61 



Petersham. 



This town has an unusually large percentage of pine, es- 

 pecially in the medium sizes, fonning a large part of the large 

 percentage of forest area which the town has. The second 

 largest type, called maple and birch, which in most towns 

 means red maple and gray birch, in this section includes also 

 white and yellow birch, beech and sugar maple. There is an 

 unusual amount of hemlock in the forests of Petersham. There 

 is a rather high percentage of Class 2, which may be due to the 

 fact that nearly 2,000 acres of the best timberland in the town 

 is in the possession of the Harvard Forest School. 



There is no manufacturing industry whatever in the town. 

 The town obtains its livelihood from farming and catering to 

 summer residents, for it is a popular summer resort. There is 

 a small box shop belonging to John Carter and a water-power 

 sawmill at Nichewaug, but neither is running at present. 

 There is a ready market for pine and other lumber in Athol. 

 The Diamond Match Company has now a portable mill 

 operating in the town, while each winter the authorities in 

 charge of the Forest School do some operating. There is a fair 

 market for cordwood, but it is limited in extent. 



1 White pine in mixture has been proportioned as if growing in pure stands, 

 s Smaller sizes are red maple and gray birch, while larger size classes contain white and yellow 

 birch and beech. 



