Georgia ORESTRV Georgia FORESTRY June, 1967 No. 2 Vol. 20 Pub Iished Quarterly by the GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION Box 1077 Macon, Georgia 31202 Georgia Forestry Mailing Address Route 1, Box 85 Dry Branch, Georgia 31020 OFFICIALS A. Ray Shirley- Director James C. Turner, Jr. -Asst. Director CONTENTS Forest Fire Protection Act Signed. . 3 Dixon Named Board Chairman . . . . 3 Garrison Appointed To Board . ......... . 3 Governor Maddox Heads Speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Arkansas Wins Forestry Conclave .......... 5 Forest Product Firms Announce Construction . ............ . 6 Foreign Graduate Foresters Seek Degrees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6,123 Fires Suppressed; 29,700 Acres Burned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8-9 Miss Sue Myrick Retires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Field Yields To Lanier County ..................... 10 Tree Seedling Handling Made Easier. 77 Ranger Of The Quarter ........ .................. 11 Personnel Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Lowery Heads State Program For Better Seed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Commissioner Profile. . 73 Logging The Foresters . ............................ . 14-15 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Hugh M. Dixon chairman Andrew J. Aultman M. E. Garrison L. H. Morgan Alexander Sessoms -Vidalia -Sylvester - Homer - Eastman -Cogdell STAFF Frank E. Craven- Editor Thomas R. Fontaine, Jr. -Assoc. Ed. Thomas B. Hall - Artist DISTRICT OFFICES GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION DISTRICT I - Route 2 Statesboro, 30458 DISTRICT II - P. 0. Box 26 Camilla, 31730 DISTRICT Ill- P. 0. Box 169 Americus, 31709 DISTRICT IV- P. 0. Box 333 Newnan, 30263 DISTRICT V- P. 0. Box 96 McRae, 31055 DISTRICT VI - P. 0. Box 881 Milledgeville, 31061 DISTRICT VII- P. 0. Box 2136 Rome, 30161 DISTRICT VIII- P. 0. Box 1160 Waycross, 31501 DISTRICT IX- P. 0. Box 416 Gainesville, 30501 DISTRICT X - Route 2 Washington, 30673 Member of the Georgia Press Association Second class postage paid at Dry Branch, Georgia Cruising the News No Time To Start Woods Fire Rainfall since Jan. 1 is only about half normal. Last month was one of the driest in the weatherman's record book for the Macon area, March winds continue but badly needed April showers ore not to be found. Little wonder the forest rangers are worried. Warnings have gone out to the public to be particularly careful with camp fires, carelessly tossed cigarettes or rubbish burning. Indeed, the best policy is to refrain from starting any outside fires except under the most carefully controlled conditions. Aside from possible death, horrible burns or private property loss resulting from a raging forest fire on dry, windy days, there is a loss to the public of the beauty, wildlife, natural resources and job-creating value of Georgia woodlands. We all have a stake. We can protect that stake by observing fire safety precau tions and by quickly reporting a blaze or an individual thought to have started one. Macon Telegraph Smokey's Earnings It's easy for the American taxpayer to imagine that everyone in Washington is working, night and day, to spend money. It becomes refreshing, accordingly, to discover that someone in Washington or more properly, something is working to make money. That distinction the only money-maker in the Federal hierarchy - falls to Smokey Bear. Smokey was created in 1944 to further the cause of fire prevention. He became such a popular figure that Congress grew anxious lest he be exploited by commercial enterprises. Accordingly, the Smokey Bear Act was written into law (technically, public law 359). Every use of Smokey's name and likeness had to be by license and for a fee payable to the Federal Government. In 10 years, believe it or not, Smokey Bear has earned $250,000 in royalties every cent in which, the Bureau of the Budget says, has been plowed back into Smokey's favorite field of Federal activity, fire prevention. Is it premature to wonder if Smokey is available for a presidential draft? The Cincinnati Enquirer Moultrie Observer Forest Fire Protection Act Signed Governor Le ster Maddox ha s s igned into law an Ac t t hat enables counties to rece ive State forest f ire protecti on for four c ent s an acre of pri vately-owned forest land. Under the 1949 law , protecti on was provided by ap- propriat ed State funds and mon ies obtained throug h agree ment wi t h counties , ind iv idual s and organ i- zatio ns . This ha s been on a on e- t hird, two-th ird cou nty -St a te pa rti - c ipati on. The four cent Act goes into effe c t July 1. Governor Maddox sai d the Act affords a so under base for lo ng ran ge planning for both county an d State governm e nts . He po int ed out that it puts ea ch count y on the s ame financ ial ba si s pe r fo rest acre. The State Executive emphasized that each part icipat ing county now knows what it s f inanc ial obl igati on is. The Forest ry Co mmissi on will be able to place equ ipme nt an d personnel on t he ba si s of need throughout the St at e, the Governor added. Ray Shirley , Comm iss ion d irect or, Maco n, ca l led the Act the greatest c.h ange in the forest protecti on law s in ce it was enacted 1n 1949. Sh irl e y po inted out t ha t a goo d forest protec t ion prog ram 1s in th e publ ic int ere st, and is neces- sary to safeguard the many types of fore st investments. He emphas iz ed t hat t he b i ll is insu rance for t he State ' s 196,000 pr iv ate woodland owners who own some 58 percen t of Georg ia' s forest acres. Sh irley added that the Act sol id if ies the Commission ' s pos it ion of pro vi d ing eff ic ien t f ire detection and s upp ress ion serv ices to all of Georg ia ' s pr ivately-owned forest land. Co-au t hors of the House B ill are Hines L. Brantley , Mette r; A. B. C. ' Brad ' Dorm iny , Fitzgerald; G. Ed Knapp , Macon ; Harry Mixon, Oc i lla; B. Jac k Sull ivan , Valdosta ; and Joe C. Underwood, Mt. Vernon. Hugh M. Dix on Dixon Named Board Chairman Ma yor Hugh M. Dixon, V ida li a, ha s been na med chairman of the Ge org ia Forestry Co mmi ss ion Bo ard of Co mmi s si one rs , announces Ray Shirl ey, Commission director. He succeeds W. George Beasley, Lavon ia. Dixon, a member of the Board sin ce February 1966 , is a lumberman and timberland owner. The pres ident of the Hugh Dixon Lumber Company is a director of the Georgia Forestry Association. He is a mem- ber of the Southern P ine Associati on and past direc tor of the Florida Lumber and Mill Assoc iat ion . The new Board chairman belongs to the State Democratic Executive Committee, the St ate Chambe r of Commerce and the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce. The election of Dixon was held in the Comm iss ion's headquarters at the Georgia Forestry Center near Macon. Garrison Appointed To Board Mayor M. E. Garr ison, Homer, has been appointed to the Board of and Jackson Counties. Mayor Garrison is a member of Commissioners of the Georgia For- the Banks-Jackson-Commerce Hos- estry Commission by Governor p ita I Board, a charter member of 11 Lester G. Maddox. He succeeded the newly organi zed L ions Club Board Cha irman, W. George Beasley , of Homer and a past member of , Lavonia. C ity Council. He also holds member- Garrison, elected for a seven sh ip in the Georgia Forestry Assoc- year term, is one of five commission- iation . ers who supervise the forestry pro- The new member of the Forestry gram in Georg ia. Other members of Commission Board attended North the Board are Andrew J. Aultman, Sylvester; Hugh M. Dixon , Vidal ia; L. H. Morgan, Eastman; and Alexander Sessoms, Cogdell. Georg ia College at Dahlonega. There, he studied Business Adm inistration. Garrison is the son of the Iate M. E. Garr ison tion ists in h is county and the State. Garrison is marr ied to the former Raised in the lumber business, Garrison operates in partnership with his brother, Herbert D. Garrison , 0. S. Garrison's Sons and the Homer Gin Company. Garr ison is Oscar S. Garr ison who was a member of the Board from Apri I, 1956 February, 1963. His wise counse l and guidance was of major importance to the Commission's conserva- Syble Allen of Commerce. They have two children, a daughter, Ramona, 16; and a son, Mack, Jr., 12. The family is a member of the Homer Methodist Church where also a timberland owner ca rryins t ion program. He was one of the Garrison serves on the Official out forestry operat ions in Bank s leading lumbermen and conserve- Board. 3 Governor Maddox Heads Speakers An appearance and speech by Governor Lester Maddox will highlight the 60th annual meeting of the Georgia Forestry Association. The three day session wi II be held at the Aquarama on Jeky II Island, June 4-5-6. George Peake, Jr., president, of Macon, will preside. The Governor's speech will culminate the major activities of the Convention which are bu iIt around the theme, "Georgia Forestry in Changing T imes". The speakers and their subjects are J. E. McCaffrey, retired vicepresident, International Paper Com- pany, Georgetown, S. C., 1907-37; E. V. McSwiney, executive vicepresident, Georgia Kraft Company, Rome, 1937-67; and John P. Duncan, Jr., manager, Agri-Business Department, Southern Railway System, Washington, D. C., 1967-97. Others are Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon, Georgia's Changing Land Patterns; William Coiville, contract administrator, St. Regis Paper Company, Jacksonville, Fla., Florida's Greenbelt Law, Its Problems and Possibi Iities; Horace Caldwell, director, State Department of Parks, Atlanta, Georgia Recreation, Yester- day-Today-Tomorrow; and Harold 0. Baxter, forester, Agricultural Extension Service, Athens, Wood Use. Some 31 counties wi II present Forestry Queens for the title of "Miss Georgia Forestry". In addition to those pictured, they are Bryan, Camden, Charlton and Colquitt Counties. Others are Dodge, Glynn, Harris and Long Counties. Murray, Newton, Thomas, Troup and Walker Counties complete the list. The State winner will receive a $350 scholarship to the college of her choice in Georgia. Both the queen and runnerup wi II receive numerous gifts. During the year, the queen will attend various functions of the Association. Miss Jane Brooks of Chatsworth 1s the 1966 Miss Georgia Forestry. 4 Barbara Black Miss Emanuel County Swainsboro Kerry Bode Miss Muscogee County Columbus Beth Brown Miss Macon County Oglethorpe Nancy Chapman Carla Culbreth Miss Meriwether County Miss Ware County Manchester Waycross 11 Peggy Culbertson Miss Lincoln County Lincolnton Pam Dominy Miss Wilkinson County Irwinton Delene Drew Miss John son County Wrightsville Martha Floyd Miss Chattooga County Summerville ) Sandra Hamilton Jean Hood Miss Montgomery County Miss Doofy County Vidalia Vienna Pat Ingram Miss Talbot County Talbotton Susan Jones Miss Jefferson County Wrens Kathy Milton Miss Lee County Smithville Lillian Still Miss Hall County Gainesville Judy Sutton Miss Richmond County Augusta Terri T ingle Miss Henry County Locust Grove Alice Wickersham Miss Wilkes County Washington & Arkansas Wins Forestry Conclave Arkansas A&M has taken top honors at the Tenth Annual South- ern Forestry School Conclave. The Un iversity of Georgia placed second. In third place was Okla- homa State University. The Un iver- sity of Georgia has won five pre- vious Conclaves. Ten southern schools of forestry competed in the Conclave held at the State FFA-FHA Camp near Covington. The participating schools were: Arkansas A&M, Auburn, ' Clemson, Florida and Georgia. N.C. State, Oklahoma State, Stephen F. Austin, University of the South, and Virginia Polytechnic Inst itute complete the list. Winners and schools 1n the technical events were: Don Hoyle, Arkansas A&M, tree diameter esti- mation; Bob Counts, Clemson, tree identification; Clif Howard, Arkansas A&M, pole classification; Harry Vanloock, Florida, timber An effigy of the patron saint of foresters, Paul Bunyan, overlooks the tenth annual Southern Forestry Conclave. Billy Watson of Tifton, president, As- sociation af Southern Forestry Schools, Un iversity of Georgia, Athens, orients the participants representing ten so~thern schools. estimation; Ronnie Swann , Georgia, wood technology; and Harry Van- throwing; Jim Weir, Arkansas A&M, Stephen F. Austin, chain throwing; Loock, Flor ida, compass and pacing. knife throwing; Angie San Frantello, Georgia, bait casting; Jirn Sitton, Richard Peters and Marc Staff, North Carol ina State, eros s-cut In the non-technical events , Ark an sa s A&M, bow sawing; and sawing; and Jim Sitton and Wayne winners and schools were: Richard Cumbie, Auburn, log birling; Alan John Thompson, Arkansas A&M, log chopping. Owen , Arkansas A&M, log rolling complete the list. Silkner, Oklahoma State, pole climb- Craig McKinley, Oklahoma Arkansas A&M received a ing; Jimmie Ashe, Auburn, axe State, pole felling; Jimmy Hawley, McCulloch chain saw and the ro- tating School pi a que. The second and third place winners received McCulloch chain saws. Individual winners were presented plaques. The day's activities were cul- ' minated with a banquet. The banquet speaker was Byron Dyer, Dis- trict Agent, Agriculture Extension Service, Athens. Billy Watson, President, Association of Southern Forestry School s, University of Georgia, presided over the activi- ties. According to Professors J. Reid Parker and Peter Dyson , Georg ia Faculty Advisors, the Conclave is one of the finest competitive events in the college forestry ranks. The knowledge of timber problems across the South , exchange of ideas, and Ronnie Swann, af the University of Georg ia, uses his nose in determining the fellowship gained enable the the identity of his piece of wood. Swann, a senior at the School of Forestry, Athens, won the Wood Technology event. young foresters to further enhance their training. 5 Forest Product Firms Announce Construction Georgia's 'forest factory' is undergoing further economic development. Rayonier is constructing a $750,000 tree length chipping plant at Fitzgerald, according to Ernest P. Davis, resident manager, Rayonier's Southeast Timber Division, Jesup. The 50-acre plant site is located east of F it zgerald on Ga. 107. More than 50,000 cords of tree length pulpwood will be annually processed at the new facility. Davis said the timber will be harvested within a 35 to 40 mile radius of Fitzgerald. The raw material wi II be debarked and chipped for shipment to Rayonier's Jesup Division. Approximately 10 to 15 people will staff the new foci Iity in add it ion to those engaged in supplying the tim: ber. Davis added that production at the new mill is scheduled to begin in August, 1967. He pointed out that the pI ant is expected to provide a more convenient local market for the timber grown in the Fitzgerald area. Weyerhaeuser Company has 6 .. Rayonier's tree length chipping plant is under construction. Production is scheduled to begin in August, 7967. under construction a three miII ion R. D. Pauley, manager, Manu- dollar particleboard plant at Adel. factured Panels and Molded Pro- The new facility is scheduled to be ducts Division, said the 120,000 1n operation by the end of March, square feet of plant area wi II in- 1968. The announcement was made c Iude 30,000 square feet for the by Lowry Wyatt, vice-president, manufacturing operation, 60,000 Wood Products . square feet for finishing and ware- housing and another 26 ,000 square feet for raw material storage and processing. Timblend, a flake type part icleboard for industrial core material used in such products as furniture, cabinets and counter tops will be manufactured at the plant. William H. Cooke, manager of the new firm, said the annual pro- duction of the foci Iity is estimated at 30 million square feet (3/ 4 inch 1, basis). Some 80 to 100 people will be emp Ioyed at the pi ant. The firm is being located on a 21-acre site adjacent to the Del- Cook Lumber Company and Inter- state 75. Elsewhere, Atlantic Creosoting Co., Inc. has purchased a 50-acre tract at Vidalia to be used as a processing yard for poles and pil- ings. Lumber wi II be purchased in a 100-mile radius of Vidal ia. Initial employment is expected to total about 10 people. Foreign Graduate Foresters Seek Degrees . .. Leon A. Hargreaves, professor, University of Georgia School of Forestry, Athens, center, orients the graduate foresters on t.he school's facilities. The students are, 1-r, Hardeep Singh Bhullar, Edmund William Howard, Wilhelm Tischendorf, Rowshan Ali Choudhury and William Jack Mercer. Forestry has taken on an inter rotation. He adds that cedar of any notional flavor at the University of commercial value is some 200 Georgia's School of Forestry. Five years old. The exotic species would graduate foresters are working for be ready to harvest in 12 years degrees in Science, Forest Hydro- averaging one inch d. b.h. growth logy, Industrial Forest Management annually. Bhullar is on leave from and Forestry. They are Hordeep his station, a 44,000 acre tract Singh Bhullar, Nairobi, Kenya, where he has 600 employees. Africa; Rowshan Ali Choudhury, With the mountainous environ of Dacca-2, East Pakistan; Edmund William Howard, St. John's, New- Austria, Forest Hydrology IS a natural for Tischendorf. The only foundland, Canada; Neil Jack Mercer, timber surplus country in Central ' New Plymouth, New Zealand; and Wilhelm Tischendorf, Hallein, Europe is faced with a dormant season of five to six months. How- Austria. ever, T i schendorf points out that ) As there are differences in cus- an intensive management program, toms between countries, their for reg u Iated by the government, pro- estry problems are also varied. vides for excellent multiple use of From shortening of rotation sched- the forests. Much of the logging is ules to coping with soil frost, done by cable car, horses and sleds these young foresters are all inter- due to the terrain wh i ch is not con- ested in the development of manage- ducive to road construct ion. Ap- ment practices best su ited to their proximately 40 percent of the coun- particular environment. try is in forest. About 70 percent In Kenya, the policy is clear of this area is pr ivately-owned, cut the natural growth and rep I ant he added. Most of this ownership with exot i c softwoods. B'hullar is broken down into two to three states that this is being done be- acre plots, T i schendorf said. He cause of the rapid growth of the will work in forest engineering at softwoods which leads to a shorter the Prov incial Government of Sols- burg on his return. Mercer is placing em'phasis on economics and statistics which he will use in his .work with the Tasman Pulp and Paper Co., an affi I iation of the International Bowaters organization. Mercer has served as an industrial trainee with the Bowaters Company at Calhoun, Tenn. He is a graduate of the New Zealand Forest Service Ranger School and the University of Georgia School of Forestry. In New Zealand, 60 percent of the timberland i s owned by the government. All of this acreage is in plantation. The principal species are pine, douglas fir, european la_rch and southern beech Chodhury is studying for his Masters Degree in Forestry at the University of Georgi a. After receiving his degree he will return to Dacca and work for the East Pakistan Forest Service in an administrative capacity. Chodhury states that they are aiming for a 40 year rotation in comparison to the 80 to 100 year rotation 1n affect. At present, the tropical hardwoods are being used for furniture, veneer, plywood and matches. The softwoods wi II be put on the 40 year rotation. Howard is on Ieave from the Research Division of the Canadian Department of Forestry and Rural Development. His work at the University will lead him to a Master of Science Degree. His main interest is in the field of prescribed burning. This stems from the fact that in Newfoundland an effort is being made to develop a stand conversion program. The program will be aimed at removing the fir reproduction and replacing it with one of the spruces. The area is made up of natural rather than plantation stands, The rotation cycle is 60 years w i th a hoped for rotation of 40 years in the future. The students are attending the University th rough the sponsorship of the United States Agricultural International Development Program. 7 6,123 FIRES SUPPRESSED 29,700 ACRES BURNED Woods Arsonist Sentenced Fire Occurrence Weather Coincide A combination of high winds and low hum idity caused a rash of forest fires across Georgia from January through Apri I, according to Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission. January was an average month with 521 wildfires rep~Hts Shirley, but then a two month long drought hit the State along with an exces sive number of forest fires that reached 2, 936 in number for March. They tailed off to 1J58 in April. Shirley emphasized that the weather was hard enough to cope with, but fire bugs made the situ ation even more difficult. During the four month period there were 1,577 incendiary fires that scorched 8,921 forest acres. These fires accounted for approximately onefourth of the fires, 6, 123, and onethird of the acreage burned, 29,746 acres. Debris burning . was the major cause with 2,229 fires. They burn ed some 9,658 forest acres. There were only 17 fires that were clas sified as unavoidable. These were caused by lightning. Smokers were the third leading cause accounting 8 for more than 4,600 acres on 1,201 fires. James C. Turner, Jr., chief, Forest Protection, said this year's fire danger situation was very much similar to that of 1%6. There were approximately the same number of fires for the March-April period, however, personnel dropped the average size fire from 9.35 to 5.05 acres per fire. Turner points out that there were 20 fires that exceeded 100 acres. The largest fires were in Emanuel and Paulding Counties, 688 and 673 acres, respectively. Shirley cited the weary fire fighters for the dogged effort and excellence in carrying out a difficult task. For three to four weeks these men were working seven days a week. He praised Paul Hagerty, supervising forestry meteorologist, for providing current weather infor motion on a section by section of the Sta~e basis for the entire period. Shirley also commended indostry and other outside groups for their aid .in the suppression of the blazes, and news media for their coopera tion. Homemade UFO' s presented fire danger to home as we// as woodland owners in Floyd County. The bags are capable of floating from 8 - 10 minutes, soar up to 1,000 feet and travel from 2-3 miles. IFJo! rCelsatytFoirne-sFaRyeepHoaneAdrea'fft~\\crteoos~\l. "'' ,, fG\~te:tSh;~~. ~:~ ~! ~F~o~r GE~nt~ire~S i:- 1S1 Woods fues 't0J~J~i"~'''% ~~.e:.8.~fe~'rJ-l"e'(lO('eJipfg![l)S,~ge;~l.0'e~d'Feos::r; ..R.!e.p.~o~r"=t!-~~~~-Sqtuon~Coouanlh<"~:~FHlta.oA~mIm!oeeassb~ulelTdR~lnu~rCnee~a~dtW~oMdtinanl~~ecd.\,da!r2ls4::-'~~_;\ueOrs~l\Ch:Bei~~tDot-r~~o~war:enu!i_f\t.:hdfen~e~ad,\_~M~~JFAWnorGIenesdtoSrF~g,-~Ji'j B -- ur._lled 6 .. "'"I~reth~."'"<:or! ' ,,,., . .., 'P ~~ill. 11'o1 t- - . c"'tlld B ;'" Ar-orest_,.,re. I'{Ongers on f w ~ IhT IJ,~ ./ -:Eoil-iP-o-/-,.!!.I,J.-..._.,.. s~ o0~ -'.~l~lC'}O7 lNf""l'0.p- FA"'.o~i~\rlCeleOsrNet,-0P.CG.o:ae'o-n..n~C.A01f'tP-oio)!nure-tLueh~Ai'es~s'c.trouerseenek.WsB'.Nt,LcMeyoc.wadotlsPW.aJt.d'.On.d.Xil....ali.m.dlneoa-hctedfae...it.klJ!Py!}ORd'eDhcrnai3elbe0lda0osuttnarce1o9areryIsDel_tldheos,ef. lannJON, Ga. Georgia S':ious f~oresHtig~ ,I,.-AyII,~UU-llledaOy, #t'~htedI' rJrc I cerneFd, Ab' out . . ncreose n Forest ntJcl"'-ate, ln incr res 'qu!tt f.! ~-: In forest fires . . Conditions or R,'.",", t es(Ll;' lll'es and Ben as_ destroyed I 1' fI riwrAeicn,c.o.C..do_iu;n.ft yto~;'~'o~~[iycialUs '! iot f, run , by ~ MA CON, Ga 'P A . fothuc(-~'eoirg~laalFeorrt,esainltyicgn~t.8~(,fs'l ry spt/Dl l .-;r ;. For Forest >~;/well,ea~ ekcsoutn.tic'ea!s!l!~llr~li.nnDg- &otubtbew~et:~ l Ldausmttpn,gera. c1.c.o.r.d.-m.-g.....t.o... 1l = r: riftS tr-u cts_a~n d~D fou r P ll-The con act.ors we~:~: . . anc d Waidae~sa..~-~ F 7' '-' . Fires Forest. In /f/~~, , r~:: bo:o::r:-~ ~ n . Georgie~ !:5 orest. Frre ~~~or~trY Georgia to bur Pose ,1 coneern ; .~ M'neooNre, GHa. (aUzPa~r=d.~ s .~;S~a)~.,- Il! coOl\\ /L~~~m\~m"ils:Sa\~0~0 ~~d:\:- lAcoN, Ga. IAPl- Near- comm Ray Shirley, officialS 1~-~- '"" """ bll- ll'olh~ _ F.,:,elc\na \0 avoid lUM aCftl ol Georgia redor, said tbe alta ARSONIST Harvey Jack Stephens, 22, has begun serving a two year sentence for woods arson at Reidsvi lie State Prison. Stephens was charged with wilfully, maliciously or without cause, sett ing on fire the lands of another. His sentence was pronounced by Judge Walter McMillan of Wrights ville at the February Term of the Toombs County Superior Court. Judge McMillan, 1n passing sentence, emphasized the import once of forestry as a source of Iivel ihood to the Iandowner and a source of raw material for the growth of the county through industry. He impressed upon Stephens his error and sternly urged thathe refrain from any such action in the future. Stephens pleaded guilty to the count of setting fire to woods belonging to Miss Annie G. Braswell on June 26, 1966. He set nine fires that burned some two acres. Miss Braswell lives in the Center District at the Cedar Crossing and Vidalia Highway. The Toombs County man was arrested by Sheriff Delmas Burk. Charges were brought by Chari ie T ilimon, investigator, Georgi a Forestry Commission, McRae. A true bill was handed down at the November term of the Toombs Coun ty Grand Jury. Tillman praised the efforts of Sheriff Burk and his deputies. Only through their cooperation and that of eye witnesses was the case b-rought to its final conclusion. T. B. Clifton, ranger, Toombs County Forestry Unit, offered his appreciat ion to local landowners for advising of the fires. This kept the acreage loss to a minimum. In 1966, incendiary fires were the second Iead ing cause of forest fires in Georgia. There were 1,868 incendiary blazes that scorched 15,867 forest acres. FIRE OCCURENCE Forest fire occurrence and acreage burned increased in 1966 , according to James C. Turner, Jr., assistant director and Forest Protecti on chief of the Georgia Forestry Commission. Dur ing the year, 8,190 wildfires burned some 55,834 forest acres. This is double the acreage loss and a 20 percent increase in the number of fires over 1965. The average size fire increased from 3.68 to 6 .82 acres. The percentage of protected forest Iand burned foil owed the same trend in creasing from .105 to .233. More than one-fourth of the fires burned some 59 percent of the acreage from March 24-April 12, 1%6. Turner pointed out that this was the most criti <;:a I fire danger period since the 1954-55 blow-ups. The fact that the high fire danger existed over the entire State made the situation more dangerous. Ray Shirley, Commission director, invoked a No Burn Ban from March 31-Apri I 3 to combat the fire weather situation. During this period , winds ranged from 15 to 40 miles per hour with the highest winds occurring in gusts. The humidity fell in a range from 12 to 45 percent. The 1966 rainfall was above normal in Georg ia with the excess due to short periods of heavy ra ins, according to Paul H. Hagerty, super vising forestry meteorologist, Macon. Hagerty emphasized that fast mov ing weather systems, accompanied by h igh winds and low humidities, brought about the high fire danger. Across the State, debris burning was the leading fire cause with 2, 997 fires. These fires burned 18,647 forest acres. The 1,868 in cendiary blazes, that scorched 15 ,867 acres, was the second leading cause. Smoker fires were third with 11, 152 forest acres burned by 1,763 wildfires. Shirley emphasized that the well-trained and dedicated Commis sion personnel, along with the un paralleled cooperation from outside groups, prevented further devasta tion . From January through April, 1%7, there were 6, 723 forest fires in Georgia. These fires burned some 29,746 forest acres. 9 T MISS SUE MYRICK RETIRES "An institution with in an insti- In addit ion, Miss Myrick author- tution" are the words Macon News- ed a reader on so i I conservation paper Publisher Peyton Anderson used in describing Miss Sue Myrick for primary grades which is widely used in public schools in Georgia, on her retirement. Farm Editor of South Carolina and Tennessee. the Macon Telegraph and News and She has had articles published Associate Editor of the Telegraph, in Literary Quarterly, Georgia Miss Myrick has partially drawn Review and nationally circulated the curtains on a 40-year career. magazines. She continues to write an editorial One of the highlights of her column for the Telegraph. long career was serving as technical Anderson said, "Her name and advisor on Southern accent, manners the name of the Macon Telegraph and customs in the filming of and News are synonomous as sym- "Gone With The Wind". bols of conscientious newspapering Born in Dovedale, the versatile and of youthful spirit wedded to mature judgement." He pointed Miss Sue Myrick newspaper woman is a graduate of Georgia College at Milledgeville, out that her conservation efforts Association of Soil Conservation formerly Georgia State College for "have been particularly effective Districts. Women. Following graduation she and have gained her national recog- The native of Baldwin County served with the State Department nition". was presented a commendation for of Education for several years. Her national honors include a her untiring efforts and leadership She joined the Telegraph staff in citation from the National Association of Soil and Water Conservation in promoting forest conservation towards the best interest of all 1929 as a reporter and feature writer. Districts and honorary membership segments of Georgia's economy by She honored the farmer in his in the Soil Conservation Society of the Georgia -Forestry Commission. forests, fields and pastures with America. - In 1956, Miss Myrick was She was also selected by the Com- words of deed and dedication. Her named Woman of the Year in Georgia mission as a recipient of a forest presence among this professional Agriculture by the Progressive conservation award presented by group was recognition of their Farmer. She has been presented the Georgia Sportsmen's Federa- daily contribution to man and an several awards by the Georgia tion. understanding of their problems. Field Yields To Lanier County The Future Farmers of America ous events were Kenneth Bennett first place winners, in the individual Chapter of Lon ier County took top and Johnny Knight, Lanier County, events were awarded $20; second honors in the State FFA Forestry planting; Jerry Davis, Houston Coun- place, $10; and third and fourth Field Day. The Pelham Chapter ty, selective marking; Mike Rowland, place, $5 each. placed second in the eighth annual Swainsboro, pulpwood timber esti- The State FFA Field Day was event held at Indian Springs. mation; Johnny Harrell, Pelham, saw- sponsored by The Trust Company Some 190 contestants, repre- timber volume estimation; Dale of Georgia, Atlanta, and its six senting F FA Chapters in 19 coun- Ponder, Armuchee, tree identifica- aff iliated banks. They ore The First ties, participated in the f ield day, tion; Larry Britt, Greenville, ocular National Bank and Trust Company according to Malcolm Dillard, con- estimation. of Augusta, DeKolb Notional Bank sultant forester, State Yo Ag Depart- Others included Buddy Benn i- of Brookhaven , The Fourth National ment, Atlanta. Schools represented field, Lanier County, land measure- Bank of Columbus, The First No- were Armuchee, J. L. Bozeman, ment; Ike Chambers, Union County, tional Bank and Trust Company in Gilmer, Greenville, Hancock Cen- log scaling; Floyd Gill, and Jimmy Macon, The First National Bank of tral, Houston County and Mary Wooten, Patterson, sowing ; and Rome and The Liberty Not ional Johnson. Rusty Peak, Randolph County, Bank and Trust Company of Savan- Others were Lanier County, Jessie Braswell, Wheeler County, nah. Oconee County, Patterson, Pelham, and Bobby Kelly, Union County, Will iom L. Reno, manager, For- Randolph County and Social Circle. scaling stocked pulpwood. estry and Agriculture Deportment, Swainsboro, Treutlen County, The Lanier County Chapter, The Liberty National Bonk and Union County, Winder-Barrow, Worth directed by W. H. Keene, received Trust Company, Savannah, presented County and Wheeler County complete an inscribed plaque and $100. The the awards . He was assisted in the the Iist. Pelham Chapter , under M. R. Stewart, presentation by Dillard. First place winners in the veri- received a plaque and $50. The 10 Tree Seedling Handling Made Eeaser Georgia landowners received their Georgia Forestry Commis- sion grown tree seed Iings in Kraft Polyethelene bags during the 196667 planting season. Ray Shirley, Commission direc- tor, said that a three-year test on the bags proved them equal to other type packages. Over a half mill ion seedlings were used in the test, Shirley added. Sanford Darby, Commission Re- forestation chief, pointed out that the Kraft Polyethelene bag is lighter, and the seedlings require no watering if the bag is not torn. The seedlings, packed in moss, are sealed to provide 100 percent humidity. He emphasized that the moss, sealed in the bag, provides 100 This eliminates watering provided the bag is not torn. The seedlings may be stored up to three weeks. percent humidity. A bundle of 1 2,000 trees weighs 40 pounds as Darby pointed out that the bags tures, exposure to sun, freezing and compared to 80 or 90 pounds in the may be stored up to three weeks. poor air circulation caused by pil- previously used crate. He warned ago in st tears and pun c- ing the bags on top of each other. RANGER OF THE QUARTER Landowners in Richmond County are well informed on forest conservation through the efforts ofT. M. Strickland, ranger of the Richmond County Forestry Unit of the Georgia F.orestry Comm issi on. "Fire Prevention is the Key to Fire Suppression" is the theme on which Strickland has run his Unit over the past 15 years. He points out that with the heavy transit traffic preve Iant in a metro pol itan area such as Augusta, an 'action' public relations program must be maintained. This is continually being done through radio and television programs and newspaper articles. Period ic presentations at schools, women's and civic clubs is an impressive reminder to those who lead and formulate community opinion. The annual fa ir and fores"try pageant stress the importance of forestry as a healthy contributor to the well being of all the county's c itizens. The Richmond County Unit is more than a fire fighting unit. Management and reforestation services are provided as well as educational facilities. Thomas McFarland, ass istant Tenth District management T. M. Strickland forester, prepares forest management plans, marks timber and provides up-to-date forestry information for area landowners. A Nature Trail, at the County Unit on Tobacco Road, is a classroom supplement for the area schools and an aid for scouts studying for their Forestry Merit Badge. Through Strickland, the Unit has become part of the community. The first Cooperative Forest Fire Agreement between an army base and a State forestry organization was obtained with Fort Gordon. This agreement helped save thousands of acres in March, 1966 during the State's critical fire danger period. Strickland organized the first Volunteer Fire Department in Richmond County. The number has grown to four. His Unit serves as a collecting point for food and clothing where families were burned out of their homes. He was one of the orig ina I founders and a charter member of the Richmond County Fish, Game and Conservation Club. The native Baldwin Countian is currently working with the Augusta Museum in setting aside a room on wood use. Due to the well rounded forestry program, the Unit has served as a training ground for forestry grad- uates working for the Commission. The program has also brought the Unit statewide recognition through the Georgia Forestry Association's awards program on seven different occasions. Other Unit personnel working for the perpetuation of Richmond Coun- ty's 100,3tl0 forest acres are Harold Smith, assistant ranger; Wesley Wells, forest technician; Gene Wi Ison, patrolman and Mrs. Maudell Raborn, towerwoman. 11 Personnel Changes Druid N. Preston Two promotions have been put into effect in the Georgia Forestry Commiss ion by Commission Director Roy Shirley. Dru id N. Preston, Seventh District fore ster, Rome, has been named assistant chief, Forest Management, Macon. Archie T. Mauldin, Jr. , assistant Tenth District Forest Protection forester, Washington, succeeds Preston at Rome. Shirley said that Preston will be responsible for Cooperative Forest Management assignments in the Commission's Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Districts. The Waycross State Forest management, assembling material for resource reports and naval stores and hardwood management responsibilities will be handled by Preston. Shirley added that Mauldin will be in charge of coordinating Forest Protection, Forest Management, Reforestation and other Commission activities with the Seventh District county units. Preston, a native of Buena Vi sto, came with the Commission in 1955 as the Newton County Ranger. In succeeding years, 1956-57, he served as assistant Fourth and Third District management forester at Newnan and Americus, respectively. In 1960, Preston was moved into Forest Protection at the Americu.s office. He assumed his district forester duties in 1962. Under his guidance, the Seventh District received the Georgia Forestry Association's "Outstanding General Performance Award for 1965". 12 Preston graduated from the Un iversity of Georgia School of Forestry in 1955. He is a member of the Georgia Chapter Society of American Foresters, American Forestry Assoc iation and the Georgia Alumni Soc iety. Mauldin come with the Commission as Bibb County Ranger in 1960. He was elevated to assistant Tenth Distr ict Forest Protection forester in 1962. A nat ive of Carnesvi lie, Mauldin graduated from the University of Georg ia School of Forestry in 1959. The new Seventh District forester served in the U. S. Army in 1959. He is a member of the Georgia Forestry Associat ion. Other personnel changes include the reassignment of the Commission's three Regional Foresters. Region One has been assigned to Curt is S. Barnes. Districts One, Five and E ight make up the Region. Lester L. Lundy has token charge of Region Two. The Second, Th.ird, Sixth and Tenth Districts comprise this Region. The Fourth, Seventh and Ninth Districts ore under Turner Barber, Jr. These Districts are in Region Three. Shirley said these changes were made to increase all-around personnel efficiency. As various sections of the State present different problems, these men will be better able to supervise the Commission's programs being familiar with all sections of the State. Archie T. Mauldin, Jr. Lowery Heads State Program For Better Seed Harvey C. Lowery Harvey C. Lowery, Extension Service agronomist since 1962, is heading up seed certification work for the University of Georgia College of Agriculture. At the same time he assumed leadership of the Georgia Crop Improvement Association, the seed-certifying agency in the State. Lowery succeeded Hugh A. Inglis who retired December 31, 1966. A native of Laurens County, Lowery has been associated with Georgia's certified seed program since 1948 when he became a parttime field inspector for the Crop Improvement Association. He was named chief inspector in 1950. Lowery, who holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Georgia, joined the Extension staff in 1957 as a seed marketing specialist. -He held this position until 1962, when he was named Extension ogronomist-s.eed improvement. In 1962, Lowery developed an intensive educational program entitled "Bonus Seed" and has served as the program leader since that time. Designed to help county agents better acquaint farmers with the value of good seed, the program has received State and nationwide recognition. Because of his Ieadership in this and other programs, the Crop Improvement Association awarded him its Outstanding Service Award in 1963. COMMISSIONER PROFILE This is the third in a series on the Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Forestry Commission. This quarter Andrew J. Aultman of Sylvester is featured. Other board members ore Hugh M. Dixon, chairman, Vidalia; M. E . Garrison, Homer; L. H. Morgan, Eastman ; and Alexander Sessoms, Cogdell. thinning. Forestry, in the Aultman family, dates back to the I ate Dan Davis, his grandfather. He operated approx- imately 25,000 forest acres. The A native of Warwick and a life- operation grew under the guidance of long resident of Worth County, his late father, Will Aultman. Andrew J. Aultman has devoted his Aultman has expanded opera- life to managing his family's prop- tions to include Georg i a Wood , Inc. erty in Worth and Turner Counties. and three pulpwood yards. They are Being close to forestry as a wood- I ocated at Arabi, Sy Ivester and land owner and pulpwood operator, Vienna. Aultman has made an excellent A graduate of Mercer University steward of forestry serv ing on the Law School in 1951 , Aultman is a Board since June, 1959. member of the Georg i a Bar Assoc i a- Aultman has some 35,000 forest tion. He i s a past member of the acres under management. More than Cordele Rotary Club and the Chamber half the area is in plantation which was previously in natural stands. of Commerce and Farm Bureau at Sylvester. Aultman states the plantation stands came into being when the property was put under a timber cutting con- Andrew Aultman states that these trees have been worked two years Aultman is marri ed to the former Ina Ruth Newell of Cordele. They have three children , two boys, Zack, tract with St. Regis Paper Company for naval stores. Th ey are 30 years 16; and William, 12; and a daughter, in 1953. old and overage 14 inches . d.b.h. Mitchelyn , 4. Under the present operation he is able to carry out a combination forestry-farming program. The for- estry program is set up on a 30- year rotation which includes naval stores. Au I tman em ph as i zes that naval stores is fitted into the pro- gram systematically. He states that the trees are only worked two to three years, rather than five, to eliminate the loss of growth. After 30 years, the trees remain- ing from approximately three pulp- wood thinnings and the naval stores operat i on average about 14 inches d.b.h. At harvest time the timber is cut and sold for what it is best Aultman's operat ions include three pulpwood yards located at Arab i, Sylvester and V ienna. suited for, Aultman added. Fire protect i on is a major con- cern, Aultman points out. Through- out the area, there are 74 miles of f i rebreaks maintained. In addition , there are another 71 miles of natural breaks. Prescribed burning is also used as a tool against forest f i res. Winter burns are conducted annually to reduce rough. Aultman cites his planting method as a good management practice. He pi ants some 735 trees . per acre which makes for excellent equipment accessibility. It also enables the trees to grow better and eliminates the necessity for a pre-commercial Aultman oversees a pulp wood loading operation at one of his three pulpwood yards. 13 LETTERS FIRE SUPPRESSION Logging IN DISTRESS I do not know if Foresters ond Rangers in your s tate, or my state, ore trained or instructed to a id motor i s t s in distress pass ing through your state, but your Divis ion is to be commended for ha vi ng employees l ike Mr . Robert McAllister, liv i ng in Coleman, Go. and stationed at Cuthbert. Without this young ma n 's assistance when my cor broke down near Cuthbert, I do not know what I would ho ve done. He hod a genu ine w illingness to help this stronger, and he and h i s friendl y wife gave me further help after he went off dut y . It ma k es me feel good to f ind that there still ore genuine and s ince re people concerned about others. I thought the day s of such ne ighbors were gone forever. Sincerely, May t oke this opportunity t o exp ress o ur apprec iat ion for the exce l lent re sponse the Long Co unty Forestry Un it ga ve to t he gro ss f ire tha t b ro ke ou t at our c h urch . We apprec iate t he help and the quick arr ival of the men and equ ipmen t . I o m sure tha t I speak on beho If of th e en t ire membersh ip when I express grot i tude to Mr. M. F . Futch , Mr . Cec i I Morris and others who come. We ore grotef u I for the Fores t ry ' Un it and the men who s erve so effic ie nt ly. Sin cerely, Norman Beverly , Pastor Jones Creek Bapt ist Church Ludow ic i, Georg ia Sarah Ste inberg, 18, Swainsboro, Mrs. Reno Mclennan HOUSE CALL is the 1968 Miss Gum Spir its. She A recent brush fire spread dan ge rously close to our place of bus ine s s and succeeds Miss Patsy Rhodes of " could hove further endangered other Cordele. The Swainsboro High I w i sh t o express my appreciat i on for bus inesses and places of res idence. School sen ior won out over nine the cooperat ion I .received from the Henr y County Forestry Un it in o recent born fire. The effic ient and pro m pt cooperat ion of the Gw inn ett Co un t y Forestry Un it was indeed appreci ated. other contestants at the annual meeting of the American'Turpentine Farmer' s Assoc iat ion. Miss Gum In my op1n1on, the efforts mode by Mr. Bob Lone were above the call of duty. He is doing a fine job as ranger of the Henry County Un it. It is reassu ri ng to kno w that t ax dollars ore in s uch ca s e s producing f ine services such as those offered by your Commission. Sp irits is the daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. R. F. Steinberg. My sincere thanks to Mr. Lone and the Forestry Unit, Yours truly, S. H. Gordner, Jr. McDonough , Georgia Lost night on automob ile knocked down a gasol ine pump and continued on into the front of a service stat ion and store owned by a Mr. McGahee, resulting in a fire which consumed the entire store and its contents. Mr. McGahee's house and several other houses were nearby along with several gasoline tanks above ground, which constituted o very grove danger Our deportment needed he Ip immediotely, so we contacted several fire departments from nearby towns and Fort Gordon, also pol ice departments to help with traffic and your deport ment here in McDuffie County to assist us. Your deportment responded immed iotely and d id on outstanding job, not only in saving Mr. McGahee ' s house, but other buildings and gasoline tanks and even assisted the troopers and other officers at the scene in directing traffic. I wont to toke th is opportun ity to thank and to commend your deportment for the f ine job they d id. Sincerely, R. C. Culberson, Sgt. GSP, Post 25 14 Thomson, Georgia Sincerely, T. H, Atk inson President Carmichael Enterpr ises We wish to thank Ranger James Scott, Mr. James Smith, and the spotter plane pi lot for helping u s in spotting and con troll ing the fires on Ch ickamauga Battlefield on Sunday , April 9th. Without their help, we could hove very well hove hod o serious situation. Thanks again, and we hope that we con return the favor one of these days. Sincerely yours, John 0. Cook Superintendent Chickamauga and Chattanooga Not ional Mi Iitory Pork May I toke this opportunity to express my appreciation to the Forestry Commis sian, and particularly to Mr. Lassiter and Mr. Word , for the efficiency with which - they coped with the fire on my property recently on the Woodbury Rood just outside Worm Springs. Hod it not been for these men, I om sure the entire f ifteen acres would hove been heavily damaged. Sincerely, HokeS. Shipp Worm Springs, Georgia Ray Sh irley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, has been named an Honorary Vice-President of the American Forestry Association for 7967. He was selected by the Association's Board of Oirec tors. The honorary position was bestowed upon Shirley because of his broad interests in the field of forestry, soil, water, wildlife and recreation. In accepting the honor, Shirley expressed his appreciation for the excellent support the AFA has given State forestry organiza tions through the years. the Foresters ... Ira L. Bray has been named Public Information Officer in the Division of Advisory Management, State and Private Forestry, U. S. Forest Ser vice, Atlanta. His primary function centers around liaison activities involved in moving research output from its source to the offices of the State Fores ters in Reg ion 8. "Make McEvoy Grounds More Beautiful" is the theme of the Merry Maids' Garden Club of McEvoy Junior High School. The eighth and ninth grade girls, under the guidance of Science Teacher Mrs. Nell Walker, above, have planted more than 50 pines on the school grounds. Club president, Paula Russ, said that each club at McEvoy Jun ior has been challenged to plant a tree or shrub. Such related proiects will Make Macon More Beautiful. The Laurens County Forestry Un it's entry in Dub/ in's Sa int Patrick's Day Parade won fir st place. Procla imin g Georg ia's green wealth, the float was led by Miss Connie Wagner who placed fourth in the Sa int Patrick's Day Beauty Pageant. The float was also bedecked with four leprechauns. PROMOTION .. .J. D. 'Red' Strange has been promoted to the position of Associate Director of Region 8, according to Douglass A. Craig, director, Southeastern Area, State and Private Forestry, U. S. Forest Service, Atlanta. Strange was as sistant area director in charge of Cooperative Forest Management. Strange will assist Cra ig in direct ing the USFS' many cooperative pro grams in the South , involving State Foresters , private woodland owners and others working for the protection and development of private forest lands in the Region. CO-OP STUDY ... A coordinated study of the South's timber resources is be ing undertaken by the Forest Farmers Assoc iation, Atlanta; Southern Hardwood Lumber Manufacturers Association , Memph is, Tenn.; and the Southern P ine Association, New Orleans, La. John W. Squires, chairman, joint coordinating committee, Southern Forest Resources Anolys is, Jackson, Miss., said the basic objectives are to determine factors responsible for the current condition of the South's timber resources as a bas is for development of future plans by private forest interests aimed at the acceleration of favorable trends and the reversal of unfavorable trends. Ray Sh irley, director, Georg ia Forestry Comm iss ion, right, and Sanford P. Darby, chief, Commis s ion Reforestation Division, left, both of Macon, hove been recognized for their leadership and makJng significant contr ibutions toward the certificat ion of tree seed. The awards were presented by James L. Brown, right center, past president, Georgia Crop Improvement Associa- t ion, McRae. Hugh Inglis, retired Extens ion Agronom ist, Seed Certification, Athens, participated in the ceremonies. 15 Georgia FORESTRY June, 1967 ~-- SECOND-CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT DRY BRANCH, GA. The "Golden Passport", a $7 annual federal recreation permit, is on sale at U. S. Forest Service offices jn the South. The permit will admit a cor and passengers to some 2,500 designated federal areas throughout the notion. The permit is valid at 134 Forest Service recreation spots in the 13 State Southern Regio.n. The "Golden Passport" is good from April 1, 1967 through March 31, 1968.