearing by the president of the Branch Association. Hon. 

 Frank O. Hardy, an ex-mayor. Fitchburg was the first 

 municipality in the State to organize a local branch of the 

 State Association and the sentiment for conservation is 

 very strong. 



While this is a very feeble beginning toward the es- 

 tablishment of an efficient Town Forest, it is tremen- 

 dously significant in view of the fact that it is the be- 

 ginning of one of the greatest movements for conserva- 

 tion ever started in this country. Town Forests are 

 bound to increase in nimiber and area very rapidly since 

 the public is becoming alive to their wonderful possi- 

 bilities and practical advantages. There are nine States 

 that already have laws permitting towns and cities to 

 create and manage their own forests. 



A great many cities and towns throughout the country 

 are practicing scientific forestry to a greater or less de- 

 gree on lands owned by the municipality, but in every 

 case so far as we know, this work has been done in 

 connection with the public parks or for the purix)se of 

 protecting the water supply. In other words, the matter 

 of timber production has always been a secondary 

 consideration. 



Through the interest which has been created in Town 

 Forests in Massachusetts, by the Massachusetts Forestry 

 Association, it is believed that many such forests will be 

 started in Massachusetts. The Association has offered 

 to plant fifty acres to white pine, in the Town Forest of 

 the city or town which makes the best showing in the 

 establishment of such a forest this year. This prize, 

 which consists of 60,000 three-year-old white pine trans- 

 plants, is well worth striving for and is creating a keen 

 competition. 



Ten entries must have been made before the prize 

 will be awarded. To enter the contest, at least one hun- 

 dred acres must be, officially, set aside as a town forest 

 under the new town forest law and fifty acres of this 

 area must either be planted to trees or already contain 

 forest growth of commercial species. If the contest 

 succeeds, there will be over 1,000 acres of Town Forest 

 in the State, and a half or more of it will be covered with 

 timber-producing trees. It is a small beginning of a very 

 big and important movement. 



