Georgia forestry, Vol. 26, no. 3 (Sept. 1973)

Georgia
FORES T R Y

Georgia Forestry

CONTENTS

Sept. 1973 No.3

Vol. 26

Jimmy Carter Governor A. Ray Shirley Director

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Alexander Sessoms, Cogdell

chairman

W. George Beasley

Lavonia

Hugh M. Dixon

Vidalia

M. E. Garrison

Homer

L. H. Morgan

Eastman

STAFF

Frank E. Craven Editor Thomas R. Fontaine, Jr. Assoc. Editor Thomas B. Hall Artist

DISTRICT OFFICES GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION
COOSA VALLEY DISTRICT P. 0 . Box Z, Mount Berry 30149
NORTH GEORGIA DISTRICT Route 5, Box 83, Canton 30114
ATLANTA DISTRICT 7 Hunter St., S.W., Room 545, Atlanta 30334
CHATTAHOOCHEE FLINT P. 0 . Box 1080, Newnan 30263
MCINTOSH TRAIL Route 7, Bo x 455, Griffin 30223
LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE DISTRICT 6250 Warm Springs Road, Columbus 31904
MIDDLE FLINT DISTRICT P. 0. Box 1369, Americus 31730
COASTAL PLAIN DISTRICT Route 2, Ashburn 31714
SOUTHWEST GEORGIA DISTRICT Route 2, Box 215, Camilla 31730
GEORGIA SOUTHERN DISTRICT Route 2, Statesboro 30458
COASTAL DISTRICT P. 0. Box 113, Midway 31320
SLASH PINE DISTRICT Route 2, Box 127B, Waycross 31501
CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER DISTRICT Route 2, Box 266, Washington 30673
GEORGIA MOUNTAINS P. 0 . Box 293, Oakwood 30566
NORTHEAST GEORGIA DISTRICT 650 College Station Road, Athens 30601
HEART OF GEORGIA DISTRICT P. 0 . Box 96, McRae 31055
MIDDLE GEORGIA DISTRICT Columbus Road, Route 8, Macon 31206
OCONEE DISTRICT P. 0 . Box 881, Milledgeville 31061
Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, Box 819, Ma con, Ga. 31202. The Georgia Forestry mail ing address is Rt. 1, Box 85, Dry Branch, Ga. 31020.
Second class postage paid at Dry Branch, Ga.

Improved Tree Seedlings Make Up 64 Percent of Crop.... .... .............................

3

Loblolly Seed Collection................ ............ ................ .... .. ................................ 4-5

Appalachian Beauty To Bloom At Islands........ ................ ............................ ....

6

Georgia's Future Georgia 's Forests... ... ..... .......... .......................................... ... .. 7-9

Forestry Faces and Places.. ......... ... .......... ....................... ...............:....... ..... ...... 10-11

Forestry Commission Endorses Equal Opportunity Policy ........ ................. ...... 12

Civic Pride Keys Correctional RFD Unit.... .... ................................. ................. 13

Logging The Foresters. .. .... ... .... ........ .... ....... ........ ........................... ............ ..... 14-15

Cruising rhe News

Salute To Tree Farmer
The annual Ware Forest Festival is more than a pleasant and entertaining event in our area. It is a reflect ion of a way of life and hope for our economic future.
We are a major forestry county . Not only that but our community is located in the heart of what is sometimes referred to as " South Georgia's Pine Empire".
It is our good fortune to be rich in forestry resources and, if managed well , they will inevit ably be a key to the future growth and development of our part of the state.
Despite some reports to the contrary , our section and the state of Georgia are doing a pretty good job in forestry conservation and development.
This is true in the face of decline in landed area devoted to timber. Recently there was an item in the news about forest lands declining 2.3 percent in the past 11 years due to agricultural clearing, urban growth and industrial-residential development. But the same survey revealed that 68 percent of the land area in Georgia is still in forests and the state is now growing more timber- and harvesting more-than at any time in its history. There are, according to the report , some 200,000 woodland owners in Georgia and they are growing forests for commercial purposes on 51 percent of the state's landed area-or some 2.9 million acres. There are some problems, of course, involving the time it takes a small landowner to realize a return on his holdings, a formula for taxing timberland, etc. But the long-range outlook for tree farming has never been brighter. There is no question but that the market is there and will grow by leaps and bounds. We salute the tree farmers and commend them on their wise use of forest resources to enhance the present and future economy of our county and area.
(From the Waycross Journal-Herald)
Woodman, Save That Tree
Georgia has some national champions which most citizens are not aware of. The Georgia Forestry Commission reports that this state now can list 22 national champion tree species. They include several types of oak , pine, magnolia, crapemyrtle, laurel and willow. Ware County is credited w ith having the largest slash pine, a tree which towers 120 feet high and has a circumference of 11 feet eight inches. Oldtimers who saw naval stores and sawmilling come to Colquitt County in the 1880s and 1890s t old stories of vi rgin slash pines of " tremendous size". Who knows , some sawmiller may have cut down the all-time champion right here in Colqu itt County . The point of l isting champion trees is a good one. Anyone who contemplates removing a big, old tree of any specie might think tw ice- or check the Forestry Commission's record . It might be a champ , and a champ gets attention .
(From the Moultrie Observer)

Improved Tree Seedlings
Make Up 63 ~o Of Crop

Improved "super" tree seedlings, grown from certified seed, represents 63 percent of the Georgia Forestry Commission's 1973 seedling crop, according to Ray Shirley, Commission director.
Approximately 47,608,500 tree seedlings are available for order by Georgia landowners. An additional 9,841,600 seedlings are being grown under contract for industries.
The 30.1 million improved seedlings being grown brings to 169,797,293 improved seedling stock made available to Georgia landowners since 1964, Shirley added. All loblolly pine stock is of the improved variety. Georgia's Tree Improvement Program began in 1954.
Shirley noted that the 1973 forest inventory of Georgia indicated that there are 5.46 million poorly stocked acres that need to be brought up to their potential producing capacity. Our-

ing the past 10 years poorly stocked acreage was reduced 34 percent. Shirley emphasized that we can better this mark over the next 10 years by determining our needs now.
James C. Wynens, chief , Reforestation Division, said that the early submission of orders is encouraged as all orders received prior to the first of November will be filled depending on supply. If orders exceed supply, the trees will be prorated between orders. Orders received after the first of November, Wynens added, will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.
He pointed out that seedling application forms can be obtained from the Forestry Commission County Rangers, County Agents, Soil Conservation Service Technicians and Agricultural Conservation Program Officers. All orders must be submitted on a Forestry Commission application form.

APPLICATION FOR NURSERY STOCK

ORDER NO

GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION MACON, GEORGIA 31202

P.O. BOX 819

NAME OF APPLICANT:

PHONE NO. - - - - - - - - - -

ADDRESS:

CITY

COUNTY

ZIP CODE

SHIP TO ADDRESS ABOVE OR:

NAME ADDRESS:

-------------------PHONE NO.----------

CITY

COUNTY

ZIP CODE

DELIVERY DESIRED AS SHOWN BELOW,

DATE

SPECIES

NUMBER OF SEEDLINGS

COUNTY OF PLANTING

FOREST DISTRICT

Wynens emphasized that payment must accompany all orders before ship ment can be made. No refunds will be made on orders cancelled after February 1, 1974. The prices on all species are at the 1972 level.
Mail the completed applications to the Georgia Forestry Commission, P.O. Box 819, Macon, Ga. 31202.
For assistance in determining your reforestation needs, contact your local county forest ranger.

Price List

The following tree seedlings are being grown for sale by the Georgia Forestry Commission during the 1973-74 planting season.

SPECIES

Pines:

Per 1000

Eastern White Improved Loblolly Improved Slash Shortleaf Slash Virginia

$10.00 7.00 7.00 6.00 6.00 6.00

500
$5.00 3.50 3.50 3.00 3.00 3.00

50
$2.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00

Species below are priced FOB Page Nursery, Reidsville, Ga.

Longleaf Pine Bald Cypress Black Walnut Catalpa Cottonwood Cuttings Dogwood Lespedeza Oak, White Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Sawtooth Redcedar Sweetgum Sycamore Wild Crabapple Yellow Poplar

6.00 10.00 10.00 10.00
10.00 25.00
7.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 25.00 10.00

3.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 12.50 3.50 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 12.50 5.00

1.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 1.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 2.00

I I
TYPE OF OWNERSHIP: (Check one)
CJ 1. Pr~>~an. persons, Clubs, Anacoal1ons & Pr1vote Schools.
C 2. Pro"ote Forest Industry Lumber Mig, [J 3, Pr~vote Forest Industry Pulp & Pope<. [J 4, Pflvote Forest Industry Naval Stores, Plywood, etc, C 5. Pr~voteother 1ndustry lands. 0 6. Ton, County, and Publtc Schools. C 7. Stole and other Pubhc Lands. C 8. F.derol Governm.nl C 9, Other(specfy)

METHOD OF SHIPMENT'

I I

0 I

STATE TRUCK TO COUNTY FORESTRY OFFICE

0 2

APPLICANT WILL PICK UP AT NURSERY

SEEDLINGS RECEIVED IN GOOD CONDITION

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT I DESIRE TO PURCHASE THE ABOVE NURSERY STOCK UNDER CONDITIONS PRINTED ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM

PAYMENT: S _ _ _ _ _ _ OATE - - - - - - - - - S I G N A T U R E - - - - - - - - - - - -

DO NOT WRITE BELOW THIS LINE

0 DAVISBORO

0 HERTY

0 WALKER

D MORGAN

A transportation charge of $.50 per thousand trees and $.25 per five hundred trees must be added to above cost on all seedlings moved from one nursery to another due to stock not being available or on seedlings delivered to County Ranger Headquarters for landowner pick up.
Sales of less than 500 trees must be in packages of 50, priced at multiple of 50 price which includes delivery to County Ranger Headquarters.
3

The Georgia Forestry Commission is experimenting with fabric in the collection of loblolly pine seed in their Tree Improvement Program. Approximately 38 acres are involved in the experiment at the Forestry Commission's Arrowhead Seed Orchard near Hawkinsville.
James C. Wynens, chief, Commission Reforestation Division, cited tree height, cone damage, less labor, less seed loss and economics as reasons for testing the feasibility of using fabric in harvesting the loblolly cones.
Wynens noted that the trees are becoming too high to harvest the cones by machinery. He pointed out that under present harvesting methods the damage to the next year's crop is sufficient to warrant seeking other harvesting methods. The method of harvesting by seed fall, utilizing fabric, is in line with machine harvesting costs, Wynens added.
Prior to laying out the fabric, the orchard is mowed as close as possible. All limbs are removed, and the straw is blown off the area. The fabric is laid out in a manner which provides complete coverage.
There were 67 pounds of loblolly pine seed collected in 1972 utilizing the fabric.

I
I<

4

TOP: There were approx imately 31 , 168 linear yards used in covering the 38 acres of seed orchard.
MIDDLE : The fabric is laid in 300 foot strips. Approximately 14 people are required for the operation.
BOTTOM: In 1972 there were 67 pounds of loblolly pine seed collected.

TOP: Forestry Commission constructed wagon mounted rollers were used in spreading the fabric. BOTTOM: After the fabric is spread, it is overlapped and staked preventing seed loss through open seams.
4

Thanks to the cooperation of the U. S. Forest Service and the Georgia Forestry Commission, future visitors to the new mammoth Lake Lanier Islands recreation complex on Lake Lanier will get a view of the botanical bonanza of the Southern Appalachians once accessible only to the hardiest hikers and hunters.
In a team effort that began in September, trees and shrubs such as hem lock, white pine, fraser magnolia, azalea, holly, mountain lau rel , rhododendron, and service berry, have been removed from a remote area of the Chattahoochee National Forest to a hillside hold ing area from which they will be transferred to selected locations to enrich the Islands' Appalachian Mountain motif in vegetative cover.
As a result of an interagency arrangement involving the U . S. Forest Service and the Georgia Forestry Commission, wild plants from the Chattahoochee National Forest were made available by Forest Supervisor V . H. Hofeldt and District Ranger George Hemingway for improving the ecology of the Lake Lanier Islands. Staff Forester Harry Sewell set about preparing a holding area at the Islands and rounding up the manpower, machines and material to do the job.
Georgia Forestry Commission foresters, rangers and patrolmen, made available on an "as duties permit" basis by Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director, made up the working force for the shrub removal.
Some came from as far away as Hartwell, Lavonia, Toccoa and North Fulton County to aid in the transplant operation, providing a working force that averaged some ten men per day during the ten days the site was worked.
The plants were carefully removed to the holding area where most of them will remain in a carefully-controlled environment for about a year until they are transplanted to their final locations at sites all over the Islands.

" Forest plants often look beautiful in the mass, but often they are shaped poorly when examined individually, due to the dense growth around and above them. Here they will have room to grow and to receive the attention which they need from us and deserve from a public which might otherwise never have seen them," Sewell notes.
He praises the efforts of all who had

a part in the transplant operation , especially the men on the job with him in the field .
"Those men knew how to transplant trees and shrubs, and were one of the most energetic, and most talented groups with whom I have ever worked. Those who will see and enjoy these plants in the years ahead owe all of them a big vote of thanks," he concluded.

Appalachian Beauty To Bloom At Islands

Sen. Sam Nunn

Rep. George Busbee

Bobby Pafford

Tommy Irvin

Ray Shirley
"Devote the same determ ination that we used in the space program to the most serious challenge facing our nation today, the energy crisis."
Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, keynot ing the largest Georgia Forestry Asso ciation annual meeting, pointed out, "Given our current balance of trade pro blem and the unstable situation in the Middle East, we cannot afford to rely upon oil imports as the prime energy source . "
7

Shuford M. Wall
The Senator noted that the major threat to the soundness and stability of the dollar over the next decade will come from the payment requirements for oil imports.
Another legislator, Representative George Busbee noted that taxes on growing timber in Georgia need to be put on an equitable basis. He added that the high aggregate of taxes on the pro duct makes an accumulative tax which is too high to give an adequate return.
The House Majority Leader empha sized that it is not unreasonable to as sert that returns on our forests should be expected to equal or exceed the in terest which could be realized from al ternative investments.
On the same subject, Tommy Irvin, commissioner, Department of Agricul ture, cited property taxation as one of the primary problems facing the Gener al Assembly and other elected officials. He noted that an equitable method must be worked out for taxing property in relationship to its use rather than what speculators might be willing to pay for it .
In another vein, the commissioner stated that his personnel wi II begin meet ing with industry representatives in August to draw up standards for the new state treated timber products act which was passed in the last session of the legislature and becomes effective July 1974.
Irvin pointed out that once standards are adopted and enforcement begun; Georgia is expected to be a model for all other states.
8

Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Fores try Commission, directed his remarks to the recently completed forest inventory in Georgia. He said that the rate of net annual growth has increased 50 percent to an average of point nine cords per acre of commercial forest. This repre sents a record statewide growt~ rate per acre average for the Southeast.
The overall bright picture is shadow ed by an excess harvesting situation in southeast Georgia, Shirley noted. The unusually heavy wood requirements coupled with extensive planting, stand conversion and other forestry activity have created a delicate timber supply situation.
An abundance of forest resources exist in North Georgia for industry if transportation facilities can be made available to move it. The landowner is carrying this burden in the form of low returns on yield and poor market oppor tunities.
The high prices being paid in South Georgia are a result of critical wood shortages.
Shirley emphasized that transporta tion has caused an apparent wood short age in some sections and an abundance in others . The result is a situation of both depressed and inflated prices.
Completing his term as president of the statewide Association, President Van Cleave reported that the Associa tion assumed the state's sponsorship of the Georgia Tree Farm Program during the past year. He said already about one-fourth of the 2,000 tree farms have been reinspected .
The Association president told the membership that taxes again were a key part of the legislative program. "Our tax proposal, which had been proposed twice in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, is in something of a state of limbo." He reported that the House Ways and Means Committee will study the proposal during the 1974 session.
Shuford M. Wall, president, South land Timber Co., a division of Canal
Wood, Augusta, was named president of the Association . Muscogee County land owner Charles W. "Bill" Burgin, Colum bus, was elected vice president. Atlanta Hardwood Company President James W. Howard, treasurer; Harold Joiner, Atlanta, executive director, and Mrs. Helen M. Dixon, Atlanta, secretary;

were reelected to their respective positions.
Noll A. Van Cleave, president, Val leywood, Inc., Richland, was named chairman of the Board. Van Cleave is the immediate past president of the Association.
Wall has been associated with his pre sent firm since 1947. He has been in the farming and timber business all of his life .
The registered forester has been a director of the Georgia Forestry Asso ciation for ten years.
The native of Lilesville, N.C. attend ed North Carolina State College, Ra leigh . During World War II , Wall served in the U.S. Navy.
Wall is a member of the Board of Visitors, Presbyterian College, Clinton, S. C. and the Georgia-Carolina Scout Council for the past eight years.
Wall and his wife Catherine have four children, Mrs. Anne Wall Kendall, Au gusta; Shuford M. Wall, Jr., Charlotte, N. C.; John Rutledge and Sara Cathy . Wall is an elder, deacon and treasurer in the Presbyterian Church.
Linda Mountjoy, 1973 Miss Georgia Forestry, is crowned by reigning queen Miss Holly Jones.

forestation, site preparation, weed tree were presented the media in recognition

control and insect and disease advice.

of the time, space and effort given to

Special awards were presented to the perpetuation of forest conservation.

T. M. Strickland, Augusta, retired Rich -

The Association's Distinguished Ser-

mond County ranger ; and Charles A. vice Award was presented to W. L.

Amerson, Macon, Commission welder .

"Buddy" Crown, woodlands manager,

Strickland, an employee for 24 years, Owens-Illinois, Valdosta; and T.R . "Rip"

was recognized for his local public rela- Fontaine , Jr., Forestry Commission edu -

tions program built on the theme "For- cation assistant, Macon .

est Fire Prevention Is The Key To For-

Crown was .sited for his leadership as

est Fire Protection".

chairman of the Georgia Tree Farm Pro-

Amerson was cited for his innovative gram for the past two years . Under his

and imaginative talents designing and leadership the Association assumed the

modifying equipment to meet Commis- state sponsorship of the program and

sion needs. This included, transport undertook the task of reinspecting 2,000

beds, tractor canopies, root pruning tree farms . More than one -fourth of

blade, seedling lifter and straw and seed the farms have been reinspected with

separator.

completion set by the end of 1973.

Strange stated that the Performance

Fontaine was recognized for his ef-

Distinguished Service award winners are W.L. "Buddy" Crown, left; and T.R. "Rip" Fontaine, Jr. President Noll Van Cleave presented the awards.

of Excellence awards are presented to the Georgia Forestry Commission District and County Unit that has been outstanding in the performance of forestry services to the citizens of Georgia. He

forts in the promotion of the Associa tion's annual meeting over the past 16years.
Presidential awards were presented to W.N. "Hank" Haynes, Union Camp

pointed out that their cooperativeness Corp. , Savannah ; John W. Langdale,

and regard for responsibility are on the The Langdale Co ., Valdosta ; T.M. Reid ,

highest level.

Jr ., St. Regis Paper Co., Jacksonville,

The 1973 Miss Georgia Forestry is

The Association's Forestry Public Fla; Gerald B. Saunders, Alexander Bros.

17-year old Linda Mountjoy of McRae. Service awards went to Carlton M.

Lumber Co., Columbus; and S.M. Wall ,

The blue-eyed blonde was crowned by Johnson, executive editor, Columbus

Southland Timber Co., Augusta .

the reigning queen, Miss Holly Jones of Ledger-Enquirer; and Ray L. Mercer ,

The awards were presented by Van

Metter. Miss Mary Jo Werp of Columbus president, WMES, Ashburn. The awards

Cleave and Harold Joiner.

..

was runnerup. Miss Mountjoy, in winning the pa-

geant, received a $500 college scholar-

ship . During the year, she will represent

the Association at various forestry func-

tions.

Miss Mountjoy, chosen from a field

of 26 county forestry queens, is the

daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Mountjoy .

Miss Werp is the daughter of Lt . Col.

(Ret.) and Mrs. Joseph Werp .

The Heart of Georgia District and the

Bleckley-Laurens Forestry Unit, of the

Georgia Forestry Commission, were re-

cognized by the Performance of Excel-

lence Awards Program.

The District, headed by H. Grady Williams, was cited for their low fire

size, 4.24 acres. In Forest Management personnel serviced 1,049 landowners on 95,983 acres. These services included prescribed burning, site preparation, marking, weed tree control, naval stores, presuppression and harvesting advice.

The Bleckley-Laurens Unit, headed by Hall Jones, had an average fire size of 3.76 acres. Personnel provided 217 landowners with management and reforestation services. They involved re-

Performance of Excellence awards were presented to H. Grady Williams and Hall Jones. Jerry Spillers, forester, accepted for Jones who was ill. Special awards were presented to T.M. Strickland and Charles A. Amerson. The awards were presented by J. D. Strange.
9

facture corrugated honeycomb. It is used as a core material in flush doors, wall panels and as damage prevention dunnage for truck and rail shipments.
The building will be of metal and masonry construction, approximately 30,000 square feet in size, and will em ploy approximately 30 workers at full production .
Down River Forest Products has been operating in a 12,000 square foot leased building in Macon since October 1972. The new plant will be located on an approximate 11 -acre site purchased from Seaboard Coastline on Franklin ton Road .
Chris R. Sheridan Company will build the plant which is expected to be in operation by December 1973:

Forestry Faces
playing approximately 60 persons with an annua l payroll of about $175,000. The products produced by the industries include pulpwood, chips, and air dried and green lumber.

Dr. Allyn M. Herrick

.... Dr . Allyn M . Herrick, dean, School of Forest Resources, University of Gear gia, Athens, has been elected chairman of the Georgia State Board of Registra tion for Foresters.
Herrick has served on the Board con tinuously since November 1957 and as chairman on two previous occasions .
John F. Sisley, Rome, was appointed to the Board of Registration by Governor Jimmy Carter. Sisley is manager, Wood and Woodl ands Division, Georgia Kraft Company, Rome.
Sisley 's appointment is for five years . He succeeds Eley C. Frazer, Ill of Al bany whose five year term expired.
Other members of the Board are Ben C. Meadows, . president, Ben Mea dows Company , Atlanta ; Harley Langdale, Jr., president, The Langdale Com pany , Valdosta; and Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Ma con .
The Board of Registration for Foresters is a state agency which administers the law providing for Iicensing of foresters in Georgia . Over 600 foresters are currently licensed to practice in the state.
.... Narad, Inc ., of Plymou th, Mich., has announced the acquisition of land and the construction of a new Down River Forest Products subsidiary manufacturing plant to be completed this fall in Macon.
According to Archie Richardson, executive vice president, Narad, Inc., Down River Forest Products, Inc., will manu-

..... There are 227,700 commercial forest acres in Bryan County. This represents 80 .5 percent of the land area.
Approximately 33 percent of the forest acreage is privately owned . Industry owned forest acres is about 25 percent . Federal ownership is the largest, accounting for 41 .8 percent of the forest acreage.
The forest acreage has a growing volume of 821 .8 million cubic feet . The net annual growth is 15.3 million cubic feet. The annual cut is 8 .6 million cubic feet .
There are approximately 48,300 acres in need of site preparation and / or planting in Bryan County . About 28 percent is in oak -hickory.
There were 68 ,878 cords of round pulpwood produced in the county in 1971. The highest production, 106,900 cords, occurred in 1966. Since 1946 production has totaled 1,712,757 cords of round pulpwood.
There are approximately five wood using industries in Bryan County em -

Hugh M. Dixon
.... Mayor Hugh M. Dixon of Vidalia has been reappointed to the Board of Com missioners of the Georgia Forestry Com mission by Governor Jimmy Carter. The appointment was effective June 25 , 1973 and ends January 1, 1980.
Dixon is one of five Commissioners who supervise the forestry program in Georgia. Other members of the Board are Alexander Sessoms, Cogdell, chair man; W. George Beasley, Lavonia; H.E Garrison , Homer; and L.H . "Luke" Morgan, Fitzgerald .
A member of the Board since Febru ary 1966, Dixon has chaired the body on three occasions.
Dixon is president of the Hugh Dixon Lumber Company, a director of the Georgia Forestry Association and a member of the Southern Pine Association.
The Board member is a past presi dent of the First District Georgia Muni cipal Association, and is a member of the State Chamber of Commerce and the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce.

~ And Places

i.

H. Grady Williams

.... H. Grady Williams has been named assistant forest management chief in charge of the Georgia Forestry Commission's Naval Stores Assistance Program .
Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director, said the program is an outgrowth of the now abolished Naval Stores Conservation Program . The Forestry Commission , for a number of years, was active in assisting the U . S. Forest Service with the NSCP, he added .
Jim L. Gillis, Jr., president, American Turpentine Farmer's Association, Soperton, and its Board of Directors request ed state assistance in aiding the more

than 800 gum producers in Georgia. Georgia produces 87 percent of the U.S. gum production which is valued at $8 million to the gum farmer.
Shirley pointed out that Williams will be working with the gum naval stores producers and their employees and manufacturers of tools, equipment and chemicals used in gum naval stores production.
Williams will be a liaison between other foresters of the Commission, work ing in the gum naval stores counties and the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station researchers at Olustee, Fla . work -

~ Herbert C. Cary , center, assistant state conservationist, Soil Conservation Service, Athens, has been elected president of the Georgia Chapter, Soil Conservation Society of America . He succeeds Charles B. Place, Jr .,left, forest education assistant, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon . Dr. James E. Box, director, Agriculture Research Service, Southern Piedmont Conservation Research Center, Watkinsville, is the new
vice president. Mrs. Catherine Kealy, programmer, U.S. Forest Service, Atlanta, is the secretary -treasurer.

ing on gum naval stores problems and techniques.
Druid Preston, chief, Commission Forest Management Division, stated that there are approximately 20 other foresters who will devote part time assistance to woodland owners in the Coastal Plains Region of Georgia involving gum naval stares production.
Preston noted that Williams has had considerable experience in working trees. During the past few years, he has provided assistance to producers through the NSCP in the area in which employ ed. Williams will be working out of the District Office in McRae.
In making the announcement, Shirley cited "a great need for technical assistance to producers and labor in gum naval stores production in view of the changes in working techniques" . These include acid paste and bark chipping to stimulate gum flow.
It is necessary that acid and acid applicators be properly used to obtain maximum results . It is estimated by producers that production could be in creased 25 percent by proper use of acid and equipment and increased quality of acid applicator equipment.
Naval stores has been vital to Georgia's economy since the turn of the cen tury. Most of our present day forest conservation practices were nurtured by the early producers of gum naval stores.
The 1972 gum prices were the highest ever paid. Crude gum averaged $58 per 50-gallon barrel. At this value, the gum from the average tree, 10 inches and larger over a four year period, is equal to the stumpage value when harvested for other products. Georgia has the capacity to quadruple her naval stores production with an expanded
training program in this forest enterprise.
Williams came to the Forestry Com mission in September 1958 as an assistant ranger in the Crisp-Dooly Forestry Unit. In 1959 he was promoted to assistant McRae District forester . Williams became McRae Area forester in July 1969 and district forester for the Heart of Georgia District in July 1972.
A native of Milan , Williams is a graduate of the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources, and is a member of the Society of American Foresters .
11

Forestry Commission Endorses Equal Employment policy

Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, announces that the Georgia Forestry Commission fully endorses and is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity as set forth in Section 3, paragraph 501 of the Rules and Regulations of the Georgia State Merit System of Personnel Administration which states:

Gov. Jimmy Carter

"No person shall be appointed or promoted to, or demoted or dismissed from any position under the Merit System, or in any way favored or discriminated against with respect to employment under the Merit System because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations; nor shall there be any discrimination in favor of, or against any applicant or employee because of race, color, sex, physical handicap, or national origin; except that no employee under the Merit System shall be a member of any National, State, or local committee of a political party, or an officer of a partisan political party, or an officer of a partisan political club, or a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, or shall take any part in the management or affairs of any political party or in any political campaign, except to exercise his rights as a citizen privately to express his opinion and to cast his vote."

Ray Shirley

Each state agency establishes programs of personnel administration within the guidelines provided by the Rules and Regulations of the State Personnel Board. Therefore, it is the policy of the Georgia Forestry Commission to institute an Affirmative Action Program which will endeavor to eliminate discrimination wherever existing and to take positive steps to prevent it in the future. The Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission fully supports this policy and the Commission's Affirmative Action Program and assumes the final responsibility for ensuring that the program is carried out.

conducted by W. C. Huggins, ranger, Walker County Forestry Unit.
Fred Baker, Forestry Commission RFD coordinator, said the Rural Fire Defense Program enables the Commission to better serve all Georgia. Statewide, there are 286 units located in 126 counties. The units are operating 343 pieces of equipment.

The Department of Offender Reha bilitation, in cooperation with the Georgia Forestry Commission, has established four Rural Fire Defense Departments.
The departments are located at the Wa1ker County Correctional Institute,

Montgomery County Correctional In-

stitute, Butts County Diagnostic and

Classification Center and the Georgia State Prison in Tattnall County .
The Walker County Correctional Institute, under Superintendent Dr. James

G. Ricketts, was the first to become operational. Dr . Ricketts said the Unit

'" provides a means of protecting institution facilities and gives the Institute a sense of civic pride and responsibility . To initiate the program, a 1,200 gal-

lon tanker was leased from the Forestry Commission . Bryant Longshore, RFD chief, said that the D.O .R. equipped the

tanker with 250 feet of one and a half inch hose, pump, emergency light and

other fittings at a cost of $1,800. The

tanker, furnished by the Forestry Commission, is surplus from the federal

government and the Forestry Commis-

sion .

~

Longshore said the Unit is operated

within a three mile radius of the prison

which is located eight miles north of LaFayette. This includes the communities of Rock Springs, Noble, Center Grove, Pond Springs and Mineral

Springs. He emphasized that under emer-

gency conditions the Unit may go any-

where in Walker County.

Longshore pointed out that the Unit

is capable of answering day calls within 10 minutes and night calls within 20 minutes of notification .
Personnel, in addition to Longshore, include Harold Bradford, assistant chief, and six trustees. All personnel have completed a Field and Brush Fire training school. The course included drills involving field burning and house fires

The 1,200 gallon capacity tanker is capable of pumping water at the rate of 125 gallons per minute.

Bryant Longshore, left, RFD chief, Walker County Correctional Institute, and WC. Huggins, ranger, Walker County Forestry Unit, affix Forestry Commission emblem to tanker on loan to the Institute. Fred Baker, right, is the coordinator for the Forestry Commission's RFD Program.
13

LETTERS
AWARD
May I tak e this opportun ity to t hank t he Georgia Forestry A ssoci ation and the Georgi a Forestry Comm ission for the award I received at Jek yll Island in June . Our stat ion is ex tremely proud of this award and it has been placed on our awards panel as the highest in our collection.
We reali ze t he great significance of the work the Georgia Forestry Commission is doing and we commend all of you for a job well done. We pledge to continue to help tell the story of our fine forestry commission in Georgia and hopefully all Georgians will come to know. its real value to us all . Th ank you again for the honor you have bestowed on ou r station .
Ray L. Mercer, President Mercer Communications, Inc. Ashburn , Georgia
EDUCATION
On behalf of the sc ience department of Johnson High School I would like to ex tend my thanks for the recent visit to our school by Forester Crawford Cooper and Ranger Bob McDonald.
These gentlemen showed our conservation , ecology and natural. resource classes a very informative film on the paper industry and talked to the students about requirements for a job w i th the Forestry Commission . All the students enjoyed their visit and as the men left our school , I felt that we were better informed public -relation -wise on the responsi bilities of our Forestry Commission .
The science department wishes to ex press gratitude for Mr. Sam Martin who came to the former South Hall High School to talk to classes on the responsibilities of citizenship. His Chri stian and sc ientific ideals are f ar supreme . He has represented thi s fo restry distri c t at South Hall and Johnson High for the past few years and the students have greatly admired th is man .
Mrs. Gyann Kent Science Chair man Johnson High School Gainesville , Georgia
Girl Scout Troop 335 would like to thank Mr . James Cast leman, a forester with the Georgi a Forestry Commission in the Vidal ia area, for teach ing us about the plant k ingdom .
For the past month our Troo p has been worki ng on a badge called " Pl an t K ingdom" . In order to complete th is badge we needed someone to tell us about pl ants and t heir life . So , Mr. Castleman w as ki nd enough t o come to our meetings and t alk t o us about pl ants . He showed us a f ilm on trees, told us about poi sonous plants and harmful bugs, showed us the correct way to pl ant trees, and gave each of us a tree to pl ant, and then took
14

us to Reidsville along with two other men to show us around the nursery and tell us about it.

Logging Th

Once again we would like to thank the Georgia Forestry Commission for their efficient program.

Barbara Brown Scribe of Troop 335
Th ank you for participati ng with the Atlanta Baptist Royal Ambassadors Program at the Baptist College . From the report of the boys, Mr. Kenneth Bailey gave t hem an ex cellent program.

You will be pleased to k now that our attend ance was 467 men and boys representing some 32 Atlanta churches.

Th ank you again for your interest in boys and our work .

E. L. Still Royal Ambassadors Leader Atlanta Baptist Association A t lanta, Georgia
NATURE STUDY
We would like to than k Mr . Robert Mason for the well planned Nature Study Program that he presented to the Fourth , Fifth and Sixth Grade pupils at Hazel Grove .
We feel that it was an interesting experience for us as well as an educational one . We enjoyed the opportunity to take an active part in the study of our environment rather than simply reading about it.
We hope that he will include us in any future programs.
Fourth , Fifth and Sixth Grades HazeiGrove School Mt . Airy . Georgia
SERVICES
Thanks so much for all the material Mr. Steve Sandfort sent me in the mail. It will all prove invaluable in our pr ogram this summer, and it w as ver y thoughtful of him to get it to me.
I also wanted to thank him again for the excellent morning he provided the scouts last week . It was truly one of the most interesting I have ever seen .
Larry Woolbright Ecology Director Bert Adams Scout Resv . Covington , Georgia Thank you so much for sending the material about Georgia Trees and other information which wi ll be helpful t o my daughter in prepar ing a report on Georgia Pines for a school project.
Pete Wheeler Director Department of Veterans Service Atl anta , Georgia

Mrs. Ida Mann, towerwoman for the Georgia Forestry Commission in Madison County, has completed 35 years of faithful service to the State of Georgia. After a number of years teaching the first grade in Danielsville, she decided to try the lookout job for one year in 1952. She never returned to the classroom.- Presenting the Faithful Service Award is Theron Devereaux, district forester, Athens.
HONOR .. .Miss Vickie L. Ford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lebron C. Ford, is one of 52 Gwinnett County students who have been named recipients of the 1973 Certificate of Merit awarded annua lly by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Educational Improvement Council. Mrs. Ford is a stenographer in the Georgia Forestry Commission 's Atlanta office.
MEETINGS...UNIVERSITY of Georgia Forestry Alumni, Athens, Ga ., October 27, 1973 ...SOI L Conservation Society of America , Hot Springs, Ark., Sept. 300ct. 3.
OFFICERS...The new slate of officers for the American Plywood Association are Chairman, Board of Trustees, Emory E. Moore, president, SWF Plywood Company; President, John A. Ball, presi dent, U.S. Plywood Division, Champion International ; and Vice President, William C. Smith, vice president and general manager, Timber Products Company .

Foresters ...

Fred Baker, Rural Fire Defense coordinator, Georgia Forestry Commission, reports that through June 30, 1973 there were 286 units operating in 126 counties with 343 pieces of equipment. There are 37 equipment requests pending.
The following table lists units established since January 1, 1973.

35 YEARS
Buster Harris......... ........Ranger Dawsonville, Ga. May 1938
30 YEARS
James C. Turner, Jr.. .... .Chief, Forest Protection Macon, Ga . May 1947
25 YEARS
Herbert W. Darley .... .....Forester Macon, Ga. January 1951

RURAL FIRE DEFENSE DEPARTMENTS JANUARY 1 -JUNE 30 1973

COUNTY Banks Bleck ley Butts
Carroll Colquitt Franklin
Gwinnett

UNIT Grady Cochran Jackson Diagnostic
Classification Center Hickory Level Southside (Moultrie) Double Churches Middle River Snellville

COUNTY Harris Houston Montgomery Oglethorpe
Putnam Richmond Tattnall

UNIT Cataula Perry Higgston Flatwoods Glade Eatonton Richmond Suburban Reidsville State Prison

Herman F. Davenport...Ranger Morganton, Ga. July 1952

Ronald L. Drury .. ........ Ranger Douglas, Ga . April 1948

George M. Knott ... .. ......Welder Macon , Ga . September 1949

Hollis L. Winn ..... ...... ....District Ranger Washington, Ga. July 1951
20 YEARS

Mrs. Nellie R. Hanson ...Towerwoman Homerville, Ga . May 1953

William D. Millians,Jr ... District Forester

l

Milledgeville, Ga.

August 1951

Billy Rowe .. ... ...... .... ..... Ranger Valdosta , Ga. December 1952
H. P. Varnadore ...... ..... Trades Foreman Macon, Ga. April 1952

Mrs. George Kelly, Dry Branch, secretary, Forest Education Division, Georgia Forestry Commission , recently received a commendation award from the Georgia Chapter, Soil Conservation Society of America. Mrs. Kelly has handled correspondence and promotional material for the Chapter for the past two years in the spirit and cooperation that exemplifies the ideals of the parent Society. Presenting the award is Charles B. Place, Jr., Macon, 1973 Chapter president.
15




SECOND-CLASS POSTAGE
PAID AT DRY BRANCH, GA.