New-York tribune., 1902-01-26
MASSACHUSETTS FORESTS.
INCREASING INTEREST IN WORK OF
PRESERVING OLD AND PLANT
ING NEW ONES


old colonial forests. In the early DAYS the noun
tsins hills and alleys of the old Bay State were
covered with fine forests. which the onward march
o. population has sadly depleted. The Of the
woodnan has not been alone to blame for the
departure Of the trees. Forest fires nave followed
forest fires, until there remains scarcely an acre
of land which has not at some time within the
last hundred years suffered from the devastation
~ the flames. At the present time there are only
about tventy-one hundred thousand acres or for
ests in the State. and almost every year sees
steady inroad into this acreage.
few years ago the State woke up to the danger
that threatened its forests. and public spirited
citizens Joined with the Comm onwealth in the
work Of rescuing Of the most beautiful sec
tons Of woodland IN and around greater Boston.
The Metropolitan Park Commission estab
lished. and its labors have alTeauy accomplished
much While. its name implies. the chief OBJ
iect Of the commission is to secure for all time
tracts of territory within the metropolitan district
which suitable for park purposes, the com
mission, in the carrying of this object, has
secured two large tracts of forests besides several
smaller Of similar territory. Indeed. 1t has
obtained substantially ali the extensive sec
tions Of woodland within the district that it at
fempts TO cover.
The largest section thus obtained known
the Blue Hill Reservation. 1t contains 4S5S acres.
and IS in the city of Quincy and the towns of Mil
ron. BraintTee. Canton and Randolph. The entire
territory is thickly wooded. mostly with sprout
growth Of scrub oak. though there are some
here and there through the reservation. 1t is To-
Gated from eight twelve miles from the State
House in Boston. Directly north. from five to eight
miles from the gilded dome, lies another reserva
ton of 3 12s acres. known the Mddlesex Fells.
II is in the cities of Maiden Melrose and Medford
and the towns Of Stoneham and Winchester. The
general character of the trees is similar to those
the Blue Hill Reservation. Both of these ter
rtories have delightful variety Of hill and dale,
while beautiful little streams run through them.
ana ponds of greater less extent add TO the de-
lightful pcturesqueness Of the scenery Just with
in the southern borders of the city OF Boston and
extending into the town of Hyde Park is third
reservation called Stony Brook. 1t contains 46i
acres. and is also well wooded.
Outside of the jurisdiction OF the Metropolitan
Park Commission and within the borders Of the
city of Lynn there is another forest reservation,
known s Lynn Woods. 1t comprises 1000 acres,
and through the public spirit of of the citi-
of the Shoe City. supplemented by the wisdom
OF the City Fathers, it was purchased and set
apart for public several years ago, before the
Park Commission established.
But there other forest reservations in other
parts Of the State. wachusett Mountain, in
Princeton. and Greylock in the western part of
the State, each looked after by special
missions. And there is also a corporation known
a the Trustees of Public Reservations which
IS authorized acquire, hold manage and open
to the public beautiful and historical places and
tracts OF land Among the tracts OF forest lands
that it holds the is 260 acres, in the
rnent Mountain, one of the beautiful OF the
Berkshire Hills. Fifty acres Of woods and lodges
IN the town Of Gloucester known as Mount Anne
Park, and Goodwill Park. of seventy acres in
Falmouth are also among the charges or the cor
poration.
All of the foregoing tracts OF forest
interesting as being designed for the enjoyment
OF the great public Another phase Of the forestry
question is the commercial side. The Massachu-
setts Forestry Association is organized chiefly to
secure the preservation of the present forests
through the education OF the farmers into the
knowledge that forestry pays 1t is also the aim
TO secure the enhancement Of the present acreage
of forests by planting with trees the two hundred
and fifty thousand of idle land within the
limits Of the State. The association holds that
there IS no crop that feels the touch Of the hand
az science and Of oHmon sense applied TO 1t
quicker than does the crop Of timber. It says:
You not only grow trees Of the species you
want. but Of the shape you desire. You can mould
them the potter moulds the clay. The first
work given TO the first was to take care Of
the trees that the Lord God had planted for him.
But the majority OF people to-day think the best
care Of a forest Is 10 let 1t alone" Knowing this,
the association early took steps toward the pres
ervation OF the forests and trees.
In 1899 the association secured the enactment of
law providing that every town at its annual
meeting for the election Of officers shan elect p
tree warden, 10 have the care and control OF all
public shade trees IN the town. except those in
Of park commissioners The law also provided
that no tree Under the care Of the tree warden
mission. under penalty OF 800 This law has been
obeyed. SO far as the election OF tree wirdens is
have in few instances been called upon
that other provisions OF the law are enforced by
The association has also sought to preserve the
forests from fire. maintaining patrols Of forest
in the dangerous season, besides having
wagons supplied with appliances for fighting forest
Marshal has also been aided in Investigations Of
rGe origin of forest fires and securing the punish
Eent Of parties guilty of starting them; 1t is graf
tion OF the association the number and extent of
Another direction in which the association has
been working is that OF educating the farmers
forests already existing. and planting the
idle lands in the State. The pine is regarded
England, as il will grow almost anywhere, whether
IN swamps or on SANDY 6arrens The pine takes
Through its leaves il absorbs from the atmosphere
the poisonous carbonc acid gas that man throws
into IL every time he exhales his breath, and
which is also ever rising from decaying vegetable
air but for this elementary action OF the plant
growth. The pine absorbs this poison through its
than lungs they are frequently called. and
eXhales the oxygen, thus making the air At for
its own growth. The healthfulness of pine forests
due alone TO the balsamic odors. but also
10 this purifying Of the air that is constantly
Notwithstanding the great value of forests. it is
themselves by planting trees. but they would pro-
vide well for their descendants The majority of
out for themselves than for their sons ard grand
and this fact is the reason why compara-
even properly caring for the forests already on
their farms. However since the subject has been
there has been steady Improvement. especially
IN looking after existing forests For years 1t has
and small, the wood lots. leaving nature 10
again cover the ground with a sprout growth