4o6 FORESTRY IN NEW ENGLAND 



In southern New England, the most extensive forestry work 

 is being done by the various water companies, many of which 

 own large forest areas for the protection of their water suppHes 

 from contamination. The practice of forestry not only main- 

 tains these lands in a condition for retaining the water in the 

 soil, but makes possible an annual income, from the watersheds, 

 which would otherwise have to be administered at an expense. 

 The lands owned by these companies are largely made up of 

 farms, which have been purchased to do away with undesirable 

 drainage. Much of the land is, therefore, of good agricultural 

 value, but cannot be used for farming because it cannot be 

 fertilized. Such lands are, therefore, being afforested, and, on 

 account of their fine quaHty, should become some of the most 

 productive forest lands in New England. Woodlands, already 

 existing, are being thinned, and in some cases whole tracts are 

 being managed after a detailed working plan, very much like 

 those prepared for some European forests. In fact, the forestry 

 being carried on upon such lands is probably the most intensive 

 form at present in use on any considerable areas in New England. 



Many public institutions, such as hospitals, schools, and col- 

 leges, own forest tracts varying in size from a few acres up to 

 the large college grants of several thousand acres. A number 

 of such tracts are now being managed upon forestry principles 

 with a view to a permanent and increasing income. Probably 

 the most extensive area of this kind is the Dartmouth College 

 Grant in northern New Hampshire. 



A class of land owners which is growing very rapidly, especially 

 in southern New England, is composed of city people who have 

 purchased summer homes in the country. With the develop- 

 ment of good roads and the use of automobiles an ever-increasing 

 number of these people are making their permanent homes in 

 the country. They have found by experience that dairying and 

 most other forms of farming cannot be practiced profitably 

 through the employment of expensive help, and that country 

 life can usually be enjoyed with the minimum expenditure of 

 money and worry on lands largely devoted to forests. The 



