TOWN FORESTS 139 



pies, but the movement has more recently extended 

 to the middle-western states, Ohio having now two 

 city forests, one owned by Cincinnati and one by 

 Oberlin. State legislation has made it possible for 

 other Ohio cities to follow this example and they 

 are continually being urged to do so. 



A town forest is handled in somewhat the fol- 

 lowing way. If there are already trees of useful 

 species growing on the land, a little immediate thin- 

 ning will probably tend to encourage their growth, 

 and the trees taken out may be sold for fuel, fence- 

 posts, poles, wood-turning, or some similar purpose, 

 the income thus derived being dependent upon the 

 extent of mature or semi-mature trees available. 

 In the meantime, a vacant or semi-treeless area Is 

 planted with seedlings of such species as are best 

 adapted to the region. Pine is often planted in 

 Massachusetts because the white pine is the native 

 soft-wood tree of that state, and has a wide utility. 

 In the middle-west, however, hardwoods, although 

 slower growing, are often found more suitable. 

 The selection of species is a matter upon which the 

 community should take the advice of some experi- 

 enced authority, such as the Forest Board of Its 

 own state or the United States Forest Service. 

 States with a forestry department of their own can 

 often supply supervision without charge. The ultl- 



