"0 0 'i:: Q) 0.. DOCUMENTS UGA LIBRARIES --. . . . . --- - FORESTRY Sept. 1980 No. 3 Vol. 32 George Busbee Governor A. Ray Shrrl ey - Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS H. E. Willi a m s, ch a irman. Woodbme Felton Denney , Carro llton Eley C. Fr aze r, Ill, Albany Jim L. Gillis , Jr ., Soperton Robert Simpson , Ill , La kel and STAFF Fr a nk E. Cr aven, Edito r Ho wa rd E. Be nnett , Asso c iat e Editor Th o ma s B. Ha ll, Artr st DISTRICT OFFICES Coosa V al le y P. 0. Box Z. M t. Ber r y 301 49 No r th Geor >.>ublrshed quarterly by the Georg' F He~t rv Commrssron Rt. 1. Box 181. Dry Hrdnc'l, Ga. 31020: Second class postage oa1d at Rome. Ga Cruising The News FORESTRY FOR EVERYONE "Forestry Is For Everyone." That's the slogan for the 23rd annual Ware Forest Festival. The slogan is apropos. Forestry is the major industry here in Southeast Georgia and it has ;:m impact on everyone. Not only that but forestry, with all its many facets, is one of the world's crucial enterprises today. Not many countries are as blessed as ours in having an abundance of forestland. Trees are scarce in all too many places around the world. While there doubtless is still room for improvement, we have done a pretty good job in preserving our forest resources. Good management, including reforestation, has paid off. Unlike oil, forests are a renewable re!>ourct! and, if we are wise and prudent, our supplies will be adequate for future needs. The Waycross area is located in the heart of what is sometimes called Southeast Georgia's "Pine Empire." There are several major forestry industries in our community and area and a corps of for estry management specialists. Let it also be noted that our community serves as an exhibition center for the industry. The Southern Forest World, located at the Okefenokee Heritage Center, will serve as a showcase for forestry programs. This year's Forest Festival has been extended and enlarged to allow a wider range of programs and activities. Waycross-Ware County is happy to be the host for this outstanding celebration. (From the Waycross Journal-Herald) COMMISSION TAKES LEAD Y ou can't say the Georgia Forestry Commission in Bibb County can't see the forest for the trees. The conservation-minded commission has taken the lead in the area in setting up a gas-saving program. Half of the employees at the commission headquarters on Riggins Mill Road are taking advantage of a shuttle service using state-owned vans. Picked up at three church parking lots, the workers leave their cars and driving cares behind for a nominal monthly fee. Other organizations should see the light, too, and join the conservation effort. Downtown office workers could save additional money on ramp fees or street parking situations. There are other possibilities for park and ride arrangements, also. While many outlying areas may not need ail-day bus service, van service at morning and evening rush hours could solve the commuting problem without large, costly equipment. At other periods, the vans could become shopping specials. They would be particularly useful for the transport of the community's elderly from home to downtown and back. Or they could be timed to take senior citizens to an afternoon movie or social gathering. (From the Macon Telegraph) CONTENTS Drought Increases Fire Threat... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ . 3 Education and Information Chiefs Hold Macon Meet. .................. . 4 Decline Reported in Beetle Activity................................. . 5 Veteran Commission Personnel Retire............................... . 6 New Research Papers Published.................................... . 7 Good Progress Shown in Seedling Sales.............................. . 8 Secretary of Year Named......................................... . 10 Miss Spinks Named Forestry Queen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Energy Talks Highlight GFA Convention............................. . 13 Logging the Foresters, Letters..................................... . 14 Feature Page.................................................. . 15 ON THE COVER: Miss Yvonne Spinks of Columbus, a pretty high school senior who recently captured the "Miss Georgia Forestry" title, admires a picturesque gazebo at a riverside park in her home town. See story on Page 11. Dro~ghto Brings ) Gr_eater Threat . of Wildfire-s s autumn arrrves on the heel s of a long summer drought, the Forest Protection Department of the Forestry Commission is bracing for a po tentially dangerou s forest wi Idf ire situation . Jack Long, Analyst and Training Offi cer for the department, said forests are extremely dry and parched agricultural crops and other dried vegetation adjacent to woodlands have grea tly increased the fire risk. Long contrasted the long, humid summer to a winter and spring this year that brought excess ive rainfall, resulting in one of th e best March fire records in the hi story of the Commission. "However, due to the drought, we now have a real forest fire problem in the state," Long said. The a nalyst sa id "it will t ake a tre mendous amount of rain to giv e us moisture we now need in our forest s." He also pointed out that fire fighting eq uipment has been used more extensively than in past summers. He noted, howeve r, that despite th e interruptions, equipment statewide is in good shape fo r the fall and winter fir e season. In a recent report on the fire situation in Fiscal Year 1980, the d epa rtment announced that debris burning remained the major cause of wildfire for the fourth consecutive year. The report showed that debris burning ignited 2,465 forest fires that destroyed 9.477 acres. These figures, however, were almost 50 percr.nt less than those the previous year and Long attributed the drastic decrease to the extremely wet winter and spring. The re port showed that there we re 7,422 fire s during tl1e year which burn ed 29,114 acres, contrasted t o 14.455 fir es and 59,026 acres the previous year. Other causes and acreage burned were listed as lightning, 1, 140; m ac hine, 2,650; campfire, 187; smoking, 3,019; incendi ary, 10,776; and miscellaneous, 1,892. A Commission patrolman plows a firebreak between a parched corn field and a pine forest. Georgia Forestry/September 1980 . ,'.,_... "' - ... ',~ ' ~ " '. .: : . , :-,,: ~~:- ~- .. 4 . .''.,. :' " These men head the Information and Education Departments in state forestry agencies throughout the South. They are shown following the annual meeting of the Southern I&E Chiefs held recently in Macon, with the Georgia Forestry Commission as host. Front row, left to right, are Jim Culpepper, Louisiana; Ernest Haskins, Tennessee; Frank Craven, Georgia, Chairman; Jim Beck, Alabama; and Paul Willis, Florida. Back row, 1-r, are Bill Colvin, Mississippi; Townley Bergmann, Kentucky; John Haislett, Texas; Gil Green, North Carolina; Ed Rodger, Virginia; and Nelson Peach, South Carolina. NEW FORESTRY CALENDAR Dr. Hargreaves, who served with the to estate management, capital gains, deCommission in the late fifties and early pletion, and other tax matters . OF COURSES PUBLISHED sixties, began his association with the For further information, contact Dr. school as a student, earning his bachelors Leonard A. Hampton, University of Geor- degree in 1946 and a masters degree in gia Center for Continuing Education , The University of Georgia's Commit- 1947. He later received a masters degree Athens , GA 404-542-2236. tee for Continuing Education for Fores- in public administrat ion and a doctorate TOTAL TREE CHIPS MEETING ters has published a calendar of forestry in forest management from the University courses scheduled through June 1981. of Michigan. SCHEDU LE DFOR NOVEMBER The calendar contains course descrip- Dr. Hargreaves succeeds Dr. Allyn M. tions and other information which will Herrick as dean of the school. facilitate long range continuing education planning. Persons interested in the calendar are asked to send their request to Dr. Leonard Hampton, Room 121, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, University of Georgia 30602. TIMBERLAND TAX COURSE TO BE HELD AT CENTER If you are a forest land manager or any other professional who works with private, nonindustrial forest landowners A two-d ay meetin g concerning the opportunities and problems associated with total tree chips is schedu led for November 19-21 in Savannah . Discussions and papers will focus on harvesting, transporting, sto ring and processing of total tree chips. pertaining to tax planning, you need to The meeting is sponsored by th e HARGREAVES NAMED DEAN know about Timberland Tax Treatment : Southeastern Section of the Forest Pro- OF UGA FORESTRY SCHOOL A Workshop on Tax Planning and Its ducts Research Society and will be held Impact Upon Private Forest Landowners. at the Sheraton-Savannah Inn and Coun The workshop, to be held October 9- try Club. Dr. Leon A. Hargreaves, former Assistant Director of the Forestry Commission, was recently named Dean of the School of Forest Resources, University of Geor4 gia. 10, at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education in Athens, is designed to pro vide participants with a working knowledge of tax planning so they can better advise landowners in matters pertaining Write or call Douglas R. Ph illips, Fores try Sciences Lab, Carlton Street, Athens, Georgia 30602, or call (404) 546-2441 for further information . Georgia F orestry/ September 1980 PATROLMAN'S IDEA WILL SAVE ENERGY A Cook County forest patrolman's energy conservat ion suggest ion that wil l save the state hundreds of dollars annua lly has been accepted for immediate impleme ntation by the Georgia Forestry Com- mi ~sion. Julian Reeves, Personnel Officer for the Commission and Department Chairman of the Employees Suggestion Program, said Patrolman Richard Gibson of the Cook County Uni t, GFC, submitted a suggestion that cal ls for installation of a photo-electric switch to regulate security lighting. Commission officials said the switch, which was recently installed at the Cook County Forestry Unit, will save approximately $200 annually at that facility. The Commission maintains sim ilar units in 102 other coun ti es but a statewide savings could not be projected at this time, as electrical needs vary in the units. Gibson, a patrolman with the Cook County Unit for the past 15 years, was presented a Certificate of Appreciation signed by Governor George Busbee and a check for $20.00 from the Forestry Commission for his suggestion. The patrol man, a native of Kentucky who first came to Georgia as an Airman assigned to Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, said the idea came to him "in a flash" one day when he was considering ways to save electricity. Commission officials explained that security lights in and around for estry unit equipment sheds are currently turned on at the end of the working day to guard against vandalism and theft of gasoline and are turned off when personnel return 1 to work in the mornings. Gibson reasoned that many hours of unneeded lighting will be eliminated by use of the tiny device, which automatically turns the lights on at nightfall and off at daybreak. Reeves said the Forestry Commission has adopted the suggestion for "immediate implementation" and th e change is now being made throughout the state. Georgia Forestry/September 1980 CONSIDERABLE DECLINE SEEN IN BEETLE ACTIVITY Although Southern Pine Beetle activity has decreased considerably since the peak of the destructive outbreak in 1979, Forestry Commission entomologists contend that co unties now moderately infected could become epidemic this fall as a result of prolonged dry weather and extremely high temperatures. The latest statewide aerial and ground surve y by the Commission showed that 79 counties are experiencing infestation by the insect and ten of the counties are epidem ic. A total of 3,883 spots of infestation were observed. Counties in epidemic category were listed as Butts, Clarke, El bert, Hart, Jasper, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Putnam and Upson. In February, 44 counties were epidemic and by May the Iist had decreased to 14. Druid Preston, Chief of the Commission's Forest Management Department, said he cautiously predicts less statewide damage by the beetle this year than in 1979, but weather conditions could drastically change the outlook. Preston urged landowners to join the Forestry Commission in being extremely alert to any activity by the insect. Although another aerial and ground survey will be conducted in September, he said landowners should make frequent checks of their timber and report any activity sighted. He said a "Fell and Leave" pilot project in Greene and Taliaferro Counties a project in which beetle-killed trees were cut and left on the forest floor - has been completed. Small spots of infestation ranging from 10 to 50 trees were cut to halt the spread of the insects in the twocounty area. Although the beetle has been controlled as a result of the project, entomologists said they are closely monitoring the two counties in the event new infestation occurs. The department head said salvage of beetle-killed trees, as well as the clearing of 40-100 foot buffer strips of green trees around an infested spot, remains the best method of controlling the insect and he urged landowners to continue this practice. SUMMARY OF AERIAL SURVEY ---------SOUTHERN PINE BEETLE----------. No. Epidemic Counties.......................... . 10 Total No. Counti es Infested ..................... . 79 Total No. Spots............................... . 3,883 Volume Killed (Based on Aerial Estimates and Ground Checks) Red, Fad1.ng a nd Green Topped T rees Cords 14 953 Total Volume Ki.lled (Jan. 19 7 9 - Ju 1y 19801 ....... . . Cords 1,183,044 Total Volume Salvaged (Jan. 19 7 9 - J u Iy 1980 )..... . Cords 960,266 ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT Green Value!_/ of Total Volum e Kill ed (Jan. 1979 - July 1980)...................... . Salvaged Timbe~ }Jan. 1979 - July 1980) Green Value- .............. Salvage Value2-1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Net Loss.... .............................. . Un salvaged Tim blr (Based on July 1980 Aerial Survey) Green Value -1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . Salvage Value?./........................... Net Loss (Assuming 100 Percent Salvage) ........ . $27,730,543 $22,508,616 $1 0,498,904 512,009,712 $ 5,221,920 $ 2,435,704 $ 2,786,216 .!.1 Assumption: Green Stumpage Prices $17/Cd., $120/MBF. V Assumption: Salvage Stumpage Prices $10/Cd., $40/MBF. 5 {_') VL \ I i ' I FORESTERS END LONG CAREERS Top left: Jim Turner, Chief, Forest Protection, presents a plaque to Lester Lundy. At right, Director Ray Shirley congratulates Ollie Knott. Bottom left: John Harrison, center, is awarded a plaque by George Collier, Field Supervisor, as District Forester Don Griner looks on. At right, Crawford Bramlett, left, received a plaque from Collier while District Forester Frank Eadie and Management Forester Jerry Merritt look on. The end of long careers with the Forestry Commission came in July for three veteran foresters and a ranger as they retired from service. All were honored at dinners, par ties or receptions given by their co-workers and friends fqr the contributions they made to the Commission down through the years. Forester Ollie Knott served in the Education Department as chief photo grapher for the Commission. Forester John Harrison provided timber management services to landowners in the Wash ington District for 25 years and Forester Lester Lundy was Assistant Chief of the Forest Protection Department. Forest Ranger Crawford Bramlett was well respected by the many landowners he served for 30 years in Whitfield County. Knott, a native of Newnan, carne with the Commission in 1949 as ranger in Coweta County. He became Assistant District Forester the following year and in 1951 was transferred to Atlanta (then state headquarters) to become affiliated with the Education Department. The forester is a combat veteran of World War II. Harrison, a native of Wrightsville, served in the Commission 29 years, with most of his career devoted to forest management responsibilities in the Washington District. He is also a combat veteran of World War It and received three battle stars. Lundy, a native of Boston, Georgia, came with the Commission in 1949 as Assistant District Fo rester in Camilla and was awarded several rapid promotions. During most of his career, he served as Chief of General Services at Macon headquarters and Assistant Chief of Forest Protection. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. The three retired foresters are graduates of the School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia. Bramlett, a native of Ringgold, came with the Commission in 1950 as Assistant Ranger of the Whitfield County Unit. He was named Ranger of the unit later that same year. He received two Outstanding Performance Awards. \ J NEW RESEARCH OUTLINED IN REPORTS research paper entitled Annual Contribution of Timber, Wildlife, Water and Outdoor Recreation to Georgia's Economy has been published by the Research Department of the Georgia l:orestry Commission and four other reports a re at the printe rs. Th e ne w rese a rch paper is authored by Paul M. Butts, coordinator of the Forestry Commission' s Wood Utili za tion Program, and William A. Campbell, U. S. Forest Service (retired). The report points out that Georgia's population is e xpected to increase from its present fiv e million t o seven million by the year 2000 and wood production must more than double to meet the increased demand. The authors also stress the complex demands that forest and land managers will have in coping with the need for expanded forest related recreation. The other new resea rch papers soon to be distributed include : e Treatment and Utili zation of Wood Salvaged from Dutch Elm Diseased Trees, by C. W. Berisford, E. A. Brown, J. L. J.lanul a, K. Bailey and H. K. Cordell. Th e publication deals with past and present tests conducted in an effort to determine safe methods of utilizing or disposing of wood infected by the stubborn disease. Authors Ber isford, Brown and Hanula are members of the faculty of the University of Georgi a , Bail ey is Du tch Elm Disease Coordinator for th e Forestry Commission a nd Cordell is Proj ect Leader, Urban Forest ry Re sea rch, U. S. Forest Service, Ath ens . e Estimating Quantiti es of Windrow- ed Forest Residues - A Manageme nt Tool for Increased Biomass Util ization, by W. H. McNab, Silviculturist, U. S. Forest Service and J. R. Saucier, Forest Products Technologist, U. S. For est Ser vi ce. Th e purpose of the report is to describe a simple process developed for the landowner to evaluate his windrowed biomass. Study procedures and results are explained and several tables are included in the pub li cation. e Forest Investment by Non-Indus- tria l, Private Forest Landowners in Geor gia, by Gary E. Mullaney, Forest Economist, Westvaco Timberlands, and Vernon L. Robinson, Forest Economist, U.S. Forest Service, Athens. The report describes the non-industrial private forest landowner and some of his motivation, reveals implicit rates on return of his investment based on actual costs and price expectation s, and statistically tests for a relationship between the alternative rates of return and certain characteristics of the investors. e Industrial Wood Combustion Sys- tems, by William S. Bulpitt and Carol L. Aton, Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment Station, and J. Fred All e n, Wood Energy Specialist, Forestry Commission. Systems discussed include wood fired package boilers, suspension and cyclone burners, fluidized bed combustors, pyrolysis systems, gasification systems and field erected wood boilers. The publicacation is generously illustrated with drawings. These Dalton area children enjoy a visit with old Smokey during a recent ceremony in which tl1ey were awarded certificates for participating in the Smokey Bear Reading Club. There were 44 children in the club this year and Laurie Ellis took top honors for reading 27 books. The club is sponsored by the Dalton Regional Library, Dalton Junior Womans Club and the Georgia Forestry Commission. Geo rgia F o restry/September 1 980 \ \. ~~r.' * -~ fi'.' .,... ~.!:_ _;:;r/ ...... , ' ../"'""- ~ ;.. . --._ ~ ' _.......-'\ ..~ "";/ ' ~ t .., IT'S TIME TO SEASON WOOD FOR WINTER Although it's gettin g lat e, t he re is still time to cut and dry fi re wood b efor e th P. worst blasts of win ter co me s, accord ing to Druid Preston, Chief of the Commission's Forest Mana ge ment Dep a rtment . Preston ad vi sed newspaper readers that it usua ll y ta kes about six months to properly cure wood , but some species of hardwood a nd p ine will dry a little faster . He reco mm ended ricking the green wood so air ca n easily circulate through the st ack. Pre ston said pamphlets on cutting and storing firewood, a list of vendors who offe r wood for sale and instructions on insta lling wood stoves are available at all offices of the Commission . Conservatiowists Cite Georgia Cartoonist Noted Atlanta cartoonist Ed Dodd, creator of the "Mark Trail" comic strip, has been named recipient of the 1980 He a th Cooper Rigdon Conserv ation Writer Award by the Soil Conservation Society o f Amer ic a. Dodd w as cited for hi s longtime pe rsonal commitment to na tural resources conse rvation and fo r telling th e c o nse rvation story to millions of people throughout th e world through the "Mark Trail" comi c strip. DEATH CLAIMS RETIRED RANGER Forestry Commission personnel throughout the state were saddened to lea rn of the death of retired Forest Ra nger Abraham E. Eason o f Eva ns County o n Augu st 22. Mr. Eva ns, who was 73, ca me w ith the Co mmi ss ion as ra nge r o f the Evans Co unty Unit in th e sum mer of 1952 a nd re t ire d in 1972. A native o f Eva n s Cou n ty, he ilad worked as a surveyor , farme r and tax commissioner prior to his affili ation with the Commiss ion . Funeral services fo r the former ra nger . who live d nea r Cl a xton , wer e he ld at Eason Chape l. with bur ia l in th e family ce me tery . Sur vivo rs include his wife, the forme r M1ss Ma rgare t Callaway. 12 c hil dren. 3 0 gr a ndchildren and e ight great grancJc hildren. 8 \ T L..~ Com mil Experh 1...- . ~/ l /" ~ -- . Brisk Seedli Sales Superintendent Wavne Bellflower inspects trees at Arrowhead Seed Orchard, the source for planting superior seed in the nurseries. ~A----- n August progress report by the Reforestation Department showed a 38 percent increase in the number of tree seed- - - ling sales over orders received by this time last year . Jim Wynens, Chief of the department, said he is "well pleased with the response we have received from landowners this early in the season." He warned, however, that landowne rs who have not ordered should do so aS soon as possib le to be ass ured of seedlings for the forthcoming pl a nting season . The department head announced that some 86,000,000 see dlings will be pro duced in the Commission nurseries this ye ar . He sa id th e crop is a substantia l in crease over the pre vious year, when ~nany orders could not be filled due to the avail able supply_ n ,, :1ng Young seedlings show good growth as the Commission prepares for one of it's busiest shipping seasons. Wynens said, however, that the expanded production is not necessarily an assurance that all demands can be met. He said all orders placed through September will be processed for shipment at the appropriate time, but those received after October 1, 1980, will be placed on a "first come, first served" basis. The reforestation chief said landowners are being reminded of a new policy this year which allows buyers who purchase 1,000 or more trees on an order to defer payment until November 1st or pickup time, whichever comes first. In recent years, all orders had to be accompanied by payment. Wynens said the current crop of young seedlings in the state nurseries "look extremely good at this time of growth" and attributed the high quality of the plants to "our continuing tree improvement program that starts in the seed orchards." Of the 14 species offered by the Commission, Wynens said the greatest demand is for superior slash and superior loblolly pine. Seedling application forms may be ob tained, he said, from any Commission county office or district office or by writing to the Commission state headquarters at P. 0 . Box 819, Macon, Geor gia 31298. Forms are also available through the offices of county agents, Soil Conservation Service and the Agriculi:ural Conservation Program. SPECIES 1000 500 50 Superior Loblolly $12.50 $ 6.25 $3.00 Superior Sl ash 12.50 6.25 3.00 Slash-High Gum 12.50 6.25 3.00 Virginia Pine 12.50 6.25 3.00 Eastern White Pine 28.50 14.25 6.00 Catalpa 30.50 15.25 7.00 Dogwood 40.50 20.25 9.00 Lespedeza 20.50 10.25 5.00 Oak, Sawtooth 20.50 10.25 5.00 Oak, White 20.50 10.25 5.00 Red Cedar 30.50 15.25 7.00 Sweet gum 28.50 14.25 6.00 Sycamore 28.50 14.25 6.00 Yellow Po plar 38.50 19.25 8.00 9 Commission secretaries gather on the lawn at headquarters in Macon for a group photograph following the annual meeting. Department heads addressed the group and cl1anges in policies and procedures, as LtVe/1 as other matters, were discussed. Below: William Cash Harper, Assistant to the Director, presents a plaque and certificate to Nancy Pierce, wlw was named Secretary of the Year. ancy Pierce of the Washington District was named the Forestry Commission's Secretary of the Year at the annual secretaries meeting held recently in Macon. Miss Pierce, a native of Crawfordville, has served as secretary of the Commission's 13th District in Washington for the past 10 years. One of 18 district secretaries across the state, she was selected for the honor by the various department heads within the Forestry Commission. A spokesman for the department chiefs said Miss Pierce was selected for "the enthusiasm she brings to her job, the neatness and completeness of reports that are never late and her willingness to undertake new programs designed to provide better service to timberland owners and others in the Commission's Washington District which comprises 13 counties." The Secretary of the Year is clerk of Sandy Cross Baptist Church and her hobbies include china painting and read1ng. OF THE YEAR 10 Two Win Crowns At Convention pretty girl and mathematics is a rather uncommon combination, but that's what you will find wh en you have a conversation wi th the new Miss Georgi a Fores try. Yvonne Spinks, 16, of Columbus captul ed the titl e in competition w1th 31 other girl s from around th e stat e at the recent annual convention of the Georgia Fores try Association on Jekyll Isl a nd . Yvonn e is a senior this fall at the 900student Columbus High Sch.->ol and plans to enter Columbus College next year and later transfer to Agnes Scott. An A student in m ath in high school, she pi a ns to major in acco unting or computer sc ience . The pageant winner had a tight schedule of activities during the summer and arrived on the island just minutes before the girls were to make th e ir first public appea rance . She was attending a Junior Civitan training session near Denver, but with three airline flights and a trip by car from the Savannah airport, she made it in time to change her cloth es and join the other girls in the opening sess ion of the pageant. Yvonne models for one of the leading departme nt stores in Columbus, attends Morningside Baptist Church, likes blue grass music and baseball, enjoys disco dancing, reads modern fiction and biography and cares little for cooking. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Spinks and she has two sisters, Cheri and Mal a na, and a brother, Ke vin . In h e r rol e as Miss Geo rgia Forestry, Yvonne is representing th e Geor gi a Forestry Association, forest -related industri es and other forest inte rests by participating in parades, conventions and other spec ial e v e n t s. Seco nd place winn e r in the a nnual pageant w as Mi ss Leann e Kirkl a nd, 17, represe nting Mill e r County . Sh e is th e daughter of Mr . and Mrs. Gerald Kirkl a nd of Colquitt. Th e Mi ss Congeniality honor we nt to Miss Candi Fit zgera ld, daughte r o f Mr . and Mrs. Allen Fit zgerald o f Roc he ll e. Th e judges selected Miss Lisa Ann Oettme ie r, 17, daughter of Mr . and Mrs . W. M. Oettmeier, Jr., of Fargo , to serv e as Miss Gum Spirits o f Turp en tin e. (Continued Page 72) Yvonne Spinks, Miss Georgia Forestry, top, and Lisa Ann Oettmeier, Miss Gum Spirits of Turpentine. Geo r gia Forestry/September 1980 GFA AT JEKYLL ISLAND ENERGY NEEDS STRESSED A record attendance was reported at the 73rd annual convention of the Georgia Forestry Association at which Senator Herman E. Tal madge was featured speaker. The two-day convention on Jekyll Island also featured a pageant in which Miss Yvonne Spinks was named Miss Georgia Forestry and an awards ceremony in which seven persons with the Forestry Commission were honored for their achievements. Senator Talmadge, who was introduced by Commission Director Ray Shirley, told his audience that "it is time to stop talking and to get moving on alternative energy production ... and put wood energy out front where it belongs". He said his committee had developed data showing that wood biomass alone can produce 9.6 quadrillion BTUs of energy annually, 01 10 percent of the country's current ener- SENATOR TALMADGE WILLIAM J. BARTON gy consumption. The senator drew his greatest applause when he pointed out that "wood can produce S8 to $10 billion annually in energy sales, or about $20 bill ion in new economic activity ... lnstead of adding to the bloated riches of oil shieks, this money could provide new jobs, new timber markets, new manufacturing activity, and new energy to run America." Other speakers included Leonard Ledbetter, Department of Natural Re sources; Dr. AI Mont gomery, Georgia State University; and H. S. Mersereau, Georgia Pacific Corporation. Frank Craven, Chief o f the Forest ry Commission's Edu cation Department, was master of ceremonies for the Miss Georgi a Forestry Pageant. Bill Barton of Union Camp Corporation and president of the Georgia Forestry Association, presided at the convention. 12 LEA APPROVES PAY TO VICTIM'S FAMILY The Forestry Commission has been notified that the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration has approved a payment of $50,000 to the widow and three children of Forest Patrol man Richard Conyers Smith, who was killed December 31, 1979, while fighting a forPst fire near Dawson in Terrell County . Commission Director Ray Shirley was notified by William F. Powers, Director of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, that payment has been approved. Powers also expressed appreciation to Commission personnel who assembled requisite information during the claim process. In the le tter to Mr s. Ethel Christian Smith, Powers said th e Benefits Act recognizes the dedication and heroic services o f state and local public safety officers and fire fighters. "It is a grateful memorial to brave public servants like your husband who gave his life in the service o f his co mmunity," he sa id. POSTER RULES TOLD The National Council of State Garden Clubs has announced rules for the 1981 Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and State Foresters. Th e Forestry Commission is urging pa rticipation by Georgians in the contest that consists of five age groups . Mr s. John H. Todd of Cobb, Georgia, State Chairman of the contest, said divi sions range from kindergarten to senior citizens. For further information, contact Mrs. Todd at Box 185, Cobb, Georgia 31735. (Continued from Page 77) Miss Oettmeier, whose color portrait will adorn the new calendar of the Ameri can Turp ent ine Farmers Association, is a member of a forestry family. Her father is a graduat e forester, who was with St. Regis for some 15 years and now operates his own business. Mis s Gum Spirits will be a senior this fall at Clinch County High School. She is a member of the Beta Club, head majorette and also plays clarinet in the school band. The pretty brunette is a member of the Fargo United Methodist Church. Her hobbies include sewing and reading. Miss Oettmeier will enter the Universi ty of Georgia next year and plans to become a certified public accountant. Georgia Forestry/September 1~80 il t o n (Buddy) Hopkins, J r. has a fondnes s for t rees, It can be traced back to his boyhoo d days in the Fitzgeral d area wh en he du g y ou ng t rees from t he fo rest s an d t ranspla nte d t he m in his fath er's y ar d . It sho wed up again in later years when Ho pkins beca me a youn g far me r. "I heard t hat a la rge site had been planted and abo ut 5,000 to 6,000 seedlings we re left ove r," he ex pl ained , "a nd they were fr ee to anyone who wo uld take them." Ho pkins took the m. He plan t ed every one of the yo ung t rees by hand and he has bee n p lanting ever si nce. Th is summe r, inspecto rs t oured t he Ho pk ins fa rm and ca ref u lly note d the way he wi se ly manages h is forestl ands. It was agreed tha t he sh ou ld be rec ogn ized for his o utst anding work in pro moting good forestry and conservation and upon their recommend ati o n, Buddy Ho pkins was de cl ared " Georgia Tree Far mer ot the Year 1980". Th e award was prese nt ed at th e ann ua l convention of th e Georgia Forestry Associ ation by David Mitchell of St. Regi s Paper Company, Tree Far m Comm ittee Chairman. Today , t he popular Irwin County landowner own s 995 acres of well managed forestland on two farms. In remembering the hard work of planting by dibble in the beginning, Hopkins said, "we now have a tree planter, but it is not automatic .. .we still have to have a man back there." The evidence of productive manpower is seen all over the Hopkins farm near Osi erfield, the remnant of a once thrivin g railroad community on the old Seaboard FEATURE PAGE GEORGIA FORESTRY Coast Line. Some 200 acres are planted pine from 20 to 25 years old and 545 acres are of natural stands. The woodlands produce saw logs, pulpwood and pole timber. On another farm in neighboring Ben Hill County, Hopkins manages an additional 245 acres of multi-use forests. Tree farming for Hopkins is a year 'round job. When he is not thinning and carrying out other type harvesting, he is plowing firebreaks, cutting out beetle spots or removing old naval stores trees to reduce the fire hazard . He said he depends on the Forestry Commission's county unit to help him with many of these chores. He has planted Arizona Cypress for Christmas tree purposes and food strips for dove, quail and other game throughout the farm. Rows of trees were planted years ago as wind breakers around fish and irrigation ponds and along farm roads. Approximately 500 black walnut trees have been planted as an experimental project. In th inning , Hopk ins is careful to separate sawlogs from t ree length timber that he se nds t o a chipping mill in Fit zge rald . Some of th e mate ria l ends up at his small wood treatment plant on the farm . All fence posts and other timbers needed on the farm are treated in the plant. In the prevention of fire, Hopkins considers prescribed burning one of the best measures he can take . Vegetation grows fast in his rich soil and he burns 200 to 300 acres of forestland each year to keep ahead of the underbrush. The farm also contains more than 600 acres of row crops, which are managed by his son, Milton (Bubba) Hopkins, Ill, who lives nearby . The champion tree farmer and his wife, Mary , also have a daughter, Carol. Their three grandchildren - as well as any lucky visitor who would happen by find fascination in the unique farm home the Hopkins' have occupied in recent years. It's the old Osierfi e ld Depot, a structure built around the turn of the century. The building was moved from the rail site more than a mile away and with the help of his son, Hopkins made some interesting and attractive innovations on the former depot. Hopkins served on a destroyer in the U.S. Navy during World War II and learned to fly after returning to civilian life. He occasional ly flies over his property and checks the woodlands for beetle infestation. He once observed from the air that timber had been cut from his land in a remote area and was able to financially settle with the crew that had gone over the property line. The Tree Farmer of the Year is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where he received a degree in zoology and ecology . He also studied at Emory University under a one-year scholarship. Top : Tree Farmer Milton Hopkins ad- mires a giant oak on his farm. At left, Grandson Donnie stands beside a young pine to show the rapid growth the tree has made in just 3 % years. 13 logging Although I spoke to you IJ 1m Gryco, McDuffie-Warren Forestry Unit) on the t elephone a cou pie of days ago, I also wanted to thank you m writing for your splendid help with the fire at our home on Wrens Road a few weeks ago. Your prompt response, your knowledge o f . ,.-.~-..~ the foresters _ .. ~. ----:4J;~ .t,.~ ~~ ~ --~ ot-o . ~,. ~~ ~'"' i!" .:-.:~ .-'...- ----~ - -- .... r - -""- -- -.-- - - .., .,__ what to do, and your wil lingness to be helpful prevented what could have been extremely serious. Thank you for your special efforts and for returning to check the fi re later. Monroe Kimbrel Atlanta, Georgia T HO MAS " MIKE " McMULLAN , a native o f Monroe Co unt y a n d gr ad ua te o f Ma ry Persons High School in Forsy t h, has been named Fo rest Ranger of th e Bibb-Mon roe Cou nty Un it. The two cou nt ies co mbined operations August 1. Mc MU LLA N began I wou ld like to take this opportunitv to express my thanks to your two agents, Robert Jones and Sandra Taylor. Floyd County Forestry Unit, for the service they provided when I had a f ire on my property. It IS seldom one has the opportunity to deal with people that were as courteous and efficient as your two agents were. My purpose in writing i!> to express my appreciation for the service you provide and to commend you for the people you have in your organization. Steve Stutts Rome, Georgia his career with the Commission in 1971 and was named Ranger of the Monroe County Unit in 1978...0 R V IN BERGMAN, a nati ve of Co gsw ell, No rt h Dakota, who has worked with the Commission for the past six years as Patrolman in Peach County, has been named Ranger of the recently combined Crawford-Peach County Unit. He is a retired Air Force sergeant. .. FORESTER F RANK ROBERTSO N, who se rved as Assistant Director of the Geor gia Forest Research McMULLAN 'I I~ L ) BERGMA N In this belated note I wanted to write and Council for ei ght years, was recen tly nam- express my appreciation to you (Forester John Clarke) f or takmg time out of your busy schedule to come out to my house to check my t rees. Suff ice it to say, your remarks were most interesting and I still marvel at how much I ed Chairman-Elect of the Southeastern Section of the Forest Products Research Society. He has been w ith t he Osm ose Wood Preserving Company in Gr iffin since 1973 and is Director of Ad ve rt is ing ROBERTSON McELROY learned f rom you about the variety of trees I have in my yard. The Middle Georgia area is very fortunate to have someone of your calibre to serve in t h is capacity, f or it is evident you have been a fine and Marketing Services for his co m pa n y ... R IC HA R D R. SCOT T o f Au gust a, a senior majoring in ti m ber m a na ge m ent at th e School o f Forest Reso urces, University o f asset to t he Forestry Commission. Georgia, recen t ly received the O u t st an d - Charles A. Jay Macon, Georgia ing Senior Award. He w as a lso a reci pi e nt of a scholarship fro m Br unswic k Pulp a nd Paper Co m pany a nd se rve d as president The students and faculty of M.D. Collins High School appreciated your participation in of the UGA Fo restry Club ... WI LLIAM WOODYAR D, ranger o f Cowet a County our Career Awareness D ay. We felt that it was a stimulating and rewarding experience, and we thank you (Forester Louie Deaton, South Fulton Unit) for your part in making it~'). Career education is an i m po r tant par t of our cumculum, and we f eel t hat students need sin ce 1978, has been tra nsfe rre d to the Wh itf ield Cou n t y Uni t and p romoted to Senior Ranger. He joined th e Commission in 1970 as a pa trolman in th e Troup Co un ty Un it. .. ROBERT RHODE S, a na - RHODES to understand the relationship between school subjects and their future occupations. This helps make education more meaningful for our students. ti ve o f La ure ns County and a U.S . Army veteran who saw combat action in Viet Nam, has been na med Forest Ranger of Thank you again for sharing your knowledge the La urens Cou nt y Unit. He ha s se rved and information and for helpin g us educate our students about the world of work. the unit as patrolman for th e past six \ ;- yea rs.. . LYNN McELROY, a life time resi - d en t of Newnan and a patrolman in the Cowet a County Unit for the past six GRAHAM Jan Lynch and John V au gh n y ears, ha s been nam ed Ranger of that Laurens County Unit in 1974, has been 14 Collins High Counselors College Park, Geo rgia Unit...HARRY GRAHAM, who came named Assistant District Forester of the with the Commission as Ranger of the McRae District. II Georgia Fo restry/September 1980 Forestry Co mmission personnel presented Performance of Excellance Awards at the annual Ge orgia Forestry Association convention on Jekyll Island are, left to right, Forester Michael Young, Baldwin Seed Orchard; Accountant Joe Cowart, Macon office; Aircraft Pilot John Atchley, 16th District; Forester Winston West, 14th District; and Ranger Newell D. Lastinger, Colquitt County Unit. The awards were presented by the Georgia Forestry Association at the convention banquet. ~ OF AMERICAN FOREST '>i; Forestry/September 1980 Two Georqia fo resters were inducted - one posthu m ousl y- into the Georgia Foresters Hall o f Fame by The Georgia Chap ter, Society of American Foresters, at the recent annual mee ting at Un icoi State Park. In ducted were James F. Spiers of Statesboro, second from left, and Robert W. Cooper, whose widow, Ray, accepted the plaque. Young Rainer, right, chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee, made the presentation. Also participating in the ceremony was Vaughn Hofeldt, left, Chap ter chairman. This brings to 26 Foresters so honored since the inception of the program in 1968. 15 ~ ~~~-B-~:q:~71~ SEPTEMBER, 1980 SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT ROME , GEORG IA ._ WHY LEAVES CHANGE COLOR Most people suppose that Jack Fr ost is responsible for the color change, but he is not. Some of the leaves begin to turn before we have any frosts. In reality, however, change in colorrng is the result of chemical processes which take place in the tree as the season changes from summer to winter. All during the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the trees' growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its g1een color. This mag1c chemical absorbs from sunlight the energy that is used in transforming carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, such as sugars and starch. Along with the green pigment are yellow pigments-- the carotenoids -- wh1ch, for example, give the yellow color to a carrot. Most of the year these colors are masked by the great amount of green coloring. But in the fall, because of changes in the period of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process . The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellowish colors become visible a11d give the leaves part of their fall splendor . At the same time other chemical changes may occur and cause the formatiOn of additional pigments that vary from yellow to red to blue. These are the flavonoids. Some of them give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of leaves of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs. Others give the sugar maple Its b1 illiant orange. The autumn foliage of some trees shows only yellow colors, however, and some, like many oaks, are mostly brownish. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season. ' " _~-is .Secti:m ve rsity ~f Ge or gia tev:et rss, ~tG. a~.\. t 1 i b3r0a6.r0_i1e s ~ ~ " '\ (