December, 98 Georgia FORESTRY USPS No. 217120 December, 1984 No. 4 Vol. 37 Joe Frank Harris- Governor John W. Mixon- Director BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Jim L. Gillis, Jr., Chairman, Soperton Felton Denney, Carrollton Eley C. Frazer, Ill, Albany Patricia B. Robinson, Atlanta Robert Simpson, Ill, Lakeland STAFF Howard E. Bennett, Editor WilliamS. Edwards, Associate Editor Thomas B. Hall, Artist DISTRICT OFFICES District One 3088 Martha Berry Hwy., NE Rome, GA 30161 District Two Route 11 , Box 37 Gainesville, GA 30501 District Three Route 4, Box 168A Athens, GA 30605 ' District Four P. 0. Box 1080 Newnan, GA 30264 District Five Highway 49 Milledgeville, GA 31061 District Six Route 2, Box 266 Washington, GA 30673 District Seven Route 1, Box 23A Americus, GA 31709 District Eight Route 3, Box 17 Tifton, GA 31794 District Nine Route 2, Box 722 Camilla, GA 31730 District Ten Route 2, Box 28 Statesboro, GA 30458 District Eleven Route 1, Box 46 Helena, GA 31037 District Twelve Route 6, Box 167 Waycross, GA 31501 Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission , Route 1, Box 85, Dry Branch, GA 31020. Second class postage paid at Macon , GA. 2/ Georgia Forestry/ December 1984 D oes a horde of deer hunters present a forest wildfire hazard when free to roam through thousands of acres of powder dry woodlands? "Not in Greene County," answers Forest Ranger Brion Williams. "In fact, "he said," they are a real asset." Ranger Williams should know. Greene County, with 82 percent of its 256,000 acres in forests, is said to be the state's number one deer hunting county. "I would say that 99 percent of the deer hunters who come to our county are very cooperative," Williams said. "If they pass by a campfire that is not completely out, they will take time to make sure it is out." To illustrate the cooperation his unit receives from hunters, the ranger said "on the opening days of the season this year, 400 deer were put in the freezers and that means a lot of hunters were in the woods.. .but we didn't have a single fire on that day." Williams said he visits many of the hunt camps at the beginning of the season to seek the cooperation of the hunters. "I tell them that I hope they bag the biggest deer in the woods and that they enjoy their stay in Greene County, but I ask that they help us protect our forests from fire." There is an estimated 200 hunt camps in the county and the ranger said he visits as many as possible during the season and has seen his appeal for caution pay off. "Deer hunting is big business in Greene County, "Williams said," and I've talked to visiting hunters from here in Georgia and practically every other Southeastern state. They give us complete cooperation. He said they put out fires , they report fires and they are "a real asset." Forest Ranger Brion Williams of the Commission 's Greene County Unit discusses fire safety with two hunters he met on the trail to a hunt camp. He has seen his counseling pay off as thousands of hunters throughout the county have demonstrated cooperation. COVER: The forests of Georgia provide much more than lumber, paper, fence posts and Christmas trees. The lowly pine cone, intricately made by nature, continues to be an ideal material for attractive Christmas wreaths. A tree lifter, which pulls seedlings from the seed bed and conveys them to a packing platform, moves across a field of young trees at the Commission's Morgan Nursery near Byron. It's a sure sign that another planting season has arrived. BUMPER TREE HARVEST NOW UNDERWAY Last call for seedlings. The Commission in November began harvesting the bumper crop of 136 million young trees in its four nurseries to fill orders that started coming in from landowners in early July. "Sales have been exceptionally good,'' said Johnny Branan, Chief of the Comsion's Reforestation Department, "and our inventory of some species is now exhausted." He said slash and Virginia pine are in "fairly good supply at the moment, but landowners who have not yet ordered should do so at once to be assured of trees for the current planting season." The crop this year is one of the largest ever grown in the state nurseries, and the recent completion of the new Shirley Nursery near Reidsville will facilitate ever higher production in the years to come, according to Branan. Georgians last year planted more than 370,400 acres in trees, a new annual record in reforestation, and the campaign to plant more trees on marginal and other unproductive lands continues this year. Committees are at work in almost every county in the state to urge landowners to cooperate in the campaign to keep the forestation and reforestation momentum that had been built in the initial drive in 1983. The Commission has been joined by other agencies, forest industries, farm organizations and other groups in the effort to convince Georgia landowners that growing trees can be profitable and to point out the excellent market conditions that exist in a state where 16 large pulp and paper mills consume a tremendous inventory of raw forest materials. Order forms for trees from the state nurseries are available at all Commission offices, the agency's headquarters in Ma con, or at any county agent, and Soi l Conservation or Agricultural Conservation Program offices. Dentist Makes Things Happen You might not expect a Riverdale dentist to purchase 400,000 tree seedlings from the Georgia Forestry Commission, but that's exactly what Dr. James S. Mclelland has done over the past eight years. This year he expects to plant another 50,000 Georgia Forestry seedlings. That's because Dr. Mclelland is a tree farmer as well as a dentist. He knows that growing trees can be a rewarding profession, too. Ever since he purchased his first 140 acres, Mclelland has been planting trees. He manages His land well - building fire lanes, doing prescribed burning, thinning trees, preparing sites, and always replanting harvested timber. Unlike those who "just wait" for their forest land to prosper, Mclelland believes, "If you don't do something with it, you're really missing a tremendous potential." He draws the analogy to investing savings in a regular passbook account rather than in high-yielding certificates. It has always been his practice to "put in the best growing trees and as many as possible." "I want to make something happen," he explains, and in forestry, unlike in real estate or other types of investments, "one can make something happen ." Purchasing and planting an average of 50,000 seedlings per year, McLelland has also used species other than pine, such as red cedar and bicolor lespedeza, to improve wildlife habitats on his forest land. For the dentist, his wife and three children, recreation is a major pleasure of the land, and he and his son enjoy hunting quail, turkey and deer. Mclelland believes that forest landowners who ignore their land are missing out. They can get more enjoyment, recreation and satisfaction from active tree farming. Dentist/tree farmer James Mclelland does. Georgia Forestry/December 1984/3 The Thompson Mills Forest, used by the University of Georgia's School of Forestry as a teaching and research facility, has received an additional 151- acre donation of land. Lenox T. Thornton of Roswell con- veyed the tract to university president Fred C. Davidson. Thornton donated the original tract in 1980 for use as an off-campus field laboratory and estab- lishment of arboretum of regional and national significance. The forest, com- prised of almost 700 acres in Jackson County, is named after Thompson's maternal forebearers. Dr. Claud Brown, university Alumni Foundation professor of forest resources, said one of the primary objectives of the forest management program is to have an arboretum containing all trees native to Georgia. Brown, who has played a vital role in establishing the forest, said 80 percent of the state's 214 native trees are already growing in the forest. "Insofar as we are aware," Brown said, "not a single arboretum in the Southeast currently possesses a complete collection of native trees." Brown said another high priority objective is the establishment of a pine- tum (a collection of pines and other conifers) for teaching and research purposes. He emphasized that having LABORATORY FORESTEXPANDED Tom Thornton , of Roswell, top photo, donor of the Thompson Mills Forest to the University of Georgia, examines old growth short/eaf pine. Included in the forest management program's development is an arboretum that will have all 214 species of Georgia's native trees. Thornton's recent donation added a 151-acre tract to the 700acre forest. Below, a black cherry tree is identified on the "Red Trail" of Thompson Mills Forest. More than 70 species of woody plants may be seen along the trail. many exotic or foreign pine species at this location for breeding experiments could lead to practical future use in Georgia. Pines from as far away as the Himalayas, China and the Soviet Union have already been planted in the forest. Of the 92 species of pines in the world, Brown said 65 species are already growing in the forest. "The pinetum provides researchers with an excellent opportunity to learn about genetic relationships and hybridization among pine species, "Brown explained. Although many pines growing in tropical and subtropical zones cannot survive frost or the occasional extreme cold in the Georgia Piedmont, researchers believe certain strains from higher tropical elevations can be successfully grown in Georgia. Research in the pinetum is expected to provide valuable information in this area. (Continued on Page 9) 4/Georgia Forestry/ December 1984 Forestry personnel operate the Commission's new wood shingle machine. The photo below is another angle, which shows the fhingles being stacked in a packing frame for bundling. THE RETURN OF.THE YELLOW PINE SHINGLE Settlers who built their cabins deep in the forests of Georgia had few roof problems. The hand hewn shingles they fashioned from resin-soaked heart pine seemed to last forever. Even in modern times, some homeowners have managed to use durable heart pine to roof their homes, but in later years as the great virgin forests began to disappear, shingle mills found that the required heart pine was no longer available in sufficient quantity. Now the Georgia Forestry Commission is attempting to bring back the pine shingle. This time, however, chemists will have to replace nature in providing the preservatives. The Commission recently purchased a modern shingle machine to demonstrate the manufacture of shingles from yellow pine and thus further promote the wider use of the species. If successful, the. na tive pine of Georgia could conceivably replace the red cedar of California as a desirable species for shingle production. Now that housing starts are showing an increase in Georgia and the South, and rustic architectural styles are popular among new homeowners, Commission officials feel that this is an opportune time to introduce the project. The equipment installed at the Forestry Center in Macon consists of a shingle machine and not a complete mill. Cants are produced and blocked into 18-inch lengths at another location and brought to the machine for the final manufactur- ing phase. The shingles are dipped to retard sur- face stains and then bundled and hauled to a preservative plant for pressure treat- ment. The Commission plans to roof all ~f its future buildings with the new wood shingles and re-roof some existing structures. There are also plans to experiment with yellow poplar, sweet gum and some other speties. Building contractors, materials manufacturers and others are invited to contact the Commission's Forest Reserch Department for further information. William Bartram's painting of the Franklinia Alatamaha is in the British Museum at London. GEORGIA'S MYSTERY TREE The Search Continues F or more than 15 years, Dr. John R. Bozeman (botanist) has been looking for a lost tree - the mysterious Franklinia Alatama ha. For a botanist, finding this tree would be similar to an ornithologist finding a nest of passenger pigeons. It's not a case of a life form having disappeared from the face of the earth; you can order a franklinia from practically any modern nursery that could not be distinguished from the one William Bartram discovered in 1765 on an expedition through Georgia. However, Bartram's discovery created a mystery that lingers on after 200 years. After Bartram's discovery, botanists recorded the presence of the tree until 1790. That was the last reliable sighting. Since then, botanists have scoured Georgia sand ridges, pine barrens and swamps in search of the tree; but not one franklinia has been found in its natural habitat. Dr. Bozeman, assistant chief of marshes and resources for the Georgi< Department of Natural Resources, said the small area of South Georgia where Bartram recorded his discovery is the only place in the world the franklinia has been found in its natural environment. WIDELY CULTIVATED "What this means," Dr. Bozeman said , "is that although the tree is widely distri- 6/Geor ia Forest / December 1984 buted in a cultivated state throughout the Southeastern United States, Southeast Asia and parts of Europe - all franklinia trees now in existence must be presumed to be descendants from cuttings of the cluster discovered by Bartram more than 200 years ago." Named for Benjamin Franklin, the franklinia is also called the "franklin tree" and the "lost camellia." Considering all the intensive searching, one might imagine the franklinia as a reclusive little plant secluding itself from throngs of eager botanists. Not so. It's a hardy, flowering tree that can reach 30 feet in height. A member of the camellia family, it's considered unusually beautiful. However , the franklinia's beauty presents a problem for seachers; it can be easily confused with the gordot=~ia (in bloom) or loblolly bay, unless the exact configuration of its fruit and blossoms are examined carefully. The large, snowwhite blossoms may appear as early as April and last until the first frost. However, the most significant distinction is that the franklinia loses its leaves in the fall; the gordonia is an evergreen. One thing is for certain; franklinia flowers in full bloom will not go unnoticed. James Audubon , who includes a picture of it in one of his bird books, describes it as "one of the most beautiful of our Southern flowers ." This striking beauty was probably what initially attracted Bartram's attention. Bartram's interest becomes more significant when his background is considered . He was America's first nativeborn, artist-naturalist. A resident of Philadelphia, he became financially secure enough to pursue his interests as a naturalist and made a botanical excursion through Georgia, Florida and Carolina. The purpose of this expedition was to collect objects of natural history (including botanical specimens) for a wealthy London patron . In Bartram's day, it was fashionable on British estates to have various plants from the "New World." In his book "Travels," Bartram describes his impression of the franklinia. "In the course of these excursions and researches, I had the opportunity of observing the new flowering shrub, resembling the Gordonia, in perfect bloom as well as bearing ripe fruit. It is a flowering tree of the first order of beauty and fragrance of blossoms." Bartram describes the franklinia in technical detail, then comments on the unusual nature of the tree: UNUSUAL NATURE "This very curious tree was first taken notice of about 10 or 12 years ago, at this place, when I attended my father (John Bartram) on a botanical excursion; (Continued on Page 74) Senator Trulock and District Forester Paul Bledsoe check the growth of young pines planted where "an unproductive hardwood stand once occupied the land. The Commision forester, with offices in Camilla, said the personnel in his district work closely with Senator Trulock and other landowners in the promotion of good forestry practices. The elimination of hardwood is one of the practices that is opening up more productive land in the rich pine belt of South Georgia. The helicopter made runs back and forth above the 85-acre forest tract in Decatur County, leaving a trail of chemical spray that spelled doom to oak, gum and other unwanted hardwoods that had long dominated the land. Today, vigorous young pines peep above the tangle of fallen hardwood. Another profitable forest is born. It is an example of modern forest management practices that employ knowledge, tools and chemicals that were not available a brief generation ago_ The tract is the property of State MODERN MANAGEMENT ELIMINATES HARDWOOD Senator Paul Trulock, who retains consultant forester Mayo Livingston to manage his 1,500 acres of pine lands. The senator, who is also engaged in a farm seed and supply business with offices in Whigham in Grady County, is one of many progressive landowners across the state who realize the true value of converting unproductive land into valuable forests. In another tract, hardwoods were killed by chemical injection and a third tract in his holdings was once a virtual swampland, but construction of a milelong drainage ~itch has changed the site index and transformed the property into one of the fastest growing pine stands in the area. Although the senator has some land in peanuts, soybeans and corn, he indicated that more and more of his acreage is going into forests as profits in row crop cultivation continue to dwindle. At left, Senator Trulock examines a fast growing pine that is just three years old. The tract is in a fertile, low lying area that was greatly improved by installation of a drainage ditch. At right, the landowner stands in a forest his father planted years ago - the type of forest he plans to develop on other lands as he continues the hardwood eradication program. During the past two years, the effect of acid rain on the Ameri can forest industry has become an increasingly controversial issue. However, in Georgia, there is no evidence that forests anywhere in the state have been damaged by acid rain. Although there is no evidence of damage, the Georgia Forestry Commission is monitoring the situation closely to protect the state's $6.6 billion forest industry (employing 74,000 workers) from any possible threat. The Georgia Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, the University of Georgia's School of Forest Resources and the U.S. Forest Service Southeastern Experiment Station have combined efforts through the Governor's Task Force on Acid Rain. The goal of the task force is to monitor and analyze the amount of ac id rain fallout and it's effects upon Georgia's environment. Commission Director John Mixon was recently appointed by Governor Joe Frank Harris to serve on the task force . Other members include Leonard Ledbetter, Commissioner of Natural Resources; Dr. Klaus Steinbeck, School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia; and John Hendee, U.S . Forest Service. The governor reflected his concern with the Acid Rain problem when he said, "Although there is no conclusive evidence to show that acid rain is impacting our forests, water quality, fish or aquatic organisms, it is important that Georgia take all possible steps to protect its natural economic resources." WHAT IS ACID RAIN? Acidity is measured on the pH scale which runs from 0 to 14, with a value of 7 being neutral. Substances having measurements above 7 are alkaline, while those below 7 are acidic. Unpolluted rainfall has an acidity ranging from 4.8 to 5.6 depending on the area, climate and other factors . PROBLEM IS NOT EVIDENT IN GEORGIA, BUT MONITORING IS UNDERWAY Acid rain results from the burning of fossil fuels. Sulfur dioxide and compounds from burning fuel rise into the atmosphere and fall back to earth in rain , snow or fog; this acid deposition may also fall back to earth in dry form. Sometimes, the acid deposition in its various forms is carried hundreds of miles by winds before it falls to earth. Three-fourths of the total acid falling on the eastern United States originates in sulfur emissions. Sources of emissions include electric utilities and heavy industries and automobiles. Georgia's power plants and large industries burn coal containing about two percent sulfur. Georgia's air quality regulations allow the burning of coal with up to three percent sulfur content; this compares favorably with many midwestern states allowed to burn coal having four to six percent. Georgia's plants are also newer than many of those in the Midwest and Northeast, with new and better controls. Many natural sources such as volcanoes, forest fires, lightning and the decomposition of plants and animals have always contributed acid to soils and water. On a global basis, natural sources add about the same amount of sulfur to the atmosphere as do human sources. However, in the industrial regions of North America and Europe, human sources account -for about 95 percent of the yearly sulfur input. UNEXPLAINED FOREST DAMAGE Although Europe has experienced extensive forest deterioration from unexplained causes, U.S. forests have shown a comparatively small amount of damage. However, the high elevation forests of New England is one area indicating some problems. This region has shown unusual 8/Georgia Forestry/December 1984 dieback of red spruce and Fraser fir during the last few years. The New England dieback, show similarities to diebacks in parts of Europe. Since both areas receive large amounts of acid deposition and other air pollution, possible connections are being investigated. Even more recently , the spruce-fir ecosystems of the southern Appalachian Mountains have revealed dieback and decline of vegetation similar to that found in the northeastern United States and Europe. The incidence of unexplained damage closest to Georgia has occurred on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, the highest peak in eastern America. A 1983 survey found the red spruce at higher altitudes to be in a state of decline. Defoliation, growth reduction and unsuccessful reproduction were observed. Trees at lower elevations on Mount Mitchell (below 6350 feet) were found to be healthy and vigorous. Authorities from North Carolina State University report that no single cause can explain the Mount Mitchell situation. Since there has been no drought in the area for 53 years, drought conditions cannot be a contributing factor. Reports from North Carolina State University emphasize that many various possibilities must be investigated before conclusions are reached. Possible causes include insects, disease , climatic factors , soil changes, stand dynamics, and it is also possible that a combinat ion of all or part of these factors is causing the damage. In Georgia, the Environmental Protection Division and the University of Georgia have conducted research on acid rain . According to the publication, Acid Rain The Georgia Situation, the most common pH level was 4 .5. Even though this measurement indicates acidity is increasing , no problems have been confirmed. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR GEORGIA These agencies are establishing five permanent stations for long term monitoring. There will be two in north Georgia, two in the piedmont and one in south Georgia. At each station, data on existing vegetation will be collected , precipitation and soil samples will be collected and analyzed, and near surface wells will be installed to monitor ground water. The major emphasis will be on monitoring changes of pH level in precipitation and soil and ground water. Government agencies, industry groups and others are aware of potential threats to the state's forests and are committed to continuing research of acid rain and related factors. Unquest ionably , more study will be helpful in resolving the uncertainties about the effects of acid rain on Georgia's environment. Director John Mixon of the Georgia Forestry Commission represented Governor Joe Frank Harris and the State of Georgia on a recent European Acid Rain Study Tour. The governor said Georgia, one of nine states selected by the National Governors Association to participate in the study , " is the nat ion's leader in the production of pulp and paper and is one of the top lumber-producing states...we must be sensitive to any possible adverse effects that could potentially result in decreased growth of our forests." Mixon and representatives of the other eight states were briefed in Washington by Adm inistrator Ruckershaus of the Environmental Protection Agency and several scient ists prior to their departure for London , where they met with British government, industry and environmental groups. They later visited Stuttgart, Germany, where the group toured the Black Forest and other study sites and research facilities. The tour was concluded in Brussels, Belguim, where they met w ith officials of the Commission of the European Communities (Common Market) and the European Parliament. Director Mixon said he is presenting a report on the tour to the governor . (Continued from Page 4) Those involved with development and management of the Thompson Mills Forest consider the ext reme divers ity of sites to be one of the most promising features ; this diversity offers opportunities for a variety of research p rojects. The highest knolls exceed 1,000 feet. These k no lis have large granite outcrops sloping down to flood pla ins and natural swamps on t he Mulberry River . "There are four dist inct soil types that present a wide diversity of hab itats for trees adapted to d ry , mo ist, or flooded env ironments," Brown said in describ ing the forest as " invaluable" to botanists and foresters. Approximately 10 acres of the forest is set aside for a memorial garden for Thornton's mother. Th is area will be known as the Eva Thompson Thornton Gardens. The memor ial gardens w ill be adjacent to the arboretum. FOOT TRAILS As part of the arboretum development, four foot trails are being establ ished to conform to the natural features of the land . Each trail is marked by color coded tree identification labels, and a list of woody species found along each tra il are identified in color coded listings. RED TRAIL The Red Trail begins at the top of a knoll extend ing through slopes of oaks, hickories and maples. It then turns downward through an old grove of shortl eaf pines to a small spring branch where rare shn,1bs and ferns grow. Fina lly, the trail returns to a lower edge of the garden whe re numerous species of large hardwoods th rive . Over 70 woody plant species can be seen along the Red Tra il. Leisure walking time is 30 minutes. YELLOW TRAIL The Yellow Trail begins at the lower section of the garden and leads downward to lower slopes and spri ng b ranches where a prolific array of bottomland hardwoods (beech, black tupelo, maple, birch , yellow poplar, northern red oaks) thrive in a beaut iful sett ing . The trail then turns up to granit ic out crops and a dry ridge covered by blackjack oaks, hickor ies and green ash. Lower plants (cacti, lichens, ferns and mosses) also cover these gran it ic soils. Finally , the trail slopes to a scenic end in an area of mineral springs. The Yellow Tra il includes over 75 species of woody plants. Walking time is 45 minutes. Georgia Forestry/ Decembe r 1984/9 25,000 Attend Pine Festival The 12th annual Million Pines Arts and Craft Festival was held in Soperton recently, and as promised in the promotional material for the event, it was "bigger and better" than ever! Officials reported that more than 25,000 persons passed through the gates during the two -day festival, which featured 209 booths offering everything from watercolor landscapes and homemade quilts to wooden toys and apple cider. There was also a salute to Smokey the Bear, who is celebrating his 40th birthday . Smokey was featured on a parade float entered by the Commission's Treutlen County Forestry Unit. A blacksmith was on hand to show off his skills and juice was sold at a mulepowered sugar cane gr inding mill. Herb Br idges, author and lecturer, showed his collection of Gone With the Wind memorabilia, said to be the largest collection of its kind in the world. Miss Georgia Forestry, Kathy Usry of Augusta, assisted Smokey in cutting his birthday cake and all children 12 and younger were invited to help eat the huge five -t iered cake . Special guest for the celebration was Artist Harry Rossoll, who was Smokey's artist until his retirement in 1971. He demonstrated his talents during both days of the festival. Mike Fuller, a Macon magician, and several gospel singing groups and clogging clubs were also on hand to entertain the thousands who crowded the festival grounds. New Directory Lists Consultant Foresters A new directory of registered consulting foresters in Georgia has been compiled by the Commission's Forest Management Department and is available free to interested persons. The directory lists 111 consultants, their mailing addresses, phone numbers, the areas of the state they serve and a code defining the various services they offer. The services include timber cruising, damage and trespass appraisals, forest litigation, forest management plans, resource investigations and economic studies, investment counseling, land acquisition, recreational land development, real estate brokerage, surveying, taxes, timber loans, timber marking, timber . sales environmental impact studies and vendor services, including prescribed burning, site preparation, timber stand improvement and tree planting. Some of the consultants also provide services such as kudzu control, herbicide distribution, Christmas tree advice, aerial surveys, wildlife management, shade tree appraisals and pesticide applications. The listing also denotes foresters who are members of the Society of American Foresters and the Association of Consulting Foresters. Registered land surveyors are also noted. For a copy of the directory, contact any Forestry Commission county unit or district office or write to: Forest Management Department, Georgia Fo restry Commission, Macon, Georgia 31298, or telephone (912)744-3241. Great throngs gathered from throughout Georgia and bordering states to attend one of the best organized forestry festivals in the state. 10/Georgia Forestry/December 1984 Forester Eley C. Frazer Ill, president of an Albany-based forestry service company, stands in a young planted stand of longleaf pine, a species which is becoming more of a common sight in the coastal plains of Georgia and the Southeast. Longleaf Revival Predicted The historic longleaf pine, most majestic and stately of all Southern pines, has been threatened with extinction as a major commercial tree but may be making a comeback in Georgia and the Southeast. Once the dominant species in the vast virgin forests of the Southeastern Coastal Plain, the longleaf pine may have covered million acres when the first settlers began pushing inland from the Atlantic Coast in the 16th and 17th centuries. Land clearing and logging reduced longleaf forests to less than 10 million acres today, according to the reliable estimates. But the long decline of the longleaf may be ending . Eley C. Frazer Ill, a well known Georgia Forester who heads F&W Forestry Services, Inc., of Albany, believes a renaissance may be in the making for the tall longleaf, which often grows to a height of an eight or nine story building. "Because it has a reputation of being difficult to plant, tending to delay in height growth for several years, and an infrequency of seed drops, the longleaf pine has been replaced on much of the acreage it originally occupied by Pines of other species," Frazer said. Longleaf would have done better than slash and loblolly on some sites, he said. Frazer, who is a board member of the Georgia Forestry Commission and board chairman of the Georgia Forestry Association, offers the following advice to landowners considering planting longleaf pine: 1. Determine in consultation with a knowledgeable forester or the U.S. Soil Conservation Service if the site is adaptable to longleaf. Longleaf grows on a wide variety of soils especially the soils that are more droughty . It is well adapted to the courser sands of some Southern sites because it puts down a tap root that reaches deeper into the earth for moisture and food. 2. Properly prepare the site in such a way that vegetative competition will be virtually eliminated during the first and second year after planting of the seedling. 3. Planting must be done carefully with a mechanical tree planter so that the bud of the longleaf seedling is placed at the ground line which will generally be below the berm. (The berm is the mound of dirt left by the planter packing wheels.) 4. Care must be taken to see that the roots are carefully inserted into the soil. This will require that the planter be run at a slower speed than when planting loblolly or slash. 5. If seedlings are to be planted during the coming 1984-85 season, orders should be placed promptly with the Georgia Forestry Commission. Supplies are limited and orders are filled on a first-come, first serve basis. For further information contact local Georgia Forestry Commission offices or state headquarters at Macon. Guidelines for Managing Pine Bark Beetles in Georgia - A handy, loose leaf hardcover manual that provides guidelines for predicting, evaluating and preventing bark beetle outbreaks. Authored by Terry Price, Georgia Forestry Commission entomologist, C. Karpinski, Jr., forester, Clemson University; R. L. Heddon, Professor of Forest Entomology, Clemson; and R. P. Belanger, Principal Silviculturist, U. S. Forest Service. A limited number of copies are available to resource managers interested in the management of bark beetles. Management of Southern Pine Forests for Cattle Production - This publication by the U.S. Forest Service points out that use of forests in the South for grazing has changed drastically in the past 30 years, but some grazing continues to exist. Tells how to combine cattle and timber production and achieve other multiple-use goals on certain lands. Query U. S. Forest Service, Southern Region, for cost. Publication is General Report R8-GR4. How to Make a Dibble - Materials list, dimensions and instructions for making a dibble, a simple tool used in manually planting tree seedlings. Leaflet also illustrates proper planting procedures. Free. Send request to Forest Education Department, Georgia Forestry Commission, P. 0 . Box 819, Macon, Georgia 31298-4599. Georgia Forestry Commission Opportunities - Pamphlets on requirements, duties, training of tower operators and forest patrolmen and patrolwomen. When vacancies exist, positions open to all qualifying persons, regardless of sex, color, national origin. Free. Send request to Forest Education Department, Georgia Forestry Commission, P. 0. Box 819, Macon, Georgia 31298-4599. Georgia Forestry/December 1984/11 T he Georgia Forestry Commission has entered into agreement with the Georgia Department of Defense for use of the Army Guard CH54 helicopter in case of emergency forest fire situations requiring massive water drops. The CH54 helicopter has two 4500 horse power jet engines providing it with the tremendous capability of lifting a 2,000 gallon water bucket. Commonly called "sky crane," the heavy duty army helicopter is especially designed for hauling cargo . Although the Georgia Forestry Commission has three conventional helicopters for suppressing forest fires, they seem small by comparison. The Commission's helicopters are equipped with 250 gallon water buckets, which are considered highly effective in combating forest fires. However, seeing the need to protect Georgia's $6.6 billion forest industry in emergency situations, Commission authorities obtained the services of the special helicopter through an agreement with the Georgia National Guard . According to guidelines established in the agreement, the Commission notifies the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) in an emergency situation; GEMA then contacts the Department of Defense and the CH54 helicopter is dispatched immediately to any requ ired area of the state . Commission authorities coordinating this special project state that several possible situations could create a need to use the CH54 in addition to their own aircraft. However, the most likely possible causes are multiple fires or a single fire increasing to a size that threatens potential disaster. The CH54 is stationed at the 1160th TC Army National Guard Unit, Hunter Air Force Base in Savannah, Georgia. The effectiveness of the craft was recently demonstrated for all parties involved in the project. Demonstrations were conducted at Fort Stewart (Hinesville , GA) where Army personnel set controlled fires which the CH54 rapidly extinguished. Operating procedure for the CH54 in a fire suppression situation is usually to drop the 2 ,000 gallon water load at 200 feet or less; this altitude provides the optimum water dispersal without evaporation. The bucket can be adjusted to regulate the amount of water released. Depending on speed of the CH54 and adjustment of the water release, the 2,000 gallons of water can be effectively spread over an area covering from one-fourth to one-half mile . As observers of the demonstration noted, when a water drop is made from the CH54 at the head of a fire (part of the fire that is spreading with the wind and generally doing the most damage), the extinguishing power appears incredible. The CH54 is a highly sophisticated aircraft, requiring a minimum crew of three: pilot, copilot, and crew chief. Commission authorities emphasize that in emergency situations, the CH54 could be one of Georgia's most valuable means of protecting the state's vast forest resource . Photos: Army explains function of the big helicopter to Commission personnel. Aircraft is ready for takeoff with big water container attached to towing cables. After water is scooped up from a nearby source, copter makes the delivery over burning forest. Slime Aux Seen On Georgia Oaks If you prize the stately oaks and elms on your lawn or other property, now is the time to make a close inspect ion of your trees . Slime flux, a disease caused from bacterial infections, has been observed on those two species in severa l sections of the state. Terry Price, Commission entomo log ist, said the disease , which is seldom fatal, indicates that the tree is in need of atte ntion. Periodic prunings and fertil izatio n are the best control practices, Price pointed out. He cited spring, early summer and fall as periods of the year when the infection is most noticeable . Sap may be seen d ripping from cracks and crevices in the bark. It is especially prevalent following periods of consistent rainfall. The entomologist emphasized that a "V" crotch or old wound is the loca- Harold Pace, of Cordele, and a helper have loaded 350 bales of pine straw for delivery to a new housing development project in Powder Springs. Pace is one of many straw dealers who carry out a small operation with limited personnel and equipment. tion emitting the foul smelling sap. The liquid attracts numerous species of insects such as yellow jackets, flies, fun gus gnats and beetles , bees, ants, moths and earwigs. Straw Harvest: Profit Or Loss Price added that trees infected with slime flux "may not ooze sap every Is it profitable to harvest and sell pine straw from your forest tract? That is a question many landowners are asking as they see an increased number of trucks and trailers headed for the market with bales of straw pi led high. "Yes, it can be profitable," said Druid Preston, Chief of Forest Management, Georgia Forestry Commission, "but only under certain conditions." He said "the answer is no" if the removal of this cover from the forest floor is going to deprive the trees of needed moisture. est floor is robbed of this litter, the tree growth rate declines . In times of severe drought, he said, the removal of the mat of straw can be crucial. Preston said in natural stands there is some danger of raking equipment, "skinning the trees, thus leaving them open to insects and diseases." It was also pointed out that harvesting straw in natural stands would call for more manual labor and "that might make the operation too labor intensive to be profitable." Landowners who need help in making a decision concerning sale of straw from year." Usually , a tree will flux heavily for one or two seasons and then slow down considerably, he said. However, once fluxing begins, it may continue intermittently throughout the life of the tree. The sap is toxic to the bark, grass and shrubs. To combat this effect, drain pipes can be installed to lower the internal pressure caused by the gases that are produced by the bacteria. The pipes enable the homeowner to drain the excess fluid away from the tree trunk into a catch basin. Although the widespread sale of straw their property are urged to contact the For further information on the slime has just started in recent years, Preston nearest Commission district office and flux disease, contact your local Georgia said the practice is not new. "I remem- have a forester take a look at their stand, Forestry Commission office. ber seeing straw marketed in the early Preston said. 1940's," he said, "and back then it was primarily longleaf pine, but over the years that species has given way to slash Young Forester Award Given and loblolly as dominant trees in our forests." Preston contended that straw can be added to the long list of profitable products from the forests, and at the same time rid the tract from a buildup of fuel that would feed a potential wildfire, if the soil texture and site would not require excessive moisture. Straw harvesting is relatively easy, he said, in pine plantations where trees are planted in rows with plenty of room for rakes to move between the trees. In pointing out the disadvantages, the management chief said trees growing on sandy and certain other light soils need retention of moisture and when the for- Michael R. Risher, a 16-year-old Clarke County high school senior, has won the second annual F & W Young Forester of the Year Award for outstand- (J Have regular medical check-ups. ing achievement in Georgia 4-H Club forestry activities. Risher was selected by a panel of judges from the University of Georgia Cooperat ive Extension Service, which directs 4-H activities in the state. The award carries a $500 college scholarship. Eley C. Frazer, Ill, president of Albany-based F & W Forestry Services, Inc., which established the award and scholarship, presented Risher with a plaque commemorating the award. Risher was also selected the winner of the statewide 4-H forestry competition and represented Georgia at the national 4-H Congress at Chicago in November. Georgia Forestry/ December 1984/ 13 Forest Landowners Seminar Planned Forest landowners in the Atlanta area can find out how to make their forest lands profitable at a seminar in Atlanta February 16 at the GeorgiaPacific Building. The Southeastern Forest Landowner Seminar is designed for Atlanta area absentee landowners by the Georgia Extension Service forest resources department. Speakers from the Extension Services of five states, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the University of Georgia, Wagner Southern Forest Invest ments, Inc., U.S. Forest Service and other organizations will offer speeches and panel discussions. The morning session will cover longterm trends, tax advantages and rates of return, selection of property and financial and technical assistance. In the afternoon, speakers will explain the basics of forest management, regeneration alternatives, integrating timber and wildlife, tips on selling timber and timber taxes. The seminar will begin with regis tration at 9 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. It is sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Services of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee, state forestry organizations in those states, the Georgia-Pacific Cooperation, the Georgia Forestry Association, Forest Farmer, Georgia Association of Consulting Foresters and the Southern Forest Institute. For futher information, contact your county Extension office or Gae Broadwater, Conference Coordinator, Rural Development Center, P.O. Box 1209. Tifton, GA 31793 or call her at (912) 386-3416. Former Richmond Ranger Deceased Retired Forest Ranger T. M. Strickland of Richmond County passed away November 18 following a lengthy illness and services were held at Fleming Baptist Church in Augusta. Sympathy is extended to Mrs. Strickland and other survivors. Strickland is remembered as one of the most innovative forest ran gers in the state during his long career. He initiated many programs to help promote forestry in the Augusta area and continued to work with the current Richmond County ranger, Harold Smith, on various projects long after his retirement. 1 A/~ .............. : ... c ..... ...,. ....... Jnn ....o ...... h.a.r 10RLL (Continued from Page 6) but, it being late of autumn, we could form no opinion to what class or tribe it belonged." "We never saw it grow any other place, nor have I ever seen it growing wild, in all my travels, from Pennsylvania to Point Coupe, on the banks of the Mississippi, which must be allowed a very singular and unaccountable circumstance; at this place, there are two or three acres of ground where it grows plentifully." Later in his notebooks, Bartram point ed out something that compounds the mystery: "And what is very singular, it is so hardy as to stand in an often exposed situation, in the Garden of Pennsylvania without suffering least injury from our most severe frosts, when very few plants from that country will do in our greenhouses." Today, Bozeman echoes Bartram's views, emphasizing that the hardy franklinia could have survived numerous plant ing and logging operations by continuing to sprout from the roots. So, if the tree is such a hardy specimen, why has it been found in its natural environment in only one tiny cluster occupying a few acres? ONE THEORY Nobody knows for sure, but one inter esting theory is offered by Gayther L. Plummer, professor of botany at the Uni versity of Georgia. In his published writ ing titled "Franklinia Alatamaha Bartram Ex Marshall: The Lost Gordonia (Theaceae) ," Plummer suggests that the franklinia was introduced from Asia as part of the tea trade. Although there is no proof of this, Plummer makes a good case for his theory. Dr. Bozeman, who has a Ph.D. and master's degree in botany, from the University of North Carolina, first became interested in the franklinia while in graduate school. "I saw a newspaper article, got a map, and started doing research," he said. The map Bozeman obtained years ago is narrowed to a six-square mile section near Fort Barrington on the Altamaha River. This is the exact location where Bartram discovered the cluster of franklinia trees. 15-YEAR SEARCH This six-mile square area has become a major part of the lives of Bozeman and Dr. George Rogers, a historical geographer and amateur botanist from Statesboro. Rogers has shared Bozeman's interest and search efforts for the past 15 years. However, they are not alone. Finding the franklinia in its native habitat seems to have become one of botany's most desired quests. The interest is so intense that the possibility of some- one attempting to fake a discovery cannot be ignored. Bozeman and Rogers agree that a fake is possible, but very unlikely. "It's not just a matter of finding one tree," Bozeman said. "There would have to be an actual colony of them with appropriate age distribution. This would not be simple to fake." He added there are also numerous other aspects of authenti city that would have to be established. Another question that cannot be avoided is what is so important about finding this tree? Bozeman answers this first from a scientific viewpoint: He explains the franklinia in its natural habitat could reveal valuable, strengthening characteristics that a cultivated tree would not show; because the more inbred a creation of nature becomes, the more dependent on man it becomes. EVERY SPECIES VALUABLE Approaching the question from the standpoint of basic values, Bozeman's answer is different. "We want to find the franklinia because every living species is valuable adding to our diversity and perception of the world around us. Our world is enhanced by diversity. The loss of any living species is our loss." Bozeman admits that at first he want ed to find the franklinia for the fun of it and whatever prestige it might bring. Now, as his answers reflect, the search has evolved into a thing in itself, related to a wide spectrum of academic and ecological value. So Bozeman and Rogers wait for their weekends that's when they search and ride the unpaved, twisting sand ridge roads. They reconstruct earlier searches and plan their hikes through the scrub oak country and swamps accordingly. After so many years of searching, Bozeman sums up his feelings. "Some people might think I'm egotistical to think I could find it," he said. "But any way you look at it, it's a great way to take a field trip." Tree Farm Named The farm of Richard and Ruth Heck has been selected as the 1984 National Tree Farm of the Year. The Heck's 145-acre farm, chosen over 52,000 private tree farms, lies in the Ohio River Valley of Indiana. A judging committee composed of 23 top forestry experts assisted the American Forest Insti tute (AFI) in making the selection. Henry Owens of Chattooga County was selected as Georgia's Tree Farmer of the Year and was featured in the June issue of Georgia Forestry. Owens impress ed the judges with management tech niques used on his 700 acres of forests in four counties. Duke University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies will receive $7.67 million over the next 16 years from a Georgia timber executive's bequest. The bequest from Raymond E. Sullivan of Preston, who died in December, 1983, is one of the largest in Duke's history. The school will receive the gift in 16 annual payments of $479,866.50. Sullivan, a native of Ledbetter, N.C., was a 1926 Duke graduate in business administration. He went to southwestern Georgia to work in an uncle's lumber company after graduation, later striking out on his own to build one of the state's largest timber holdings. He once estimated that he had planted more than 40 million pine trees during his career. Sullivan was featured in the December, 1978, issue of Georgia Forestry. At that time he was managing his lumber mill near Preston, one of the most modern plants in the state. In the interview, he said he "started out on a shoestring" and over the years gradually added more land to his holdings. He eventually owned 47,000 acres of land, which made him one of the largest landowners in Georgia. Fred Allen, left, Chief of Forest Research, and John Mixon, director, Georgia Forestry Commission, admire a national plaque presented to the Commission for its role in innovative use of wood as an energy source. Commission Wins National Award The Georgia Forestry Commission was recently presented the National Award for Energy Innovation by the U. S. Department of Energy in ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The award, presented by Secretary of Energy Don Hodel and Under Secretary Pat Collins, was accepted on behalf of the Commission by Fred Allen, Chief of Forest Research. As part of the Department of Energy's Technology Transfer 80's Program, state and territorial energy offices were asked to submit 10 outstanding energy innovative projects from their jurisdiction to an interagency federal review panel for consideration for a national award. The Commission submitted the Wood as an Alternative Fuel Source project in the competition. Nearly 1000 applications were received and the most outstanding were forwarded to the Technology Transfer 80's Program. This is an ongoing program at the Department of Energy which strives to transfer research and development accomplishments to the private sector as early as possible. The scope of the programs submitted ranged from photo- voltaic projects to energy-efficient land lllage techniques. Four hundred attendees from across the country attended the awards ceremony and received congratulations and a certificate for their projects. In photo below, William C. Humphries, Jr., left, and Ron Thompson of Forest Resource Consultants, Inc., Jeffersonville, work at a computer. The two have been invited by the British Institute of Chartered Foresters to present a paper to an International Conference on the Application of Computers to the Management and Administration of Forest. The December 11-14 conference will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland at the Herriott-Wattt University Conference Center. ASETCMOANCDOCNL~~OPROGSlTAAGE PAID