No. 4.] REPORT OF STATE FORESTER. 509 



This department is pleased to note that some of the State 

 institutions are inaugurating a forest policy for their woodland 

 property. This year something along forestry lines is being 

 done on the woodland of the Taunton, North Grafton and 

 Gardner State hospitals for the insane. It has been proven 

 that the able-bodied men inmates of the insane institutions can 

 do very well the needed work in the woodland areas owned by 

 the various institutions, and thereby benefit not only the w^ood- 

 land and institutions, but themselves as well, for the forest 

 work makes a very healthful occupation. At the Gardner 

 colonies alone there are 75 or 80 inmates who will be employed 

 this winter in improving the woodland areas of that institution. 

 There are 600 or 700 acres of blank, or what is termed as 

 absolute, forest land that can and should be planted with co- 

 nifers during the next few years. This work can all be done by 

 the inmates. It is planned to establish a nursery in the spring 

 at the Gardner Colony that will stock 100,000 transplants a 

 year for the next six years. The seedlings will be furnished by 

 the department's nursery at Amherst. 



The department is pleased to assist the various State insti- 

 tutions in any way in connection with the better management 

 of their forest property. The combined areas of the various State 

 institutions amount to thousands of acres, and it is certain that 

 were a definite forest policy followed up on these areas much good 

 would result. 



JValpole Town Forest. 



It is quite probable that during the coming year a definite 

 start will be made towards establishing a permanent town 

 forest in Walpole, Mass. The proposition has been considered 

 by Mr. Charles Sumner Bird, Jr., chairman of the park board, 

 and other citizens of the town during the past few months. 

 A survey of 200 acres has been made, 100 acres more examined, 

 and data collected in connection with the town forest plan, and 

 it is hoped an appreciable start will soon be made in the matter. 

 That a town forest is an excellent and valuable asset to a 

 town cannot be disputed. There are many towns throughout 

 the Commonwealth that have right at their very doors, so to 

 speak, the property suitable for the making of excellent town 

 forests, and it is hoped that during the next few years many 

 towns will make a start along this line. 



