Georgia Forestry June 1977 No . 2 Vol. 30 George Busbee - Governor A . Ray Shirley - Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS H. E. Will iams, Woodbine chai rman Felton Denny Carrollton Eley C. Frazer, II I Albany J im L. Gillis, Jr . Soperton Robe rt Simpson , II I Lakel and CONTENTS Harper Named "Assistant To The Director" .. ......... ... .. ..... ..... .. .. .. ....... ........... ....... ... . 3 New Tree Selections To Upgrade Genetics Program .... .... .... .. ..... .... ..... ...... ..... .. ... ... .4-5 Air Tanker Operations Upgraded ... ...... .. .. ..... .. .. .... ... .... .... .. .... .......... ... ....... ...... ..... ..... 6 Wildfire Occurrence and Acreage Losses lncrease ..... .......... ... ..... .. ... .... .. ..... ... ........ .... .7 Ice Storm Waste Becomes Needed Resource ...... ......... ..... ... .... .. ..... ... ...... ... .. ....... .. .. 8-9 Fo restry Faces and Places ...... ...... ... ... .... ........... .... .... ... ....... ..... .... .. ... ...... ... ...... .. ..10-11 County Queens Vie For Forestry T itle ....... ....... ... .... ... ........... .. .. ........ .... ... ......... .. ....12 Greenville Wins State FFA Field Day ... ....... .... .... .. ... .. ... ... ........ ................. ...... .... ... ..13 Logging The Foresters ... .... ................ .... ......... ... .. .. ......................... ...... .. .... .... .... .... ..15 STAFF Frank E. Craven - Editor Thomas R. Fontaine, Jr .- Assoc . Editor Thomas B. Hall - Art ist DISTRICT OFFICES GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION COOSA VALLEY DISTRICT P. 0 . Bo x Z, Mount Berry 30149 NORTH GEORGIA DISTRICT Route 5, Bo x 83, Canton 30114 ATLANTA DISTRICT 7 Hunter St. , S.W., Room 545, Atlanta 30334 CHATTAHOOCHEE FLINT P. 0 . Bo x 1080, Newnan 30263 MCINTOSH TRAIL Route 7. Box 455, Gr iff in 30223 LOWER CHATTAHOOCHEE DISTRICT 6250 Wa r m Spri ngs Road , Columbus 31904 MIDDLE FLINT D-ISTRICT P. 0 . Bo x 1369, Amer icus 31730 COASTAL PLAIN DISTRICT Rou te 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, Wash ington 30673 GEORGIA MOUNTAINS P. 0 . Box 29 3. Oakwood 30563 NORTHEAST GEORGIA DISTRICT 650 College Stat ion Road, A t hens 30601 HEART OF GEORGIA DISTR ICT P. 0 . Bo x 96 , Mc Rae 31055 MIDDLE GEORGIA DISTRICT Columbus Road , Route 8, Macon 31206 OCONEE DISTRICT P. 0 . Box 881 . Milledgeville 31061 Georgia Forestry is published quarter ly by the Georgia Forestry Commission , Bo x 819 , Ma con. Ga . 31202. The Georgia Forestry mail ing address is Rt . 1, Bo x 85 , Dry Branch , Ga . 31020. Second class postage paid at Dry Branch, Ga . Cruising The News Rural Fire Defense Already Is Proving Most Valuable Some 40 years ago f ire was one of th e most dreaded occurrences in rura l territo ry. T od ay , its ravages st ill pose a big economic problem, but strides are be i ng made t oward a un if ied , cooperat ive rural fire defense in Colquitt County and throughou t Georgia. Fo r many years t here appeared t o be little hope of ever achi evi ng a com mon def ense agai nst ru ral fire, whether it occurred as some wildfire in a field , w oodl and area or arou nd t he home. A lmost any bla ze soon threatened homes and ou t bui ld ings. Then came a development of the Georgia Forestry Departmen t , for est f i re protectio n units eq u ipped to combat wildfires and trucks and tracto r-type equ ipment f or f irebreaks. Too , t he personnel were trained on the more t echn ical aspects of f ighting t hese fi res w hich t hreatened o ur forests and property in t he vic inity . Eventu ally there ca me a networ k of paved rural road s, t wow ay radio communication , and more w ater-some from deep well s and a great deal from hund reds of farm ponds. In the past few years , Colquitt County has developed communi t y vo lun t eer f ire u nits t o supplement what once was the forest fire protection un it , standing al one outside t he corporate li mits of the townships. The Forestry Commission, in a report of 1976 accomplishments, has cit ed t he upgra d ing in Georgia of the f ire defense program. The results are rather amaz ing. The Comm ission , cooperating w ith the counties and commun ities , has helped establ ish 387 RFD departments in 142 counties. The volunteer personnel of those un its have suppressed 5,876 fires in rural Georgia, includ ing 3,142 f ires involving struct ures and eq uipment. The big pay-off, however, is in the value of property saved in 1976 by t hese rural fire def ense units- estimated at $26.5 million . This is exclusive of resource valu e saved on fo rest and brush f ires , where the first protection aga inst fire outside organ ized communi t ies began. The 1976 resu lt should spur counties to further development of a network of f ire u nits and eventual countywide defense aga inst one of the most dreaded and costly t hreats to the economy unplanned fire. (From the Moultrie Observer) William C. Harper, field supervisor, has been named "assistant to the director" of the Georgia Forestry Commission, announced Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director. Sh irley said Ha rper was named to the post because of his overall working knowledge of the Forestry Commis sion's programs, and the thoroughness and exce ll ence he has exemp lifi ed in carrying out his previous responsibilities. With the promotion of Harper, H. George Collier, Jr. , field supervisor, will coordinate the forestry programs in the northern part of the state. Th e southern section of the state will be under John W. Mixon, field supervisor, Sh irley added. Harper came with the Forestry Com mission in July 1950 as ranger of the Screven County Forestry Unit. He was promoted to district forester at Milledgeville in 1954. He was named district forester at Statesboro in 1955 and served in that capacity until 1970 when he was promoted to field supervisor at Macon. The native of Vernon, Al a. has a BS Degree in Forestry from the Uni versity of Georgia School of Forest Resources. He graduated in 1950. Harper was a Major in the U . S. Army. He served during World War II from 1942-45 and in the Korean conflict from 1951-53. The registered forester is a member of the Soc iety of American Foresters, Georgia Chapter, SAF , Ocmulgee Group, Georgia Ch apter, SAF , the Georgia Forestry A ssociation and the Un iversity of Georgia Alumni Society . He is a past president of the Sylvania L ions Club and a past member of the Jaycees in Statesboro. Harper and hi s wife, the former Do rothy Porter of T aylors Creek, have a daughter, Penny. The family is a member of the Mulberry Street Un ited Meth odist Church where Harper has served on the Adm inistrative Board . 3 The Georgia legislature has provided impetus to the Georgia Forestry Com- mission's genetics program . Through a supplemental appropriation of $22,632 and a 1978 appropriation of $48,301, we are stepping up our tree selection phase of the genetics program, announc- ed Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director . Through the new appropriations, two foresters will have the primary respon - sibility of the screening and final grad - ing of trees selected for the genetics program . They are Richard E. Jernigan and Larry W. Thompson. Shirley stated that in 1954, 411 trees were initially selected for the program out of the hundreds screened. This in - cluded 179 slash pine and 132 loblolly pine. He pointed out that all of the work up to this point has been based on 4 these trees. John Branan, left, seed orchard supervisor, works with Larry Thompson and Richard Jernigan, tree improvement foresters, on screening tree selections. Due to the testing and rouging of tree selections made 23-years ago, the genetic base has been narrowed . This resulted in a small collection of families . In order to develop high strains, Shirley added, other selections must be added to this collection to introduce desired traits . This will broaden the genetic foundation. The new orchards will contain the best of the older orchards in combination with the new selections. James C. Wynens, chief, Reforestation Division, said that any systematic program of obtaining a desired goal, by manipulating the inherited traits of plants or animals, requires that certain basic rules be followed . The first requirement in plant breeding is a large number of individual plants meeting predetermined qualifications . By a process of elimination, based on measurements and tests, the plants more closely meeting requirements are selected for use as parents. In any breeding program, a broad genetic base is desired in order to have a diversity in the program or to have a broad gene bank or pool , Wynens noted . He pointed out that our gene pool has narrowed since going into our second generation work. By adding new selections, we will increase our gene pool. This will give us a wider selection of characteristics to the offspring. We have set a goal of 2,000 slash pine and loblolly pine and 200 longleaf pine to begin the new orchards. Wynens emphasized that priority is being given disease resistance in trees as well as high growth rate and wood quality. More emphasis will be placed on geographic location of species, such as coastal and piedmont loblolly pine. Efforts will be made to select 1,000 trees of this type. In screen ing candidate trees for pre determined tra its, the foresters will obtain growth data and comparisons, physiological observations and certain ge netic traits. Hand-in-hand with the tree selections, will be the progeny testing of these trees. This will involve test plot outplanting in several locations through out the state . The foresters will collect various sar~1Pies, such as pollen, fruiting bodies and vegetat ive materials necessary for the tests. Periodic measurements, as to survival, growth and disea se resistance, will be made by the foresters . Crossbreeding in the seed orchards will also be involved. Cone collection from the new selections will be made. The foresters will survey and layout the progeny test sites and maintain them . Si nee 1964, the Georgia Forestry Commission has grown and shipped to Georgia landowners 243,651,763 genetically improved tree seedlings . These trees will grow 20 percent more wood volume per acre than the average tree. It is anticipated that the new tree selections will increase the growth rate by 30 percent. Genetic selections have al ready increased gum production by 50 percent more than the average tree. Larry Thompson, tree improvement for- ..... ester checks tree growth. ...... Richard Jernigan, tree improvement for- ester tags selected tree. 5 The Georgia Forestry Commission has upgraded its air tanker operations by obtaining three operational Bell "Huey" helicopters through the federal excess property program . In making the announcement, Ray Shirley, Forestry Commission director, said that four additional helicopters were obtained for spare parts. The helicopters replaced two A-26 aircraft which the Forestry Commission had operated since the Fall of 1972, Shirley added . He pointed out that the A-26's were turned back to the federal government because maintenance was prohibitive, and there were a limited number of bases in Georgia from which to operate. Shirley noted that each helicopter can carry a bucket with a 250 gallon capacity. This makes the aircraft an effective tool on initial attack where the fire is small . The water can either be dropped in one spot or be trailed over a wide area. The helicopters will also be used against fires not readily accessible to ground equipment such as swamps and mountain areas. The pilots will use water sources that are clear for operation. This includes being open , free of power lines, snags, livestock and deep enough to submerge the bucket. The nearer the water supply to the fire, the more effective the operation. It is estimated that excellent results can be obtained with a few minute time lapse between drops. The aircraft also provide an addi tional safety margin for ground crews who get trapped in a fire or are injured in fire fighting, Shirley emphasized. The he Iicopters are based in Macon . As fire danger dictates, the aircraft will be moved to the affected area . Fire occurrence and acreage loss, during February 1977, surpassed the record setting level of February 1976. There were 5,027 wildfires that burned 32,581 forest and open acres. This is 10.5 percent more fires and 50.3 percent more acreage burned than during the similar period in 1976. Debris burning, incendiarism and smoking ranked one, two and three as the major fire causes. There were 2,059 blazes caused by debris burning. They accounted for 11 ,454 acres being burned. The 1,636 incendiary fires burned the most acreage, 14,270 acres. Smoking caused fires, 474, burned 2,316 acres. There were only two Iightning caused fires. They burned 45 acres. The largest single fire occurred in Me Intosh County. It burned 348 acres. Other large wildfires throughout the state included Bartow County, 276 acres; Chattooga County, 262 acres; Polk County, 240 acres; and Laurens County, 190 acres. The Forestry Commission's Camilla, Midway and Rome Districts were the hardest hit. These three districts accounted for 35.4 percent of the fires and 52.6 percent of the acreage burned. Incendiarism was the major fire cause in the Midway and Rome Districts . In the Camilla District, debris burning was Wildfire Occurren and Acreage Lo the major fire cause. The greatest number of fires per day , 415, occurred on February 19. The greatest single day's loss, 3,467 acres, was on February 20. The most severe fire period during the month was February 19-26. During this period, more than 2,000 fires burned over 12,600 acres. For the first quarter of 1977, 7,797 wildfires have burned 43,191 forest and open acres. This represents an 8.3 percent reduction in the number of fires and a 12 .5 percent increase in the acreage loss for the corresponding period in 1976. Rural Fire Defense volunteer person nel assisted the Forestry Commi ssion in the suppression of 3,146 wildfires during the first quarter of 1977. In addition they worked 1,518 structural and equipment fires, saving approximately $15,456,628 in property . Tl-tere are 147 counties that have equipment under lease from the Georgia Forestry Commission . There are 537 pieces of equipment issued. This includes 239 fire knockers, 273 other type tankers, 21 pumpers and four crash trucks. During the high fire danger period, the Georgia Forestry Association, Ben C. Meadows, president, Atlanta, announced an award 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 . 7 An early Spring ice storm hit the northern piedmont area of Georgia, causing mode rate to extensive timber damage in 1971. Damage was most prominent in the Atlanta area . Throughout the Atlanta area, downed trees and broken limbs brought about a monumental cleanup job . The local landfill s, designed for garbage disposal, overnight became the recip ient of the area 's wood residue. For several years, Georgia Tech had been working with leaf composting, under the direction of David K. Walker, Jr., horticulturist, Grounds Department . The Institute's expansion had eliminated topsoil, caused compaction problems and increased the need for organic supplements. The ice storm of 1971 focused atten tion on a "new" source, chips. Having to contract their cleanup work, Walker had the Company to run the limbs through a chipper and dump them on a small lot on the Tech campus . This was a savings in time, labor and money to the Company as they did not have to make the trip to the landfill, 20-24 Ice Stor ability prevented washing on slopes. With this initial success, Walker's problem was supply . With the city faced with landfill problems and utility and tree service companies faced with the high lost time and cost of dumping in disposing of debris, the solution was Georgia Tech. At a joint meeting of city and county officials and local tree service company representatives Georgia Tech announced that they would provide a free place to dump wood chip material as long as the chips were given without charge. The only restriction was that each load must be mostly chips . No brush would be accepted. Presently, there are five companies making regular use of the Tech facility. Waste Becomes Ne ded Resource 2. Less expense in cost of operation (no dumping fee) . 3. Convenience. Georgia Tech's hardsurfaced dump site is open 24 hours a day. 4. Since the chips are given to a state agency, it is possible to consider them as a tax deduction. The program has been a windfall to Georgia Tech and the Georgia taxpayer. Walker estimates that in 1975 close to 5,000 cubic yards of wood chips were delivered to the Tech campus. He pro jects that in 1976 this figure will double. Yet, this is only about one-half the material needed annually, Walker added. We could easily make use of 25,000 cubic yards of chip material. Other real assets to Georgia Tech are : 1. Soil Conditioner - The chips have been successful where hard compacted clay soils are a problem. Aeration and soil drainage is vastly improved with its addition. 2. Slow Release Fertitizer - As the chips break down, the storage nutrients are leached into the soil. 3. Moisture Retention - When the wood chips were applied as a thick mulch, four to six inches, there was a marked increase in the availability of soil moisture to plants during drought periods. 4 . No Chlorotic Yellowing - In the past five years Walker has been working with the wood chips, he hasn't noted any signs of n itrogen tied up as long as the material was used as a mulch for the first year. Chips incor- porated into the soil when they are fresh will require supplemental n itrogen. The local municipality is also a benefactor in that more space is now available for non-recycleable garbage. As today's maintenance costs continue to spiral upward and budgets constantly grow smaller, the search for ways to cut expenses and make our operations more efficient is imperative . An ice storm provided unwanted ma terial for thousands of Atlantans. A Georgia Tech horticulturist saw the waste for what it could be and made a needed and acceptable resource out of it. m iles roundtrip, and pay a dumping fee . Walker used the chips to mulch sev - In July 1975, Walker was able to advise his purchasing departm~nt to not eral shrub beds, and first results were re-order pine straw, a mulch material immediate . The chips were clean ; the that had been costing about $5,000 per appearance was neat; and the chips did year. The free wood chips and leaves an excellent job of concealing small brought the total savings for the year to pieces of trash such as cigarette butts. $10,150. The program had taken hold. Other satisfying results became evi dent with time. The chips were more re sistant to fire than the leaf and straw To the tree contractors, the program has meant : 1. Less time away from the job to Georgia Tech Horticultrist David Walker checks decomposition of chip mulch. mulch, and had a much slower decom- dump their loads. This meant a great- position rate . Cross-campus paths were er volume of work accomplished re- 8 holding up better, and their interlocking sulting in greater profit. 9 ..... Dedication ceremonies marked the opening of the Georgia Forestry Commission's Tift County Forestry Unit's new headquarters. The headquarters is located on U.S. 41, north of the ABAC Exit of 1-75, on land donated by the University of Georgia . Participating in the ceremonies were, 1-r, Charles Kent, chairman, Tift County Commissioner; Ray Shirley, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, Macon; Henry Williams, chairman, Board of Commissioners, Georgia Forestry Com- Forestry Faces mission, Woodbine; and Walter Stephens, chairman, Tift County Forestry Board. The new headquarters replaces an old Air Force building located at the local airport . It had served as the Tift Forestry Office for a number of years. The Tift County commissioners provided the funds to build the new office. The building was constructed by Forestry Commission personnel . A new combination truck shed and shop was also built at the new site by the Forestry Commission. Dessie "Buck" Wynn is the Tift County forest ranger . ...... Because of the increasing pressures on the nation's forest resources, the profession of forestry in Georgia ap- pearing excellent, and the need to serve the agricultural interest of southeast Georgia, South Georgia College, Doug- las, offers a new course in its agriculture program, Forestry. 10 It brings the student interested in ag- riculture a basic understanding of forestry as it applies to agribusiness. "The forestry course is designed to combine classroom learning with practical field experience," notes Billy Tinsley, director of Agriculture, South Georgia College . "We offer the student class- room instruction, technical laboratory training and on-the-job work experience. Our course is not only designed for the vigorous educational leadership in the protection, development and use of forests and timber, watersheds, wildlife management and range lands, but also And P.laces for the environmental improvement and economic uti Iization of the forests as they apply to agriculture. Our course in forestry includes the early history of forestry, location of regions, identification of major timber producers, methods of cruising timber, treatments of forest lands, cutting systems, diseases, insects and naval stores . Environment, growth, utilization and management are treated from the stand point of theory and practice," he added . If you are interested in further information or registration, contact Billy Tinsley, South Georgia College, Douglas, Ga . 31533; or phone him at the college between the hours of 8:00 a.m . and 5 :00 p.m . at 912 -384-1100, extensions 291 or 292 . ......"Master Fire Planning", a 21 minute documentary, has been produce d by the Georgia Forestry Commiss ion. The film deals with the necessity for establishing countywide master fire plans . The countywide master fire plan is a positive guide directed toward coordinating county and community efforts in providing adequate countywide rural fire protec tion services in minimizing loss of life and property . For information on establishing a master fire plan for your county, contact your county forestry unit of the Georgia Forestry Commission . The Forestry Commission has personnel in each of its 18 districts available for master fire planning . ..... George Sanders, procurement and services officer, Georgia Forestry Com mission, Macon, has become a member of the advisory committee of the Diesel Mechanics Department, South Georgia Technical and Vocational School. Ellison L . Whitt, assistant director, of the school, said the committee is composed of persons, such as Sanders, who have been successful in their participation in the diesel mechanics field. Sanders ability and experience will assist us in conducting a more efficient training program in diesel mechanics, Whitt added . CLAY COUNTY .....There are 83,400 commercial fore st acres in Clay County. This represents 62.2 percent of the land area. Approximately 89 percent of the commercial fo rest acreage is privately owned . Industry -owned forest acreage comprises 8 .3 percent . The commercial forest acreage has a growing volume of 59 .5 million cubic feet . The annual cut is .9 million cubic feet, and the annual growth is 3.8 mil- lion cubic feet. There were 12,918 cords of round pulpwood produced in the county in 1975. The highest production, 52 ,728 cords, occurred in 1972. Since 1946, production has totaled 368,883 cords of round pulpwood. There are approximately six woodusing industries in Clay County employ- ing about 70 persons with an annual payroll of more than $430,000. The products produced by the industries in- clude pulpwood, chips and rough lum- ber. 11 County Queens Vie For Forestry Title Deborah Baker Miss Chattooga County Summerville, Ga. Pam Bellamy Miss Henry County Stockbridge, Ga. Tina Driggers Miss Ware County Waycross, Ga. Cindy Sivik Miss Richmond County Augusta, Ga. . ;fi2:, ~~~ -~.". ' .. . !,;> .. ' .. ,- } ~ : .... . 'f )X . Beth Stanfield Miss Treutlen County Soperton, Ga. Nancy Holley Miss Jefferson County Wrens, Ga. Penni Lynn Kolarik Miss Muscogee County Columbus, Ga. Rene Lochte Miss Toombs County Lyons, Ga. Lisa Stocks Miss Lee County Leesburg, Ga. Susan Ware Miss Lincoln County Lincolnton, Ga. Leslie Westway Miss Sumter County Americus, Ga. The 1977 annual meeting of the Herman Talmadge, William E. Towell, and Thomas Counties complete the list . Georgia Forestry Association will be executive vice president, American For- Joiner states that the state forestry held at Jekyll Island in the Aquarama, estry Association, Washington, D. C.; queen will receive a $500 scholarship to June 12-14. President Ben C. Meadows, and Jack Wolff, vice president, land and the college of her choice in Georgia . Ben Meadows Company, Atlanta, will timber, Weyerhaeuser Company, Taco- Both the queen and runnerup will re- preside . ma, Wash . ceive numerous gifts. Meadows said that a delegation, of Harold Joiner, executive director, During her reign, the Miss Georgia approximately 800 foresters and land GFA, Atlanta, said that the crowning of Forestry title holder will represent the owners, is expected . A Luau will kick Miss Georgia Forestry will be one of the forest industry at various functions off activities on June 12. The conven convention highlights. The contestants throughout the state. The Associa'tion tion's general session will be held on will be introduced at the Luau. The will coordinate her activities. June 13. Speakers will direct their re pageant and the crowning of the queen The 1976 Miss Georgia Forestry is marks to the convention's theme, "Tim will culminate the banquet festivities . Paula Clark of Folkston. ber's Time Table", Meadows added . The Approximately 27 counties will pre- Other business will include the elec- banquet will be held that evening. sent forestry queens for the coveted tion of officers and the presentation of The speakers are Representative Billy title, Joiner added. In addition to those awards. These will include the Perfor- L. Evans, Dr . J.B. Hilmon, director, pictured, the counties are Bryan, Cand- mance of Excellence Awards presented Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, ler, Charlton, Chatham and Columbia. to GeorQia Forestry Commission super- Asheville, N.C.; Lt. Col. Freeman G. Others are Emanuel, Fannin, Glynn, visory personnel representing their re- Cross, deputy district engineer, U.S. Liberty, Long and Lumpkin Counties. spective districts and counties. 12 Corps of Engineers, Savannah; Senator Macon, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Pickens The Greenville FFA Chapter is the winner of the statewide FFA Forestry Field Day . The Lanier County FFA Chapter placed second . The Field Day was held at High Falls State Park . Dr. Joe Edwards, deputy superinten dent of schools, State Department of Education, Atlanta, challenged the field day participants to put their talents, knowledge and demonstrated interest to work in years to come to serving their state and the ir fellowman through keeping our forests green, growing, expanding and producing to put payroll dollars in our pockets. This will assure that all The Greenville FFA Chapter took top honors in the State FFA Field Day at High Falls State Park. J. R. Cook, right, Vo-Ag teacher, is congratulated by E. Jenner Wood, consumer banking representative, Trust Company of Georgia, Atlanta. There were 19 FFA Chapters competing in the statewide forestry competition. The team members are, 1-r, front row, Eddie Cochran , Scotty Haynes, Ben Williamson and David Rowe. Back row, Randy Bryant, Wayne Cato, Ouinest Blount, AI Parks, Darrell McCoy, Doug Martin and Daniel Williams. of us, and those who follow us, can continue to breathe clean air, drink pure water and Iive 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 Nat ional 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 Bank of Savannah . Some 209 contestants, representing 19 chapters, participated in the field day . Schools represented were Catoosa County, Charlton County , Clay County , Dawson County, Dodge County, Doerun, Echols County, Gilmer County, Greenville, Lan ier County, Louisville , Oconee County, Oglethorpe County, Patterson, Sard is High, Stephens Coun ty, Turner County, Upson County and Worth County . First place winners in the various events were Herbie Dixon and Randall Dixon, Sard is, planting; David Rowe, Greenville, selective marking; George Brooks, Charlton County, pulpwood timber estimation; Albert Thames, Sar- dis, sawtimber volume estimation; AI Parks, Greenville, tree identification; Tony Wh ilden, Lanier County , ocular estimation ; and Ricky Morris, Oconee County , log scaling event. Others included Tommy Coleman, Doerun, land measurement; Kenneth Strickland, Echols County, insect and disease comprehension ; and Steve West, Gilmer County, scaling stacked pulp- wood. The Greenville FFA Chapter, direct- ed by J . R. Cook, received an inscr ibed plaque and $100. The Lanier County Chapter, under W. H. Keene , received a plaque and $50. The first place winners in the ind ividual events were awarded $20, second place , $10 and third pl ace, $5. A target shooting event was sponsor- ed by the Sunland School Pl ans, Inc ., a d ivision of the Progressive Far mer Maga - zi ne and judged by Rich ar d Hatcher, re- gional safety officer, Game and Fish Division, Department of Natural Re- sources. The winner was Echols County, Lynn Hughes, teacher. The awards were presented by E. Jenner Wood , Consumer Banking Re - presentative, Trust Company of Georgia, Atlanta. 13 LETTERS Pursuant to our conversation regarding "Tree Talk," this is to confirm that effective Satur- ASSISTANCE Fl RE SUPPRESSION We wish to express our sincere thanks for the prompt service your forces performed last Sunday, November 7, 1976 in response to our call for help regarding a brush fire near our no. 18 Tee. When the call was made, our information had the fire to be of a very dangerous nature and perhaps "out of control". As a result of finding only a minimal type problem, which had been partially extinguished by the time I arrived on the scene, we all were relieved, but also slightly embarrassed to have called your people. However, all concerned were glad that it turned out to be minor. day, September 11, the program will expand to 30-minutes and will be scheduled 7-7:30 a.m., following "Box 5 R.F.D." and preceding "4-H Hour." We at TV5 certainly appreciate the Forestry Commission's participation in our program schedule and in particular your efforts in behalf of the Commission in making this informative program possible. We look forward to having your expanded program in our new fall season. James H. Ferguson Program Director WAGA-TV 5 Atlanta, Georgia Please allow me to express to you my brother's and my appreciation of the very real help we received from Mr. Frank J. Pullen in the management of our timberland in Harris County, Georgia. My brother, C. A. Carmack, Sr., and I are novices in the ownership and management of tree farms. Mr. Pullen has shared his very considerable expertise with us and has helped us immeasurably in identifying trees for thinning and in planning long range for maximization of our forest. We have found him to be very diligent in carrying on his work. We also feel confident in accepting his judgment as we make decisions involving our land. As citizens of Georgia, we are proud to have a Robert J. Cochran professional of Mr. Pullen's calibre in the Project Manager Treasure Lake of Georgia Carrollton, Georgia This is to pass along both official and personal thanks for the help offered to us on rounding up material for the SAF movie, The service of the State. E. N. Carmack Decatur, Georgia am writing to thank you for the marvelous job that your men did on my car on yesterday afternoon. South's Amazing Forest. Your continued interest and guidance were important to us in getting to the final product, which apparently has met with enthusiasm by all who have seen PARADE At this time let me thank you for your participation in the WSB Television "International When the car started smoking, I tried to hail it. Salute to America" Parade. several people but they kept passing on. So I ventured to the fire department on Newton Road. But it was the Dougherty County Forestry Unit who met all the needs of my smoking car. Our special thanks go to Ollie Knott for providing excellent footage from his camera and his fabulous film library. It's a pleasure to work with a craftsman like him, and we hope he feels his efforts ended up in a good pro- Your outstanding and entertaining performance allowed the city of Atlanta to bestow a personal bicentennial contribution to our nation's heritage. Thanks a lot. Mrs. Janice L.H.W. Lilly Newton, Georgia duct. EDUCATION Stanford M. Adams, Director Office of Information USDA, Forest Service Atlanta, Georgia Our hats are off to you for braving the unpredictable weather! Despite the initial downpour (which always seems to signal the start of our parades!). the crowd estimate was 350,000. This, of course, does not include the WSB-TV viewing audience and the additional coverage from NBC. The Natural Resources Conservation Workshops held this summer at Tifton and Barnesville were most successful. A total of 310 boys and girls attended. bringing the total to 3162 in attendance since starting in 1962. We thank you for your help and excellent spirit of cooperation, and hope that this type of help can be continued during future years for this important educational program for BEAUTIFICATION This is to express my appreciation for Frank Craven's participation as a judge in the 1976 GEMC-GACDS Beautification Through Conservation Awards Program. I am sure that this activity required him to be away from his work and home and am thus doubly appreciative that he devoted this time to helping us. On behalf of the WSB Television Promotion Staff, thank you. Mrs. Carol Harman WSB-TV Atlanta, Georgia FIELD TRIP The 66 students that accompanied Dr. Walterscheidt and I on the Southern Field trip our Georgia youth. Sam G. Dunaway Workshop Director Winder, Georgia On behalf of the Southwide Forest Disease Workshop and myself, I would like to thank Louie Deaton for helping us put on a most interesting and informative workshop. I heard many good comments about the trip from a number of participants. I understand from Dennis Hopper that the judging went well and that all were accorded a most congenial welcome in each of the counties competing. Paul D. Schumacher President, GACDS Athens, Georgia Thanks for the pine seeds and pellets. The scouts are very proud of them and have were somewhat awed by what they saw and heard in Atlanta. They all wish to extend a hearty thank you to Steve Sandfort, forester. and his associates for a beyond-the-call-ofduty effort to communicate and demonstrate the scope of urban forestry problems and opportunities in the Southern United States. If one of your objectives was to interest our students in the field of urban forestry. you have succeeded. I know of at least two students who have chosen to concentrate their We appreciated his time and assistance in making our field trip and workshop one of the best ones we have ever had. plans for planting them. Our garden club appreciates your prompt reply and cooperation in this project. final year at M.S.U. in the area of urban forestry, principally as a result of what they saw and heard. Robert S. Manthy William R. Phelps Professor Plant Pathologist Mrs. Tim Ingram Michigan State University USDA, Forest Service Four Seasons Garden Club Department of Forestry 14 Atlanta, Ga. Edison, Ga. East Lansing, Michigan Logging The Foresters ..,. PERSONNEL. .. LARRY W. BURDEN, patrolman, promoted to ranger, Elbert County Forestry Un it.. .WILLIAM C. HARPER, field supervisor, promoted to "assistant to the director", Macon ... RICHARD JERNIGAN, project forester, McRae, transferred to Reforestation Division ...WILLIAM S. PARTRIDGE, JR., supervisor of supplies and property, promoted to maintenance shops supervisor , Macon .. .GEORGE SAN DERS, maintenance shops supervisor, transferred to procurement and services office, Administrative Division ... LARRY THOMPSON, forester, Admin istration Division, transferred to Reforestation Division . Service Awards 20 YEARS William F. Corley ... ..... ..Nurseryman Reidsville, Ga . Jan . 1957 H. G. Ellenberg......... .. ..Nurseryman Byron , Ga. Feb. 1957 Eddie E. Outl er............. Patrolman Wrightsville, Ga. Mar. 1957 James C. Scott ... .... ... .... Ranger Ringgold, Ga. Mar. 1957 25 YEARS William H. Muns ...... ...... Ranger Thomson , Ga . Jan. 1952 Ms. Erma 0 . Stewart.....Towerwoman Madison, Ga. Jan . 1952 30 YEARS El za Clifton .. .... .. .......... Ranger Millen, Ga. Feb. 1947 RETIREMENTS .. .DANIEL W. BAGLEY, towerman, Chattahoochee County Forestry Unit, Oct. 1955-Apr. 1977 .. . F. NATHANIEL EVERETT, assistant patrolman, Appling-Jeff Davis Forestry Unit, Oct. 1960-Mar. 1977...JAMES A. William S. Partridge Larry VII. Burden WILSON, patrolman, Bibb-Crawford Forestry Unit, Dec . 1957-Apr. 1977. DIRECTOR ...Dr. David M. Flinchum has been appointed director of Professional programs for the Society of American Foresters, announced H. R. Glascock, SAF executive vice president. Dr. Flinchum served for two summers as a research ass istant at the University of Georgia. From 1971-74 he was an assistant professor of forestry in the summer programs at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton . MEETINGS ...GEORGIA Forestry Asso ciation, Jekyll Island, June 12-14... GEORGIA Chapter, Society of American Foresters, Callaway Gardens, Aug. 2-4 .. ! SOl L Conservation Society of America, National Meeting, Richmond, Va ., Aug . 7-10... YOUTH Conservation Workshop , Barnesville, Aug. 14-19... APPOINTMENT ...JAMES A. "Jimmy" Lee has been appointed director of in formation for the Georgia Farm Bureau and its affiliate companies . Th e an nouncement was made by H. Emmett Reynolds, president, Georgia Farm Bu reau Federation . .. .. __ .,... . . I* . "'!.#. .... . ,. ,.. -' ~ -;.~ This is a sectional view of a Com-Ply stud, showing the particleboard core and veneer faces. The studs have been developed through the combined efforts of the U. S. For- est Service, HUD, Georgia Pacific Corp. and U.S. Plywood Corp. The two by four studs consist of a core of compressed fiber and solid wood facings. They may prove to be a major way to increase the supply of construction lumber. Photo by USFS. 1 5 Georgia FORESTRY June, 1977 NATURAL LITTER Fallen leaves, twigs, and limbs are natural litter. It protects the topsoil from beating rain and, thereby, diminishes erosion; reduces flooding by soaking up water like a sponge; helps protect young plants from freezing; and insulates soil against freezing too deeply. Natural litter also decays and becomes part of productive soil that supplies organic material and minerals to plants. * Boy Scouts of America SECOND-CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT DRY BRANCH, GA. Cll , ::j a$' , . . ~oo ....-10 Ul~ S-1 "' C1l ~ Q) ....-lro..C: ~:!~+> !::HI)