Georgia forestry, Vol. 27, no. 2 (June 1974)

Georgia Forestry

CONTENTS

June 1974 No.2 Vol. 29

Jimmy Carter Governor A. Ray Shirley- Director

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Alexander Sessoms, chairman
W. George Beasley L. H. Morgan H. E. Williams

Cogdell
Lavonia Eastman Woodbine

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. Box 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 publis~ed quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, Box 819, Macon, Ga. 31202. The Georgia Forestry mailing address is Rt. 1, Box 85, Dry Branch, Ga. 31020.
Second class postage paid at Dry Branch, Ga.

Forest Insect And Disease Control Law Passed .............. ....... ........... ... ... ...... ...............3 FIP Aids Landowners In Timber Production ...... ........ ..... ................ ........... .. .... ... ...... .4 Tornado Disaster Committee Organized ............... ................. ... ........... ....................... 5 Beetles Claim Historical Site........ ...... .... ......... .. ..... ..... ........ .. ..... ... .. ..... ... ....... ..........6-7 Forest Stand Improvement Demonstration Program For Coastal Plains .................. B-9 Forestry Faces And Places .... .......... ........ .... ...... ........... ... ......... ..... ............ ... ..... ...10-11 County Queens Vie For State Title ................ .. ....... ... ........ ............. ... ........ .... ......... ..12 Greenville Wins State FFA Field Day ....................................................................... 13 Logging The Foresters.. ... ... ..... .... .... .. ... ..... .. ........................ .. .... .. ....... ..... ........... .14-15
Cruising The News
Immediate Action Needed
The beetles are on a rampage in the pine forests of Georgia, according to reports. They are reported making a devastating invasion of South Georgia and North Florida . Thomasville is in the center of what is known as the greatest longleaf yellow pine area in the U.S.A. Around Thomasville will be found thousands of acres of longleaf yellow pine, plus the loblolly and other kinds used for pulpwood in the making of newsprint and the products made from pulpwood. The beetle infestation is said to be moving rapidly into this area, and unless the state and fed eral agencies act quickly, one of our greatest economic assets may be destroyed. In the past 20-30 years the growing and marketing of southern pulpwood has grown rapidly and millions of pine trees have been planted on abandoned and eroded farm lands. Thousands of workers are now engaged in the planting and harvesting of pine trees. The pulpwood industry has resulted in paper making mills costing millions of dollars being invested at Mobile, Ala., Lufkin, Texas, Coosa Pines, Ala., Calhoun, Tenn . and elsewhere. There is a critical shortage of pulpwood with a resulting shortage of white newsprint and other products of various kinds. Only during the past week has the price of newsprint been advanced by $18 per ton to a total of $188.00 per ton, and even at that price, many newspapers are finding it difficult to get, except at black market prices which are prohibitive. Since the economic picture is darkened by invasion of the beetle the public is invited and urged to contact their agriculture and legislative departments urging immediate action to eradicate the beetle which thrives in warm weather. Such as has prevailed during recent months. The freezing weather of the past weekend should help control the weevils even though it may hurt your vegetation, flowers and fruit trees . Act now! Contact your legislative officials in Atlanta and Washington . It is a major economic need!
(From the Thomasville Times-Enterprise)
Our Tree Consumption
In 1973, each man, woman and child in the United States will "consume" approximately one 16-inch-thick, 100-foot-high tree .
The estimate is figured on the basis of each tree yielding one ton of wood products, and on the fact that our consumption in 1972 was 203 million tons .
More than 30 percent of each ton will go into pulp and paper products. The rest will be used for home construction, furniture and thousands of other products that utilize JIVOOd .
According to the American Forest Institute, by the year 2000 each American will be using a tree and a half every year, or 50 percent more - and t here will be a lot more Americans .
Fortunately wood is a renewable resource and one that can be expanded . For example, in the single largest effort ever carried out by a private company, Weyerhaeuser Co . is planting more than 100 million seedlings in its western forest lands.
The aim, says its officials, is to help make sure America never runs out of wood , as well as to preserve the delicate forest environment by replacing what man takes for his use with growing young trees.
This is an eminently worthy objective.
(From the Waycross Journal-Herald)

Control

The Georgia Forestry Commission has taken initial steps in implementing the new forest insect and disease control law enacted by the 1974 Gen-eral Assembly and signed into law by Governor Jimmy Carter.
A meeting of forest landowner groups, .associations, industry, educa tion and research representatives was held recently to advise them of current insect and disease aerial and ground survey results, plans for an ongoing program of prevention, detection and con trol of forest insects and diseases and provide input on the implementation of the new law.
Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission .. director, stated that the statewide sur-
vey revealed a range of negligible occurrence in South Georgia , except for isolated infestations in Chatham County, to high occurrence in Northeast Georgia .
Since July 1972, 187,593 cords of wood have been salvaged in the Athens and Gainesville districts due to southern pine beetle infestation. This represents 84.3 percent of the total wood salvaged throughout the state due to insect ~ attack.
Under the new law, Sh irley empha -

Law
Passed
sized that landowners will be advised in writing if a potential insect and disease outbreak exists with recommended control procedures . If unable to carry out the control measures, the landowner may request the Forestry Commission to undertake the control recommendations.
In no instance will the Forestry Commission cut trees not previously approved by the landowner. Should trees have to be cut and removed , the Forestry Commission , if requested, will assist the landowner in locating a buyer. Trees, designated to be cut, will be marked by Forestry Commission personnel.

Proponents of the legislation were led by Senators Roscoe E. Dean, Jr ., Jesup ; Hugh M. Gillis , Sr., Soperton; and Edward H. Zipperer , Savannah; and Representatives A . B. C. " Brad" Dorminy , Jr., Fitzgerald; Preston B. Lewis, Waynesboro; L. L. "Pete" Phillips, Soperton; and John Russell, Winder.
The legislation, sponsored by the Georgia Forestry Commission and endorsed by the Georgia Forestry Associa tion and Georgia Farm Bureau, permits an ongoing and continuous program of detection , protection and education with appropriate control measures.
These groups and legislators, concerned over the losses of the current outbreak and the potential damaging effects of the southern pine beetle, have provided the Forestry Commission with a means of battling insect and disease attack much as it does wildfire .
Shirley noted that early detection is the only effective control of potential ly dangerous insects and dis eases such as southern pine, black tur pentine and ips beetles and fusiform rust 'canker' and fames annosus (root rot) .
3

FIP Aids Landovvners In Timber Production

A program designed to increase timber product ion t hrough tree planting and/ or timber stand improvement is available to Georgia landowners in 102 counties.
The Forest Incentives Program, under the 1974 Rural Environmental Conservation Program, was confined because of limited funds and the exacting criteria set for program participation .
Georgia's allocation of FIP funds was $759,000 . The allocation for the nation was $10 million . Georgia's ASC Com mittee set allocations for those counties designated to participate in the program in 1974.
Georgia's designated counties were selected by the Georgia Forestry Com mission with the approval of the state ASC Committee. A county's selection was based on the (1) acreage of commercial forest land and number of nonindus trial private forest landowners; (2) po tential productivity of the forest land as measured by site class ; (3) the need for reforestation, timber stand improvement se rvices ; (5) use of cost-sharing funds for forestry practices in the past; (6) exist ance of forest landowner associations; and (7) h igh pr iority factors in local areas such as an adverse growth drain ratio .
For a landowner to be el igible for cost-sharing assistance , he must be a pri vate landowner, assoc iation, corpora tion or other legal entity wh ich owns " nonindustr ial" private forest lands capable of producing industrial wood crops. 4

The Forest Incentives Program is designed to increase timber production through tree planting and/or timber stand improvement. FIP is under the 1974 Rural Environmental Conservation Program.

The ownership must not be more than 500 forest acres . Such land must be suitable for afforestation of open areas, reforestation of cutover and other nonstocked and understocked forest land, or intensive multiple -purpose manage ment and protection of forest resources in order to provide for timber production and related benefits.
The available practices under FIP are RE-3, planting trees , and RE-4, improving stand of forest trees for timber production .
In Georgia the cost-share rates for the RE-3 and RE-4 practices are 75 percent of actual costs not to exceed a maximum cost of $70 per acre . The cost-shares paid to any one person shall not exceed $2,500 per calendar year.
However, a landowner cannot costshare twice on the same acre, nor is cost-sharing granted for both tree planting and timber stand improvement on the same acre .
No cost-sharing will be approved for tree planting on land which has been timber harvested by the current owner over the past f ive years.
However, this does not rule out costsharing assistance for those landowners who had to cut timber as a result of (1) salvage cutting necessitated by dam age from insect or disease attacks, wind or ice storms, wildfire or other such attacks or causes; (2) cutting of an under-

stocked or unproductive stand preparatory to reforestation with the same species; and (3) cutting a stand of relatively unproductive species in the course of conversion to a more productive timber type.
In participating in the FIP, a landowner must have a forest management plan made for the area in which the practice will be carried out. The management plan must be approved by a Georgia Forestry Commission forester.
The Georgia Forestry Commission has the responsibility for (1) certifying the opportunity for the practice; (2) preparing and/or approving a forest management plan; (3) providing technical assistance in the application of the practice; and (4) certifying that the practice has been satisfactorily completed so that cost-share payments can be made .
For all landowners, regardless of acreage ownership, cost-share assistance is available through the Ru ral Environmental Assistance Program. The FIP and the REAP are under the RECP.
Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director, stated the FIP should encompass the entire state in 1975 provided an increase in state allocations materializes .
For further information and assistance contact your county forestry unit and the county ASC office.

Tornado Disaster Committee Organized

The Georgia Forest Disaster Control and Recovery Plan has been put into effect by the Georgia Forestry Association in a 12-county area in North Georgia .
The counties are Bartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Ha ralson, Lumpkin , Murray , Paulding, Pickens and Whitfield.
Harold Joiner, Association executive director, said the action was a result of President Richard Nixon and Governor Jimmy Carter declaring the counties a disaster area .
The Planning Committee, headed by Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon, met in Jasper to form committees that will give direction to the salvage of the downed timber . There are an estimated 135,000 cords down with more than 350 landowners affected.
Shirley named the following committees and chairmen; Industry, John Reece , Hiawassee Land Company, Cal houn; Transportation, John Mixon , Forestry Commission, Atlanta; and Publicity, Frank Craven, Forestry Commission, Macon.
Shirley emphasized that Forestry Commission foresters have guidelines to use in salvaging the wood and a list of wood buyers in these areas . For assistance contact your county forestry unit.
The various companies pledged their support in working with landowners in maintaining an orderly flow and marketing of damaged timber. This would in clude an effort to keep prices at or near current levels. Transportation officials said that, upon request, they would ad-

vise on structure load limits, alternate routes and in some instances reinforce bridges.
The Committee members are, Industry, Buddy Agan, Georgia Kraft Co ., Dawsonville; Jerry Barnes, Barnes Bros . Pulpwood Co. , Talking Rock ; Will Can trell, Dahlonega; George David, Gainesville ; and Lamar Harris , Harris Lumber Co ., Ball Ground.
Others are Bruce Holmes, Hiawassee Land Co ., Gainesville ; Charles Kiker, Jr ., Ellijay Lumber Co ., Ellijay ; M. C. Low, Jr ., Low Pulpwood Co ., Talking Rock ; Gene Morris, Georgia Kraft Co., Rome;

and John Sluder, Chatsworth. Hugh Thacker, Haynes Lumber Co.,
Canton ; J . E. Thompson, Georgia Kraft Co ., Jasper; Clyde Turner, Mount Yonah Lumber Co ., Cleveland ; Lloyd Vaughters, Dawson Pulpwood Co ., Dawson; and Lee Williams, Georgia Kraft Co ., Gainesville complete the list.
Transportation Committee members are Frank Eadie, Forestry Commission, Canton; L. M. Mathews , Southern Rail way System, Atlanta; Tommy Mauldin, Forestry Commission, Rome; Don Pridgen, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, Atlanta, Harry Sewell, Forestry Commission, Gainesville; and Vernon Smith , Department of Transportation, Atlanta .
Publicity Committee members are Nelson Brightwell, Extension Service, At!"lens; Thomas Fontaine, Jr ., Forestry Commission, Macon; Harold Joiner, Georg ia Forestry Association, Atlanta; J . W. Norris, Jasper .

Druid Preston, chief, Forest Management, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon, surveys tornado damaged timber near Jasper. An estimated 135,000 cords of pulpwood were damaged by tornadoes that skipped through North Georgia recently. Approximately 367 landowners were affected.
5

The Isle of Hope , site of Wormsloe, the oldest intact plantation in Georgia, is currently infested with Southern Pin e, Bl ac k Tu rpentine and Ips beetles.
Brought to the attention of the Georgi a Forestry Commission in February 1974, immediate on-the -ground and aerial investigations were made by Forestry Commission Director Ray Shirley and an entomologist.
Forestry Commission foresters were assi gned to the Island to mark the in fested trees. By the last of February it was estimated that 1.1 million board feet of sawtimber and 170 cords of pulpwood needed to be removed .
The timber is now being cut with a Forestry Commission fore ster assigned to the island during th e cutting period to inspect each spot to determine whether or not the beetles have spread . If so, the additional infested trees will be marked and cut.
The pine type on the isle is loblolly , slash and longleaf pine. The trees are old, overmature and have never been under an intensive forest management plan.
Ground surveys conducted by the Forestry Commission entomologist and foresters indicated that ligh tnin g struck trees were numerous and concentrated primarily in mature stands where the site index was 90 or better. Associated with these strikes were beetle infesta-

There were 6,687 sawtimber and pulpwood size trees initially marked by Georgia Forestry Commission foresters. Only trees with beetles in them were marked.

Beetles Claim Historical Site

tions . It is very likely that lightn ing strikes
attracted turpentine and ips beetles into an area which later became infested with southern pine beetle . It is theoretically sound to assume that the initial beetle infestations on the Isle were induced QY lightning. A lightning struck tree often serves as a focal point for beetle attack.
Beetle infestations on the Isle of Hope have existed for the past two or three years . Evidence of this is old beetle killed spots.
In addition, in 1971 the isle was flooded by heavy rains, and the vigor of the timber was further reduced. Also, natural mortality has been occurr ing over the past several years.
The sum total of all the environmen tal resistance factors are : (1) Overmature timber (very low vigor - no resistance from insect and disease attacks); (2) 1971 flooding (water around the pines was deep enough to float a flat bottom boat - trees subjected to flooding are weakened considerably physiologically); and (3) numerous lightning strikes attracts beetles into an area, ini tiating a beetle infestation .
Wormsloe Plantation was included on the National Register of Hi storic Sites on September 8, 1973. It is under the Georgia Heritage Trust Program.
Wormsloe has been in the hands of Noble Jones and his descendents since 1737.

It was estimated that 1. 1 million board

feet of sawtimber and 170 standard

cords of pulpwood needed to be remov-

ed from the Isle of Hope.

6

7

Since the Tree Planting and Forest Stand Improvement Demonstration Program's inception (Sept. 1973), there have been 788 acres site prepared.

A Forest Stand Improvement Pilot Demonstration Program is being con ducted by the Georgia Forestry Commission in Marion, Taylor and Webster Counties.
Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director, said the project area was selected because the three counties have the highest percentage of nonproductive forest land in Georgia. There are an estimated 225,100 acres of understocked forest land in the project area .
Shirley pointed out that the purpose of the forest improvement project is to increase the utilization of timber; thereby raising farm income in the three county area of the Coastal Plains of

Georgia. Druid Preston, chief, Forest Manage-
ment Division, said that to achieve this goal is involving the clearing of worthless scrub vegetation and planting it to income producing pine trees.
Through March, there have been 1,075 acres site prepared, 744 acres planted and 21 forest management plans made.
Taylor, Marion and Webster Counties have 76 percent of their land area in forest. Approximately 48 percent of the forest area consists of nonstocked and poorly stocked forest land of about 225,100 acres. There is an additional 46,900 acres of idle, open land that

The 225,100 acres of non-stocked and poorly stocked forest land represents 48 percent of the forested area in the three counties.

Pilot
Forest Stan ;1 provement
~ t
Demonstr~ on Program
For Co I Plains
J
_,

should be planted to trees. Combined, these acreages represent almost 50 percent of the land area.
These lands are capable of producing from one-half to one cord per acre per year. This would amount to approximately 200,000 cords of wood per year.
Pulpwood stumpage prices in the Coastal Plains area ranged from $8 to $30 per cord on the stump in the Spring of 1973. Due to forest conditions and limited competition in the project area, pulpwood stumpage prices average $8 per cord. The potential value from these unproductive lands at present prices would be $1.6 million annually to landowners.
The values from this project will be

threefold, Shirley emphasized. One, the land values will be greatly increased; two, income to the farmers and private owners will be enhanced; and three, in creased raw material will benefit related businesses.
The Georgia Forestry Commission recognizes the need to provide a service to landowners in prescribed burning and tree planting on nonstocked and idle lands. This assistance will be provided in those instances where contract operators of specialized forestry equipment is unavailable .
Plans are to expand the demonstration program to the entire state once it has proved successful in the Coastal Plains Region, Shirley added.

There are 468,000 acres of forest land in Marion, Taylor and Webster Counties. A total of 96,600 acres of this forest land is considered non-stocked with commercial species and another 128,500 acres poorly stocked and producing less than its potential.
8

The objective of the demonstration project is to regenerate and place in production lands that are not now producing timber products desirable for commercial use.

Putting these lands to trees (sand pine) will increase the market values from 50-100 percent. These lands are capable of producing from 1/2 to 1-cord per acre per year.
9

Forestry Faces

.... Darlene Zipperer, 18, Valdosta , is the 1974 Miss Gum Spirits . The Valdosta High School senior was sponsored by J im L. Gillis , Jr ., president, American Tu rpentine Farmer's Association, Soperton . Miss Zipperer was crowned by Miss Debbie Lee Mathis, the reigning queen . She was selected from 11 contestants at t he 38th annual meeting of the ATFA . Miss Zipperer is the daughter of Mr . and Mrs. Ray Zipperer.

BUTTS COUNTY

There were 24 ,764 cords of round

pulpwood produced in the county in ~

1972. The highest production, 53,848

cords , occurred in 1966. Since 1946

production has totaled 568.413 cords of

.....There are 82,900 commercial forest

round pulpwood .

acres in Butts County . This represents ..... Union Camp Corporation , a major

69.3 percent of the land area.

forest products firm with extensive

Approximately 84.8 percent of the facilities in Georgia , has revealed plans

commercial forest acreage is privately for the construction of a Chip Mill in

owned. Industry owned forest acreage Warm Springs.

is about 24.4 percent.

Construction of the mill involves an

The forest acreage has a growing volume of 101 .1 million cubic feet. The

investment of approx imately one-half million dollars . Startup is scheduled for "-

annual cut is 1.4 million cubic feet, and late summer of this year.

the annual growth is 6.8 million cubic

The new facility is expected to pro-

feet.

cess 50,000 to 70,000 cords annual -

There are approximately 33,600 acres ly and will have the capability of receiv-

in need of site preparation and/or plant- ing all lengths of pine and hardwood

ing in Butts County. About 55 percent timber . The better quality logs from the

is oak -pine.

operation will be marketed to sawmills

in and around the mill site area, while

the remainder will be converted into

.... Myles Greene, Broxton, has been elected president of the Forest Owners Associati on, Inc . The officers , 1-r, are Allen Bower, Alma, treasurer; Sonny Taylor, Alma, vice president; Greene and Archie McEuen, Waycross, secretary. The Association, formed Jan. 8, 1974, consists of landowners from Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlt on , Clinch, Coffee, Pierce and Ware Counties. The purpose of the Association is to emphasize the needs of woodland owners, encouraging the reforestation of private fo rest lands. 10

And Places

chips for use by the Company's Savannah, Georgia, and Montgon;~ery, Alabama, pulp and paper mills .
Twelve to 15 persons are to be employed in connection with the operation. In addition to the on-site force, the new mill will create 75 to 100 jobs for workers involved in the harvesting and transporting of the raw material to supply the installation.
Union Camp's manufacturing facilities in Georgia include the Savannah pulp and paper mill, the world's largest kraft paper complex; two lumber mills with another under construction; three chemical plants, and three converting plants. As part of its wood procurement efforts in the state the Company operates a network of 32 woodyards.
One of the largest industrial employers in the state, Union Camp has approximately 5,500 persons working in its Georgia operations.

..... Larry Caldwell, center, patrolman, Walker County Unit, Georgia Forestry Com mission, has been awarded a certificate and a cash award from the State of Georgia Employee Suggestion Program . Presenting the certificate and check is John Mixon, field supervisor, Forestry Commission. Taking part in the presentation is Waymond Huggins, ranger.
Caldwell's suggestion has resulted in Forestry Commission fire fighting diesel tractors with circuit breakers being equipped with an emergency ignition system at a cost of only 52 cents.
His suggestion came about as a result of his tractor's engine shutting off while fighting a fire on Lookout Mountain. He discovered a short in a tail light that ground out the circuit breakers preventing the engine from starting.
Ranger Huggins said that the suggestion could possibly prevent loss of fire fighting equipment and injuries to fire fighters .

.... Heavy winds struck this community in March. On the farm of J . E. Sutherland, one mile South of Haralson on Ga. 85, a Southern Red Oak , 30 inches in d iameter, was uprooted and smashed down on a creosoted fence post. The fence post went all the way through the huge oak intact without even the metal cap sustaining hardly any damage.
11

County Queens

The 1974 annual meeting of the Georgia Forestry Association will be held at Jekyll Island June 16-17 . Presi dent Shuford M. Wall, president, South land Timber Company, a division of Canal Wood, Augusta, will preside.
Wall said that a delegation of approx imately 1,000 foresters and landowners are expected . A Luau will kickoff activi ties on June 16th. The convention's

Teresa Battle Miss Jefferson County Wadley, Ga.
Vie

Debra Ann Beazley Miss Richmond County Augusta, Ga.

Sharon Bellamy Miss Henry County Ellenwood, Ga.

For
general session will be held on June 17th with the banquet that evening, Wall added .
Harold Joiner, executive director, GFA, Atl anta said t hat the crowning of Miss Georgi a Forestry will be one of the convent ion highlights . The contestants will be introduced at the Luau . The

Denise Calhoun Miss Treutlen County Soperton, Ga.
State

Fran Crouch Miss Wilkinson County Macon, Ga.
Becky Godsey Miss Lee County Leesburg, Ga.
Marguerite Williamson Miss Washington County Wrightsville, Ga. 12

Judy Hay Miss Muscogee Coun ty Columbus, Ga.
Lisa You mans Miss Emanuel County Lexsy, Ga.

Title

pageant and the crowning of the queen

will culminate the banquet festivities .

Approximately 29 counties will pre-

t

sent forestry queens for the coveted title

)

Debbie Dockery

Joiner, added.

Miss Fannin County

Besides those pictured, the counties

McCaysville, Ga.

are Bulloch, Candler, Charlton, Chattoo-

ga, Columbia and Cook. Others are Early,

Glynn , Harris, Jasper, Liberty and Long.

Macon, Oconee, Pickens, Telfair and

Thomas Counties complete the list.

Joiner pointed out that the state

forestry queen will receive a $500

scholarship to the college of her choice

in Georgia. Both the queen and runner-

Debbie Elaine Williams Miss Toombs County Vidalia, Ga.

up will receive numerous gifts. During her reign, the Miss Georgia
Forestry title holder will represent the forest industry at various functions

throughout the state. The Forestry Asso-

ciation will coordinate her activities.

The 1973 Miss Georgia Forestry is

Linda Mountjoy of McRae.

Other business will include the elec-

tion of officers and the presentation of

awards. These will include the Perfor-

mance of Excellence Awards presented

Millie Zachry

to Georgia Forestry Commission super-

Miss Ware County

visory personnel representing their re-

Waycross, Ga.

spective districts and counties.

The Greenville Future Farmers of America Chapter is the winner of the statewide FFA Forestry Field Day. The Louisville FFA Chapter took second place. The field day was held at the FFA-FHA Camp near Covington.
Some 253 contestants, representing 23 chapters, participated in the field day. Schools represented were Appling, Calhoun County, Clinch County, Com-

The Greenville FFA Chapter took top honors in the State FFA Forestry Field Day at the FFA -FHA Camp near Covington. Twenty-three FFA Chapters competed in the statewide forestry competition. The Greenville Chapter is headed by J. R. Cook, right, back row. The team members are, 1-r, front row, Richard Parks, Eddie Sitton, Robin Gunnin, Ed Fuller and Larry Murphy. Back row, Steve Reeves, Bill Moultrie, Wayne Flournoy, Bill Bailey, Willie Roger Parks and Grady Bice.

merce, Crawford County, Gilmer County, Greenville, Hogansville, Johnson County, Lanier County, Louisville, Nichols, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County, Patterson, Paulding, Pelham, Plains, Randolph County, Sardis, S. E. Bulloch, Swainsboro and White County.
First place winners in the various events were Carl Hilard and Steve Jordon, Commerce, planting; Larry Murphy, Greenville, selective marking; Ed Fuller, Greenville, pulpwood timber estimation; Richard Parks, Greenville, tree identification; Gary Clark, Paulding County, ocular estimation; and Rodney Williams, Appling County, log scaling.
Others included Dorsey Howington, Oglethorpe County, land measurement; Grady Bice, Greenville, insect and disease comprehension; and Randy Bull, Oglethorpe County and Kenneth Clark, Louisville, scaling stacked pulpwood.
The Greenville FFA Chapter, directed by J. R. Cook, received an inscribed plaque and $100. The Louisville Chapter, under Robert McGill, received a plaque and $50. The first place winners in the individual events were awarded $20, second place, $10, and third place,

$5. A target shooting event was sponsor-
ed by the Sunland School Plans, Inc., a division of the Progressive Farmer Magazi'ne and judged by Leroy Hackley, ranger, Game and Fish Division, Department of Natural Resources. The Clinch County FFA Chapter was the winner . William Tinsley is the Vo-Ag advisor. This event was not counted in the field day competition.
Guy Stilson, representative, Sunland School Plan Division, presented the award.
The guest speaker was R. Max Peterson, deputy chief, Programs and Legislation, U.S. Forest Service, Atlanta.
The FFA Field Day was sponsored by the Trust Company of Georgia and its statewide family of affiliated banks. They are the F.irst National Bank and Trust Company of Augusta, The First National Bank and Trust Company of Macon, The Fourth National Bank of Rome and The Liberty National Bank and Trust Company of Savannah.
The awards were presented by Donaid Keiser, Atlanta, vice president, Trust Company of Georgia.
13

LETTERS

The presentation of forest management techniques to the Conservation Class at Georgia

Logging The

Southern College on March 7th by Jerry

Marsh was excellent. The ideas he presented

TORNADO

coordinated very closely with the ideas de-

veloped throughout the course . There is no

It is only fitting and proper that I , as Sheriff, better learning experience than having an ex-

make an effort on behalf of the citizens pert like him discuss practical aspects of ideas

of Gordon County, to convey to Mr. J. C. that students have learned from textbooks .

MeDearis and other members of the Gordon

County Forestry Unit, our appreciation for

Daniel B. Good

the invaluable service rendered as a. result of

Ass't. Prof. of Geography

the tornado i n the Sugar Valley-Resaca A rea .

Georgia Southern College

Statesboro, Georgia

I am at a loss for words that express my

appreciation and I am sure this is the feelings of all citizens of Gordon County. The co-

SUPPRESSION

operation and the sympathetic and humani tarian at t itude of everyone was just fantastic .

On Monday, February 25th , my husband and I came home from work to find a Georgia

Pat Baker, Sheriff

Forestry fire fighting unit in our yard.

Gordon County Calhoun, Georgia

Due to the quick and able action from James Cook, our yard , and especially our home, was

I would like to express my appreciation to

not damaged from a fire that blackened the

J. C. MeDearis and the employees of the State

surrounding woods (approximately 8 acres)

Forestry Commission for assisting us during

of our home. This was also done with his

Sidney Weitzman, director, Area Plan-

the period immediately after the tornado a

having to ward-off our watchdog.

ning and Development, U. S. Forest

few days ago . Their assistance was very helpful and allowed

Jim and Donna Lindsey Jackson, Georgia

Service, USDA, has been named direc-

tor, Southeastern Area, State and Pri-

-.

us to restore service to our consumers at a

vate Forestry, Atlanta. He succeeds

much faster pace. We will always be indebted t o t hem for their assistance .

TOUR

Douglass Craig. The announcement was made by John McGuire, chief, USFS.

Elvin J. Farrar General Manager North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Dalton, Georgia
EDUCATION
I feel so very fortunate that I was selected as one of the participants in the Environmental Education Leadership Workshop . It was a very valuable experience for me.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank Frank Craven for his role in making our Sister City's Delegation (Macon, France) visit to Macon, Georgia, a huge success.
Without his dedicated help such an ambitious objective could never be realized , and I am sure that our French Friends were much impressed with our city and our hospitality.
Ronnie Thompson, Mayor City of Macon

We appreciate Charles Place 's efforts in making possible such a " Happen i ng" in our state. Certainly all curriculum directors need to be informed on all the available services made avai lable to aid in classroom instruction .
MaryS. Barnes Curriculum Director Franklin County Carnesville, Georgia
I want to thank Billy Barber and his staff for their hospitality in taking time on January 17th , 1974, to fill me in on the work of the Georgia Forestry Commission in the McRae District. Through their efforts I learned much more about southern forestry than I ever could have hoped to alone on my limited vacation time.
E. D. Berry Forest Management Supervisor Sioux Lookout, Ontario Canada
14

On behalf of the Forestry and Forest Industries group we would like to thank Frank Craven and the others at the Georgia Forestry Commission for the tour and talks at the Forestry Center.
The group was very interested in the Center and how state and federal groups work together. It certainly makes for better communications to have fac ilities like that .
We were all interested in the importance of commun icating with the public and seeing the emphasis on I and E that the Georgia Forestry Commission has. It gives us here in Maine a clearer p icture of what we should be doing to make the public aware of Forestry , its needs and goals.
Harold E. Young Wallace C. Robbins School of Forest Resources University of Maine Orono, Maine

W Pat Thomas is the new forest supervisor for the Chattahoochee-Oconee Na-
tional Forests announced F. Leroy Bond, regional forester, U. S. Forest
Service, Atlanta. Thomas succeeds Vaughn Hofeldt, retired.
MEETINGS...SOIL Conservation Society of America, Syracuse, N. Y. , Aug. 11-24...GEORGIA Chapter, Society of American Foresters, Unicoi, Ga., Aug. 20-22...SOC I ETY of American Forester, New York, N.Y., Sept. 22-26.

Foresters ...
RETI REMENTS...JOHN BRAGG, towerman , Jenkins Unit, Nov ., 11, 1954Apr. 1, 1974...PAUL BOWERS, patrolman, Bibb-Crawford-Monroe Unit, July 10, 1950-Jan . 1, 1974 ...SAM GIBBS, patrolman, Brooks-Cook Unit, Oct. 1, 1953-Apr. 1, 1974.. .HENRY T . LATHAM , patrolman, Newton-Rockdale Unit, Nov. 1, 1957-Jan. 1, 1974.. .H. A. MCDONALD, patrolman, Thomas Unit, Nov . 10,1952-Nov.1 , 1973.. . CHARLIE
T . SMOOT, towerman, Lamar-PikeSpalding-Upson Unit, Feb. 1, 1956Nov . 1, 1973... NEALY WORTHY, towerman, Haralson-Polk Unit, Oct. 17, 1960-May 1, 1974.
AWARD ...MALCOLM E. Hardy, director, Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign, U. S. Forest Service is the recipient of the Silver Smokey Award for outstanding service to forest fire prevention. The presentation was made by Robert W. Long, assistant secretary of Agriculture.
OFFICER ...J . GREELY McGown, II , has been elected vice president of Union Camp Corporation by the board of directors . Alexander Calder, Jr ., chairman, made the announcement. He is responsible for the company's Woodlands ~md Bu ilding Products Divisions and all wood procurement operations .
APPOINTMENT...DR . J . B. Hilmon, director, Forest Environment Research, U. S. Forest Service, Wash ington , D.C ., is the new director of the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville, N.C. He succeeds Stephen G. Boyce " who has undertaken a new research progra m to investigate biological potentials for accelerating tree growth in the East.
IN MEMORIAM ... DOYLE G. McWhorter, 71 , Jasper, gave a quarter of a centu ry of service to the State of Georgia and Pickens Co . Ranger of the Pickens County Forestry Unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission, McWhorter retired on Dec. 31, 1967 . Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director , called him a credit to his commun ity, county and state, praising him for his outstanding contributio ns in the protection of the state's greatest natural resources, its forests.

Service Awards
30 YEARS
John E. Hammond ... Forester Macon, Ga. July 11 , 1949
25 YEARS
Lonn ie N. Gary ... .. ... Ranger Americus, Ga . Oct. 15, 1951
James L. Reid ... ........ Forester McRae, Ga . Jan. 25, 1949
Marcus D. Waters ... .. . Ranger Reidsville, Ga. Nov. 1, 1951
20 YEARS
John E. Bragg.. ... ......Towerman Millen, Ga. Jan. 11, 1954
Lewis A. Conger....... Ranger Sylvester, Ga. Mar. 15, 1954

James Cro mer, J r........ .Patrolman Oglet horpe , Ga. Sept. 1, 1953
Walter H. Jones...... ...... Range r Good Hope, Ga. Aug. 1, 1955
John T. Kirby .......... ....Towerman Lawrencev ille, Ga. Nov . 1, 1953
James W. McGlaun ...... Ranger Buena Vist a, Ga. Jan . 1, 1954
Ms . Edna F. Manning..Towerma n Leesburg, Ga. Jan . 1, 1954
Ray A. Marr...... ... ..... ... Patrolman Woodbine, Ga. Feb. 13, 1954
Ms. Jonnie Y. Phillips... Cierk Brunswick, Ga. June 23, 1954
Robert C. Womack ........ Ranger Sandersville, Ga. Aug. 1, 1952
Jack Wright ........ ...... ..... Patrolman Vidalia, Ga. Feb. 1,2954

The Dublin VA Center Supply Service was the recent recipient of a "Smokey Bear" award in recognition of the Center's cooperation and support to the Georgia Fores try Commission in the area of surplus supplies and equipment. George Sanders, supervisor, Commission Maintenance, presented the award to Wade L. Smith, cen ter, chief, Supply. Taking part in the ceremony is Harold 0. Duncan, Center director.

Georgia FORESTRY
June,1974
The Legend of The Spanish Moss
There's an old, old legend, that's whispered by Southern folks, About the lacy Spanish moss that garlands the great oaks-
A lovely princess and her love, upon their wedding day, Were struck-down by a savage foe amidst a bitter fray;
United in death they were buried, so the legends go'Neath an oak's strong, friendly arms, protected from their foe;
There, as was the custom, they cut the brides long hair with love And hung its shining blackness on the spreading oak above;
Untouched, undisturbed it hung there, for all the world to see And with the years the locks turned gray and spread from tree to tree.