24 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 430 



Farm Woodland 



Any program of improvement in land utilization in Massachusetts will of 

 necessity include the consideration of wooded areas. At least 60 percent of the 

 total area of the State is under some kind of forest cover and much of this is 

 found on the operating farms. As will be seen from Chart 2, according to the 

 Census of 1940, woodland accounts for 37 percent of the total farm land. With 

 the exception of some land under the control of public institutions and a few 

 large holdings b}' private individuals, the major part of this woodland, both on 

 and outside of farms, remains largely undevelopea, from the standpoint of scien- 

 tific management and systematic improvement. 



For the Massachusetts farmer to neglect his woodlot is to forego considerable 

 advantages that may accrue both to his income and to farm operations from 

 this potentially valuable part of his natural resources. In fact, under proper 

 management, the producer will do well to integrate the operation of his woodlot 

 with other activities on the farm. This will furnish employment to farm labor 



CROPU AN D 



ClNCLUDING IDLE) 



5S7,79 A. 



£ 8 . e */o 



plowabue: 



PASTURE. 



asOjCas A. 



11 . 9 <^o 



OT H e: p. 

 433,286 A. 



WOOD LAND 

 71 6,86eA. 



1,937,963 A. 



Chart 2. Utilization of Massachusetts Farm Land. 

 Source: U. S. Census, 1940. 



