No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 507 



Thinnings. 



The department's work in connection with woodland thin- 

 nings has shown an increase this year over last. In some cases, 

 and where so desired by the owner, this department has taken 

 charge of the thinning operations from beginning to end, while 

 in other cases the trees to be removed have been marked and 

 the owners have supervised the remaining work themselves. 

 Some of the places that have received attention this year are 

 as follows : — 



Wellesley College. — A heavy marking in the trees on about 

 60 acres was made during the fall. The marked trees are to be 

 removed by the grounds superintendent and his men this 

 winter. Stumps are to be cut low, brush burned, and the area 

 will be in suitable condition in the spring to stock with conifers 

 if the authorities desire to do so. The trees to be removed are 

 mostly white oaks. 



St. Augustine Farm. — Work was started last winter and is 

 being continued at the present time on the 125-acre property 

 known as the St. Augustine Farm, located in Foxborough, 

 Mass. The operation consists of heavy, medium and light 

 thinnings, clean cutting in places to be followed by planting. 

 A fire line 75 feet wide and 2,000 feet long has been made 

 during the past two months. The woodland consists of large, 

 medium and small white pine and mixed hardwoods. One small 

 stand of planted pine about twenty years old is making excel- 

 lent growth. 



Alfred Mellor Property. — This operation is continued from 

 last season, and is at present under way on the 200-acre tract 

 of Alfred Mellor, located in Cummington, Mass. It consists of 

 a thinning in conifer and mixed hardwood growth, and is of 

 especial interest on account of the very large size of many of 

 the trees involved. There are several hemlocks on the tract 

 that will run over 1,000 board feet per tree, and very large 

 maples are numerous. Trees of such size are unusual in Massa- 

 chusetts at the present time, and give one an idea of what the 

 original forest of the State was like. 



Mrs. W. A. P. Crocker. — This 80-acre tract, located in Fox- 

 borough, Mass., consists of one of the best pine stands remain- 



