org1 a Georgia Forestry June, 1976 No.2 Vol. 29 George Busbee- Governor A. Ray Shirley - Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS L. H. Morgan, chairman W. George Beasley Felton Denney Eley C. Frazer, Ill H. E. Williams Eastman Lavonia Carrollton Albany 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, Me Rae 31 055 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, Macon, 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. CONTENTS Fire Occurrence- Acreage Loss Highest in 22-Years .......................................... 3 Pitch Canker Detected In Southeast Georgia....................................................... 4-5 $1-Million Allocated For FIP In Georgia............................................................. 6-7 Motorized Gum Carrier May Revolutionize Gum Dipping................................... 8-9 Forestry Faces And Places....................................... ............. .............. ........ .. .... ... 10-11 GFA Convention Attracts County Queens.... ............ .................................. ........ 12 Clinch County Takes Forestry Field Day..................................................... .... ... 13 Logging The Foresters............................ ............................................................. 14-15 Cruising The News Forest Fires Down Good news from the Georgia Forestry Commission. Director Ray Shirley says the state enjoyed its best fire prevention and suppression year since 1965 last year. He said the 1975 fire season saw 7,234 wildfires burn 25,432 forest and open acres. In 1965, by comparison, 6,823 wildfires blazed through 25,092 acres. Shirley said last year's record is all the more impressive when you consider the fact that Forestry Commission personnel are protecting about 3.6 million more acres than they were 10 years ago. Still the losses were too high and it is well to note that March and April, the months just ahead, were the top fire occurrence months last year. In 1975, the number of fires was above 1,000 in each of the two months. What causes forestry fires in Georgia? Georgia Forestry Commission records say burning debris remains No. 1. Incendiarism is second and smoking is third. Those fires set deliberately were the most damaging last year. They destroyed more than 20,000 acres. The State Forestry Commission has a pat on the back for campers. "Campers continued to be the most fire prevention minded," the report said. Only 62 fires during the year were attributed to them. Maybe campers listened more carefully to the warnings Smokey The Bear used to issue than other people. Or perhaps, it is simply that campers, living a great deal in the great outdoors and appreciating the serenity and beauty, are more conscious of the need to preserve our God-given resources. (From the Waycross Journal-Herald) Gas From Pine Trees From the unlikely spots of Lake City, Fla. and Athens, Ga. has come a story that gives a glimmer of hope in the energy crisis. Researchers in these two cities have startled experts by finding that a herbicide applied to a Southern pine tree can turn the tree into a source of gasoline. Applied across the South, it could contribute some 30 million barrels of crude oil to our economy annually. Here's how it works: When about 12 square inches of bark is cut from the pine tree, then sprayed with a tablespoon of the herbicide Paraquat, a major change occurs in the pine. The normal tree makeup of oleoresins-resin to most of us-consists of 1Y. percent of the tree. But after the Paraquat application, the tree cells become soaked with the resins. The tree is transformed into about 40 percent resin! The resin is almost a pure carbon-hydrogen mixture, and can easily be converted into gasoline. A forestry service employee, Dr. Donald Roberts of Lake City, discovered the process. University of Georgia microbiologists are trying to find out why it works. They already say the herbicide can be applied with relatively little environmental danger. So, as you drive through the South, and spot a stand of pine trees, don't think in terms of paper mills and pulpwood. Start seeing gasoline refineries growing. It may not be a mirage, but the wave of the future for a new source of energy. (From the Gwinnett Daily News) Fire Occurrence Acreage Loss st In 22-Years 3 Wildfires 91 Acres Georgia landowners will long remember the first three months of 1976. During the period, 8,503 wildfires blazed through 38,391 forest and open acres. This was 17.5 percent more fires and 51 percent more acres burned than for 1975. Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, said that it is ironic that we just enjoyed the best fire protection year in 10 years in 1975, and that it was just 10 years ago this year that we had the worst fire year since 1954. The Forestry Commission director cited below normal rainfall for the month of February as contributing to the serious situation. Most of the state received one inch or less of rain during the period. During the February dry spell, 4,551 wildfi res burned 21,676 acres . The greatest single day's loss was 2,161 acres on Feb. 28. The 447 fires on that date represents the largest single days occur- renee on record. There were 6,503 acres burned dur- ing the last week of February . However, 7,868 acres went up in smoke from Feb. 10-16. There were 10 days in which there were more than 1,000 acres burned. James C. Turner, Jr ., chief, Forest Protection Division, said that in spite of the high acreage loss there w~re only ten fires that burned more than 100 acres in February . The largest, 214 acres, occurred in Douglas County. Other counties and acreage burned include Bryan, 125; Burke, 193; Dawson, 102; Decatur, 112; Effingham, 154; Emanuel, 112; Mitchell, 117; Tattnall, 132; and Wilcox, 201. The fires were primarily of incendiary, debris burning and railroad origin. He pointed out that incendiary set fires and debris burning were the major fire causes in Georgia for the three months. Incendiary blazes accounted for more than 37 percent of the fires and over 43 percent of the acres burned. Some 26 percent of the wildfires and 35 percent of the acres burned were of debris burning origin. The Forestry Commission's Midway and Rome Districts were the hardest hit due primarily to the woods' arsonists. In February there were 1,983 acres burned through incendiarism . The total acreage burned was 3,645. Of the 2,413 acres ravaged by fire in the Rome District, 1,847 acres were attributed to arsonists. For the three months the two districts had 2,642 wildfires that blackened 10,358 forest and open acres. The fact that the state's average size fire was only 4.55 acres is a tribute to the well trained Forestry Commission personnel, Turner said. At the height of the fire danger period, the Georgia Forestry Association, Ben C. Meadows, president, Atlanta, announced a reward program of $500 to persons reporting anyone setting forest fires and providing information leading to their arrest and conviction. Meadows said it was the intent of the Georgia Forestry Association to assist the Georgia Forestry Commission and industry groups in preventing forest fires. There Voeffl 4,551 v.ildfires in February. These fires burned 21,676 forest and open acres. 3 Pitch Canker Detected In Southeast Georgia The incidence of pitch canker is low to moderate throughout south Georgia according to Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission. The initial survey results, Shirley pointed out, showed only 14 percent of the plantations surveyed having pitch canker. There were 451 plantations surveyed. The percent of infected trees ranged from 1-19 percent. On the average, there was less than five percent incidence in the infected plantations. The initial survey involved 56 counties with 21 counties having pitch canker infection, Shirley added. Recently, severe outbreaks in slash pine plantations, seed orchards and ornamental and yard trees, throughout north central Florida, have initiated intense concern by forest administrators, land managers and researchers to investigate some basic facts about the disease, its severity and impact and possible suppression methods. Pitch canker problems in Flagler and Vol usia Counties in Florida involved approximately 350,000 acres. Shirley noted that a meeting with industry leaders indicated thatthey were experiencing some difficulties with the 4 Forester examines terminal growth for evidence of pitch canker. Infected trees are marked for removal in sanitation cutting. disease. The survey bore this out with infection ranging from 1-25 percent on industry lands. The average plantation surveyed had approximately 11 percent incidence. Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Glynn and Wayne Counties all reported moderate infection rates. Druid Preston, chief, Forest Management, said the survey is presently being confined to south Georgia with the Forestry Commission and industry cooperating to determine incidence on both private and industry lands. Infected trees are cut and diseased portions buroed. PITCH CANKER INFESTATION ON PRIVATE LANDS APRIL 1976 The survey objectives are (1) to determine the incidence and severity of the disease on both industry and private lands; (2) to determine long range effects and financial losses due to the disease; (3) to determine and establish the boundaries of pitch canker incidence; and (4) to evaluate possible means of suppressing the disease under forest conditions. Preston emphasized that the survey involves primarily 10-20-year old slash pine plantations, since slash pine is much more susceptible to pitch canker than loblolly or longleaf pine. Natural stands seem unaffected. Evaluations will be made to determine if the disease is becoming a problem in other species and ages. Long term survey plots are being established in order to monitor the rate of increase or decrease over the next several years. Several test plots have been established on the Dixon Memorial State Forest near Waycross to determine if sanitation removal and/or burning and the spraying of BHC and fermate have any effect on the subsequent increase or decrease of pitch canker infection on a treated plantation. State forest crews are removing all infected trees located outside the test areas on the State Forest. Efforts are being made to salvage infected timber while burning all infected tops, Preston added. LEGEND Area of highest concentration Slash pines show symptoms of pitch canker dieback. Although control measures can be put on a sound basis only when the means of spread is known, timely thinning or other improvement cutting can rid a stand of infected trees that would otherwise die or become culls . Systematic removal of infected trees reduces the fire hazard. It also provides growing space for better trees and reduces a source of fungu s inocul urn (spores) . A statewide survey for southern pine beetle activity is being conducted. Pre1iminary reports indicate no extensive outbreaks in Georgia. A full report will appear in the September issue of Georgia Forestry . Experimental application of fungicide-insecticide with mistblower. 5 Forestry Commission personnel provide the local ASCS office with technical data on which the application is approved and payment made. The 1976 Forest Incentives Program (F IP), a program designed to increase timber production through tree planting and/or timber stand improvement, is Georgia's basic FIP allocation is $1 ,010,000. The local county ASCS office will approve the applications, keep records now available to all Georgia landowners, and make payments to the landowner . according to a joint announcement made The Georgia Forestry Commission will Cost-sharing is available. under FIP for releasing tree seedlings, thereby improving timber growth and putting the area in a productive state. by Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon, and J. Paul Holmes, Jr., state executive director, Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Athens. provide the technical forestry field assistance . In approving requests, high priority will be given to practices that result in the planting of 40 acres or more of trees or timber stand improvement of 40 acres or more or a combination of both. FIP payment to the landowner is limited to $10,000 per calendar year. Approved practices remain in effect un- til cancelled. The payments may be as- signed to a vendor with the landowner's approval. Those eligible, primarily small land- owners, include private individuals, groups, associations, corporations or other legal entities who own nonindus- trial private forest lands capable of pro- ducing an industrial wood crop. A landowner must have a forest man- agement plan prepared by a forester, un- der the direction and approval of the Georgia Forestry Commission for the area.in which the practice will be carried out. The Georgia Forestry Commission has the responsibility for : (1) certify6 ing the need and suitability for the practice , (2) preparing a forest management plan , (3) providing prescription for the on-the-ground methods to be used in the application of the practice, (4) assist approved landowners in securing the services of vendors, and (5) certifying that the practice has been satisfactorily completed so that cash -share payments can be made. Practice FP-1, tree planting, is to establish a stand of forest trees for timber production purposes and to preserve and improve the environment. Costsharing under this practice, in addition to tree planting, is authorized for clearing land occupied largely by scrubby brush when it is essential to perm it planting desirable tree species. Cost-sharing is not authorized for planting trees on less than 10 acres, planting orchard trees, planting for ornamental purposes, Christmas tree production or fenc ing . The tree species will be determined by the Georgia Forestry Commission, and must be planted between November 1 and March 31. The trees must be spaced uniformly over the area with a mini mum of 600 trees per acre . There are no long term agreements offered under the 1976 FIP. The following costs are the maximum flat costshare rates as recommended and approv- Prescribed burning and firebreak construction are authorized practices for cost-sharing under FIP. Under the FIP, cost-sharing is available to establish a stand of forest trees for timber production purposes and to preserve and improve the environment. ed by the State ASCS Committee. Payments received by the landowner for FP-1 are: $12.50 per acre where planting is done with fa rm equipment; $17 per acre where planting is done by hand or with heavy equipment; $20 per acre for light site preparation; $35 per acre for medium site preparation ; $50 per acre for heavy site preparation; and $3.50 per acre for tree seedlings. A landowner must have a forest management plan for the area in which the practice will be carried out. The plan must be prepared by a forester. Practice FP-2 is for improving a stand of forest trees. This is applied to stands of forest trees needing improvement for the primary purpose of producing sawtimber and veneer logs where the potential productivity of the stand or site meets or exceeds minimum forestry standards. Cost-sharing for the FP-2 practice is authorized for pre-commercial thinning, pruning or releasing desirable seedlings and young trees. Also included are fire breaks, prescribed burning and site preparation for natural reseeding. This improvement should be carried out in such a manner as to preserve or improve the environment, especially wildlife habitat and the appearance of the area . Cost-Sharing, under the FP-2 pract ice, is not authorized for timber stand improvement on less than 10 acres, for prescribed burning except when approved in conjunction with site preparation and fencing. Landowner payments for th is practice are $3.50 per mile for firebreaks ; $17 per acre for pre-commercial thinning; $1 .50 per acre for prescribed burning; $17 per acre for pruning and $18.50 per acre for site preparation for natural regeneration . For detailed specifications and other FIP information, landowners are urged to contact their local county forest ry un it of the Georgia Forestry Commission or their local county ASCS office. 7 Lloyd Rogers, left, ranger, Dodge County Forestry Unit, and Grady Williams, naval star& specialist, are the developers of the motorized gum carrier. .. Terrain poses no major problems in operating the gum carrier. The gum carrier can be utilized in the distribution of cups. 8 The pi ight of the naval stores woods worker may soon improve due to the efforts of two Georgia Forestry Commission employees. Grady Williams, naval stores special ist, and Lloyd Rogers, ranger, Dodge County Forestry Unit, have combined their mechanical skills and knowledge of working naval stores to produce a motorized gum carrier. Even though the vehicle is still being tested, and the bugs worked out, Williams predicts the carrier will revolutionize gum dipping operations. He emphasizes that there is no question that the carrier can be used on 90 percent of the trees being worked . It has passed tests on various types of terrain, in thick underbrush and under wet conditions. The present three-wheel machine has a four bucket capacity or 220 pounds of crude gum . It is designed so that two additional buckets can be added. The carrier has a fixed walking speed of two and one-half to three miles per hour. This speed can be adjusted to the individual's rate. The advantages of the carrier are (1) it relieves the dipper from having to carry a 60-65 pound dip bucket (when full) by hand; (2) the dipper can handle a larger volume of gum before taking it to the emptying location where the gum is put in a barrel (435 pounds standard net); (3) one dipper, with _this carrier, can dip three and one-half barrels per The dipper is relieved from having to carry the dip bucket on his tree to tree route. day compared to two and one-half bar- rels by hand in an average stand; (4) the large volume means an increased earn- ings per day; and (5) it will minimize the use of expensive equipment such as tractors now used in pulling gum wagons through the woods. Space is provided for a spray rig on the gum carrier. Williams pointed out that the carrier can be used for cup and gutter installa- tion and pick up by leaving off the buck- ets. Scrape can also be collected . The vehicle is equipped with a two gallon hand pump spray tank that the dipper can use in treating insect infested trees (primarily black turpentine beetle) . Rogers, who primarily engineered the 150 pound vehicle, states the carrier is A large volume of gum can be harvested before taking it to the emptying location. guided by a steering bar from the rear . It is powered by a three horse power air cooled four cycle engine. It will utilize from one and one-half to two gallons of gas per day. The steel constructed car- rier is operated on low profile all terrain type rubber traction tires. The motorized gum carrier is ap- proximately three feet wide, five and one-half feet long and three feet three inches high . It has a turning radius of eight feet. Demonstrations of the carrier are available by contacting Georgia Forestry Commission naval stores foresters. They are Williams and Wesley Hartley, McRae; James L. Castleman, Lyons; Ed Herbert, Waycross; and Clifford Huntington, Douglas. 9 Forestry Faces hickory. There were 47,283 cords of round pulpwood produced in the county in 1974. The highest production, 65,576 cords, occurred in 1972. Since 1946, production has totaled 600,487 cords of round pulpwood. There are approximately five woodusing industries in Chattahoochee Coun- i" ty employing 29 persons with an annual payroll of more than $110,000. The products produced by the industries in clude pulpwood and creosote treated posts. ~The Rome Exchange Club, the Extension Service and the Georgia Forestry Commission combined their talents to beautify the East 12th Street Interchange, South of Rome . George Wallis, Exchange Club President and Paul Smith, County Extension Chairman, came up with the theme , 200 Trees For 200 Years. Enlisting the aid of Tommy Mauldin, district forester, Georgia Forestry Commission, Rome, they began locating trees native to North Georgia . The Exchange Club is purchasing trees that cannot be furnished by the Forestry Commission for the 3.2 acre tract . According to Club President Wallis, the area is being designed, with assistance from the Extension Service landscape and forestry specialists, to be a Bicentennial Project to be used as an outdoor classroom for area schools. The artistically placed trees will be identified, trails built and benches placed along the trails. Persons walking the trail will have a chance to take a tree identification quiz upon completion of the walk. Bob Brown, Beautification and Parks Department of the City of Rome, supervised the planting and caring for the seedIings. He said the area is 60 percent completed. According to County Extension Chairman Smith, the site previously had been unsightly . By this project, the area maintenance cost will be cut and it will be a splendid opportunity for school teachers to study the environment, he said . Taking part in the beautification planting are, 1-r, Smith, Wallis, Mauldin and Troy Floyd, ranger, and Richard West, patrolman, Floyd County Forestry Unit. ....There are 144,900 commercial forest 10 acres in Chattahoochee County. This represents 89.5 percent of the land area . Approximately 32.1 percent of the commercial forest acreage is privately owned. Industry owned forest acreage comprises 5.1 percent. The forest acreage has a growing volume of 154.5 million cubic feet . The annual cut is 5.5 million cubic feet, and the annual growth is 6.6 million cubic feet. There are approximately 62,400 acres in need of site preparation and/ or planting in Chattahoochee County. About 49.4 percent of the acreage is in oak- ~Georgia has lost its slash pine national tree champion to the elements. The Georgia giant, located in Ware County on Westvaco property near Manor, was struck by lightning last year. It was cut this Spring with sections put on display at the Ware County Pine Tree Festival. The slash pine tree was nominated by Fred Husbands, a local landowner. The tree measured 11 '8" in circumference, 120 feet in height with a crown spread of 32'6" . Georgia has 21 national tree champions and 142 state champions. The national champions are listed by the American Forestry Association . Contact your local county forestry unit for information on nominating trees for national and state champion status. ~ And Places .....The Georgia Forestry Commission, Ray Shirley, director, and the ChestateeChattahoochee RC&D Project, Herman L. Hamby, president, RC&D Council, have jointly announced the release of the new movie "Water And Your Future". The 20 minute film is in color and portrays the role of water in the everyday life of Georgians, where it originates and how everyone needs to be good stewards of the land to protect this pre.. cious commodity. The movie features many of the State's picturesque waterfalls, mountain ranges, farm lands and major streams, rivers and lakes. It was produced by the Georgia Forestry Commission in cooperation with the Resource Conservation and Development Project. The movie is available for civic clubs, schools, church groups, garden clubs and others, free of charge except for return postage. The film is available for loan through your county forestry unit or writing to Forest Education, Georgia Forestry Commission, Box 819, Macon, Georgia 31202 . .....Georgia Forestry Commission fire control personnel held a series of meetings with their industry counterparts to exchange ideas on mutual fire control problems. Smoke management, relating to control and prescribed burning, and utilization of weather forecasts and communications in coordinating fire suppression efforts were discussed. ..... Dr . Richard F. Blomquist, a pioneer in the development of wood adhesives, low-cost housing and composite wood products has retired from the U.S. Forest Service, announced Dr. J. B. Hilmon, director, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Asheville. Blomquist served nearly 34 years with the USFS. .....A new fire station has been built in the Washington County community of War- then to house the "Fire Knocker" leased from the Georgia Forestry Commission. Of- ficials attending recent dedication ceremonies were, 1-r, James A. Brantley, Freddie Miles and Edward Kennedy, Volunteer Firemen; W. C. Murphy, Jr., chairman, Coun- ty Commissioners; Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission; Barney Riner, fire chief, and Russell Riner, member, Sandersville Fire Department. 11 GFA Convention Attracts County Queens Jamie Andrews Miss Toombs County Lyons, Ga. Lesley Bramblett Miss Muscogee County Columbus, Ga. Rebekah Brooks Miss Treutlen County Soperton, Ga. Rosemarie Clubb Miss Lincoln County Lincolnton, Ga. Karen Dunn Miss Fannin County Blue Ridge, Ga. Nan Jones Miss Jefferson County Louisville, Ga. Kitty Kemp Miss Emanuel County Swainsboro, Ga. Tammy Kirkus Miss Macon County Oglethorpe, Ga. Janis Langley Miss Telfair County McRae, Ga. Sharon Ramsey Miss Henry County Hampton, Ga. Iris Rose Miss Ware County Waycross, Ga. Sheila Stricklin Miss Chattooga County Summerville, Ga. Marcia Stringfield Miss Richmond County Augusta, Ga. Marie Smith Miss Oconee County Bogart, Ga. Ginger Temples Miss Lee County Leesburg, Ga. Yvonne Theus Miss Long County Ludowici, Ga. The 1976 annual meeting of the GFA, Atlanta, said that the crowning of ceive numerous gifts. Georgia Forestry Association will be Miss Georgia Forestry will be one of the During her reign, the Miss Georgia held at Jekyll Island in the Aquarama, convention high! ights . The contestants Forestry title holder will represent the June 13-14. President Ben C. Meadows, will be introduced at the Luau. The pag- forest industry at various functions Ben Meadows Company, Atlanta, will eant and the crowning of the queen will throughout the state. The Association preside. culminate the banquet festivities. will coordinate her activities. Meadows said that a delegation, be Approximately 24 counties will pre- The 1975 Miss Georgia Forestry is tween 800-1,000 foresters and land sent forestry queens for the coveted Kathy Register of Swainsboro. owners, is expected. A Luau will kick title, Joiner added. In addition to those Other business will include the elec- off activities on June 13. The conven- pictured, the counties are Charlton, tion of officers and the presentation of tion's general session will be held on Clinch, Columbia and Glynn. awards. These will include the Perfor- June 14. Speakers will direct-their re- Others are Johnson, Liberty, Lump- mance of Excellence Awards presented marks to the convention's theme, Safe kin and Oglethorpe Counties. to Georgia Forestry Commission super- Guarding Forest Resources Georgia's Joiner states that the state forestry visory personnel representing their re- Heritage, Meadows added. The banquet queen will receive a $500 scholarship to spective districts and counties. will be held that evening. the college of her choice in Georgia. Harold Joiner, elCecutive director, Both the queen and runnerup will re12 The Clinch County FFA Chapter is t he winner of the statewide F FA Forestry Field Day for the second consecuti ve year. The Oconee County FFA Chapter placed second. The Field Day was held at High Falls State Park . Lt. Governor Zell Miller, in address~ ing the group, noted that by their inter- est in forestry they are going to be needeil to supply the leadership for keeping th is mammoth resource vital and growing to satisfy the timber requirements of th eirs and future generations. From these young men must come new methods of growth and utilization which will assure maximum replacement and minimum removal of our forest resources. Miller pointed out that yours will be the mission to find the means of increasing reforestation and speeding growth of replacement trees. He challenged the field day participants to put their talents, knowledge and demonstrated interest to work in years to come to serving their state and fellow man through keeping our forests ~ green, growing, expanding and producing to put payroll dollars in our pockets, and to assure that all of us, and those who follow us, can continue to breathe clean air, drink pure water and live in a healthy environment. The FFA Field Day was sponsored by the Trust Company of Georgia and its statewide family of affiliated banks . They are The Trust Company of Atlanta, The First National Bank and Trust Company of Augusta , The National Bank and Trust Company of Columbus, The First National Bank and Trust Company of Macon, The First National Bank of Rome and the Trust Company of Savannah. Some 220 contestants, representing 20 chapters, participated in the field day. Schools represented were Clinch County, Dodge County, Echols County, Greenville, Johnson County , Louisville, Moultrie, Northwest Whitfield, Oconee County, Oglethorpe County, Patterson, Pelham, Randolph County, Ringgold, Swainsboro, Upson County, Ware County, White County. Winder-Barrow and Worth County. First place winners in the various events were Kenny Cox and Dwight Hill, Clinch County, planting; Derrell Mathews, Oconee County, selective mark- ing, Donnie Griffis, Patterson, pulpwood timber estimation; Bryant Johnson, Clinch County, sawtimber volume estimation; Glenn Bell , Oconee County, tree identification ; Mike Minchew, Ware County, ocular estimation; and Ronnie Riggins, Upson County, log scaling event. Others included Paul Williams, Louisville and Glynn Brogdon , Clinch County, land measurement ; Nathan Napier, Ringgold, insect and disease comprehension ; and Wayne McCiockl in, Winder-Barrow, scaling stacked pulpwood. The Cl inch County FFA Chapter , directed by W. E. Tinsley, received an inscribed plaque and $100. The Oconee County Chapter, under Kenneth Bridges, received a plaque and $50. The first place winners in the individual events were awarded $20, second place, $10 and third place, $5. A ta rget shooting event wa s sponsored by the Sunland School Plans, Inc., a division of the Progressive Farmer Maga zine and judged by Richard Hatcher , regional safety officer, Game and Fish Division, Department of Natural Resources. The Echols County FFA Chapter was the winner . Lynn Hughes is the Vo-Ag advisor. R. E. "Pat" Patterson, vice president, Sunland School Plans , Inc ., presented the award. The awards were presented by Cliff C. Kimsey, Ill , second vice president, Trust Company of Georgia. The Clinch County FFA Chapter took top honors in the State FFA Field Day at High Falls State Park. There were 20 FFA Chapters competing in the statewide forestry competition. The Clinch County Chapter is headed by Billy Tinsley , rigf!t, front row. The team members are, 1-r, front row, Bryant Barnes, Bryant Johnson, James Bennett, Tony Blanks and Dennis Mixon. Back row, Glenn Brogdon, Rickey Johnson, Chip Peagler, Dwight Hill, Kenney Cox and Wade Stalvey. 13 LETTERS TOURS Please accept my most sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Weymon Huggins for his courteous, friendly and knowledgeable tour of the LaFayette, Georgia forestry area that he gave to the allied officers of the US Army Military Police School during their visit. The tour of the tree farm and his very professional explanation were extremely informative and interesting. This is based on the many favorable comments that the allied officers made on their return to Fort McClellan. This further impresses and shows our friends from all over the world why the United States is one of the best countries in the world . This is due to the friendship and hospitality of its people and to our scientific approaches in the area of farming . These officers will return home to tell their friends and families of the many things that they have seen in the United States. You have helped contribute to the fostering of international friendships that are so invaluable in the world today. C. D . Barry COL, MPC Assistant Commandant Fort McClellan, Alabama Thank you for inviting me along on the Forestry Commission tour. Ask me a question about a pine tree! I have been impressing friends and family--or maybe the right word is boring them to death!--with my new fund of knowledge concerning pines. It was a delightful two days. The job you all do in timber management and firefighting is terrific--tell the truth, now, didn't someone slip out during lunch in Reidsville and start that fire for us? Seriously, though, I learned so much about the many facets of the Forestry Commission and have come away from the tour with a whole new idea of what you are and what you do. I want to compliment you on the quality of your staff. Certainly, we all put our best foot forward for company, but your people are so cooperative, and so willing to take that extra step that makes the difference. Mary Stimmel Director of Public Service WAGA -TV Atlanta, Georgia Mr. Tommy McClendon at the Fayetteville Forestry Unit was good enough to take our Cub Scout Den on a tour. At the time, I didn't realize how much being with the group and listening to him helped. But a week later we had a bad brush fire in our neighborhood and I called the Forestry Unit as well as our Volun teer County Fire Department. They were there promptly and had the fire under control in no time at all. Mrs. Mary Harper Fayetteville, Georgia 14 FILM I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to Ollie Knott for the outstanding work he did on the film, "Water And Your Future". His enthusiasm, dedication, and conscientiousness has been a source of inspiration to me. These work-characteristics are so rare these days. Joseph C. Booth RC&D Project Coordinator Gainesville, Georgia RFD We appreciate the material and photos on your Rural Fire Defense Program that you sent Jack McElroy. We are glad to see that the Title X, Job Opportunities Program, is being used to further your Rural Fire Defense activities. Leon H. Anderson Director of Manpower and Youth Conservation Programs USDA, Forest Service Washington, D . C. FIP 1 would like to express our appreciation for the very fine hospitality and assistance that we received from the McRae District during our FIP trip. The friendliness of your District staff really made us feel at home. I hope your fire activity has decreased some since we left; Kenneth F. Jeffries Senior Staff Forester Division of Forest Resources Raleigh, North Carolina SUPPRESSION Recently I called the Thomas County Forestry Unit for help when my woods fire jumped a fire-lane and got completely out of control. In surprisingly short time your man drove up and quickly brought the fire under control, saving by seconds a complex of buildings. I am most grateful to you. Thurman T . Scott River Creek Plantation Thomasville, Georgia MANAGEMENT I want to thank Mr. Bruce Hawkins for his kindness, understanding and help in the matter concerning the trees on my property. Without his concentrated effort and hard work on this matter I don't know how things would have worked out. It is reassuring to know that we have such dedicated people that are still interested in preserving our natural environment instead of tearing it down. Helen H. Pace Powder Springs, Georgia Logging The - J. Francis Palmer PERSONNEL. ..J . FRANCIS PALMER, forester, Savannah, promoted to district forester, Atlanta District... L. GARLAND NELSON, district forester, Atlanta District, transferred to district forester, Macon District... DAVID L. WESTMORELAND, district forester, Macon District, promoted to assistant chief, Forest Administration, Macon Office. MEETINGS...YOUTH Workshop, Gordon Junior College, Barnesville, July 1823...GEORGIA Chapter, Society of American Foresters, Jekyll Island, Aug. 9-10. PROMOTIONS ...DR. JOHN C. BARBER, director, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, La ., has been named associate deputy chief of State and Private Forestry for the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C . He succeeds Einar L. Roget, recently appointed associate deputy chief for Programs and Legislation ... M. ED HOOKS has been named woodyard supervisor of Interstate Paper Corporation's kraft linerboard mill at Riceboro, Ga . Hooks, who has been associated with the paper industry si.nce 1949, joj ned Interstate as a power supervisor in 1967. l . Foresters ... David L. Westmoreland A Union Camp Corporation program of free seedling distribution reached 100 million this year with the donation of a mini-plantation to Chatham County. There were 13 live oaks, representing the original 13 colonies, and 50 pines, one for each state, planted at Lake Mayer. Participating in the festivities, part of the county's Bicentennial Week, are W. F. "Bill" Sims, chairman, Chatham County Bicentennial Tree Planting Committee; and Union Camp executives J. Greeley McGowin , II, C. R. "Dick" Mordecai and E. A. "AI" Davenport, Jr. Miss Therese Smith, Hesse Elementary School, planted the Georgia tree. L. Garland Nelson RETIREMENTS... BENJAMIN BAGBY, patrolman, Gwinnett County Forestry Unit, Oct. 21, 1953-Apr. 1, 1976... FRED W. CONNER, patrolman, Mont- gomery-Wheeler-Treutlen Forestry Unit, Jan. 15, 1957-Jan . 1, 1976.. .WILLIAM H. REDDICK, patrolman, Burke Coun- ty Forestry Unit, Dec. 1, 1951 -Mar. 1, 1976... RAYMOND WILSON, towerman , Emanuel County Forestry Unit, Nov. 1, 1968-May 1, 1976. Forest products utilization foresters from 13 southern states and U. S. Forest Service utilization specialists from the southeastern area went on a naval stores field trip while attending their workshop at Stone Mountain. Grady Williams, naval stores spe- cialist, Georgia Forestry Commission, gave the group a demonstration on hanging cups. 15 Georgia FOR ESTRV June, 1976 REWARD $5QQOO For Information Leading To The ARREST AND CONVICTION Of Anyone Wilfully Setting A FOREST FIRE IN GEORGIA. Contact GEORGIA. FORESTRY" .A.SSOCI.A.TION Carnegie Building Atlanta, Ga. Telephone 522-0951 Sub1 ect To Cond1t1o ns On F1l e In G. F.A. Off1ce SECOND-CLASS POST AGE PAID AT DRY BRANCH, GA.