780 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



A VIRGIN STAND OF HEMLOCK THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY THINNED OUT, LEAVING 

 THE TALL STRAIGHT TREES FOR INCREASED GROWTH. NOTE THE MANNER IN 

 WHICH THE TREES HAVE NATURALLY PRUNED OFF THE LOWER LIMBS. 



of extensive forest parks remnants 

 of the original virgin stand of primeval 

 forest for both aesthetic and commer- 

 cial purposes. 



Municipal forests are common in Eu- 

 rope. They are common and popular 

 because long ago it was found that by 

 developing waste lands or those of lit- 

 tle value in the vicinity of the cities for 

 growing timber, good profits could be 

 made in forest rotations of from thirty 

 to sixty years. In this way material as- 

 sistance was given in meeting the city 

 budgets, and, consequently, in decreas- 

 ing the property tax rate. In a few in- 

 stances municipal forests under skillful 

 silvicultural management have yielded 

 a return sufficient to meet all the ex- 

 pense of the city and in addition have 

 provided a sinking fund for future 

 emergency, or, in some cases, a dividend 

 to the stockholders of the city, who, in 

 other words, are the property owners. 



Besides the commercial aspect of 

 these city forests, they have contributed 

 immeasurably to the health and pleasure 

 of the people by furnishing an enjoyable 



breathing spot and place for recreation. 

 In addition, European cities are some- 

 times wholly dependent upon their 

 municipal forests for their fuel and lum- 

 ber supply. Thus in many ways they 

 enter into the municipal and domestic 

 economy. 



It is only a question of time before 

 American cities will realize the desir- 

 ability of acquiring waste forest lands 

 within or near their limits, that are un- 

 fitted for agricultural development or 

 undesirable for building or other more 

 valuable purposes with the view of 

 placing them under scientific forest 

 manangement. Several municipalities 

 and private water companies have 

 recognized the advisability of develop- 

 ing their forest lands on the drainage 

 basins of reservoirs both as a source of 

 revenue from the yield of wood prod- 

 ucts and to maintain the best sanitary 

 conditions. Municipalities and corpora- 

 tions permanent in their nature are bet- 

 ter fitted to practice forestry because 

 they can borrow money at such low 



