The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-11-25
FIRST STATE FOREST

ctHte Buys 40U acres IN flnlnnelu
For Purpose of Setting Out Seed
iings as Forest Preserye-Price
Paid For Land Was 1,SOO--Deeds
Signed Yesterday
The Board of Agriculture and For
estry has just concluded the purchase
of Vermont's first State forest. This
tract is located in Plainfield about
five miles south of the village and
was purchased from Judge Clapp, of
Barre Mrs. Kidder, of Montpelier,
and Baird and Fitzgerald, of Woods
vile, N. Fl. 1t consists of four hun
dred and fifty acres partly covered
with an excellent second growth of
spruce, and some old hardwoods
The State Board was very glad to
be able to get the first forest in such
centrally located position and so
near the State Capital, AS
As intended that these forests
Sall be a demonstration to land ow-
ners in this region of the methods
of forestry adapted for such kind of
lands. Later it is expected that sim
liar tracts will be purchased in other
parts of the State. The Plainfield
land is particularly adapted to the
purpose of the State forester as it
offers a variety of conditions and
therefore of forestry problems. The
open lands will be planted and the
advance growth thinned out from
time to time. Considerable planting
will be done on this land in the
coming spring with nursery stock
raised in the State nursery in Bur-
lington.
The property in Plainfield was pur-
chased for the State through Commits
sioner Martin and Postmaster Foss,
of Plainfield, and the deeds were TAX
en- for the State Wednesday by States
Attorney Benjamin Gates.
In 1854 the Legislature annexed
this land to the Washington probate
district and to the town of Plain
field, it previously having been a part
of Goshen Gore and Caledonia coun-
ty. This action of the Legislature
of the town of Plainfield, but that
town refused to accept the annexa-
ton when it voted in town meeting
on the project the next spring, on the
ground that many paupers would be
added to the town, as most of the
poorer class lived in that district.
In 1874 the Legislature again voted
to annex the land in question to the
town of Plainfield subject to it's ap-
proval and this time the town accept
| ed the annexation. These lots are
. designated as lots number 12, 13, IA,
80, SO, "a, So, 36, and 81 and embrace
about 450 acres. Lots 12, 13, and IA
were purchased by the State of Frank
w. Baird of Woodsville, N. H., and
Edward Fitzgerald, of the same town
the owners being in this city yes
terday, when the transfer was made
The price paid for the entire nine
lots was $1,SO0, lots 80, 93, and 81
being bought OF Judge w. ]. Clapp, oi
Barre, while lots 35, SO and 81 were
purchased of Mrs. Ella Widder, oi
is city.
Uhese lots are each about one hall
in length and contain about 81
being originally surveyed ant
east4red by Ira Allen, the brother
EtAhan Allen, of Revolutionar.
line. >SThe original plans and des
tiptionf of the land are now in thu
fice Of the Secretary of State il
ihsclttEyot mfwy hrdlu mfwy rdl'
his city, together with a survey o
Goshen; Gore.
State Forester Hawes expects t.
begin planting the seedlins mex
spring. The Clapp lots are particu
larly desirable on account of tn
fact that many young trees have al
ready growing there, most of ther
being three or four years old. The
are about to be cut down, in order t
clear up the ground for use as a pas
ture. A kind of muck is used i
transplanting the seedlings, the root
kbeing covered with it for the purpos
kof protection. Mr.. Halves stated ths
only about five per cent of the tree
ransplanted in this way during tn
last year, have. been lost. 1t take
fabout 80 years to grow trees to
size suitable for cutting.