Georgia forestry, Vol. 39, no. 3 (Sept. 1986)

Georgia

FORESTRY

USPS No . 217120

Sept. 1986

No.3

Vo l. 39

Joe Frank Harris Governor John W. M ixon Director

BOARD OF COMM ISS I ONERS

Jim l . G i llis, Jr.. Chai rman . Soperton Felton Denney , Carrol lton Eley C. Frazer, Ill , Albany
Patricia B. Rob inson , At lan t a Robert Si mpson , Ill , l ake land

STAFF Howard E. Bennett , Ed itor Wil liamS . Edwards, Assoc iate Ed itor Jackie N . Sw inson, Art ist
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 EIeven Route 1, Box 46 Helena, GA 31037

District Twelve Route 6, Box 167 Waycross, GA 31501
Urban Forestry 6835 Memorial Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, Route 1, Box 181, Dry Branch, GA 31020. Second class postage pa id at Macon , GA . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Georgia Forestry Comm ission, Route 1, Box 181, Dry Branch, GA 31020.

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THE WHITE HOL S E
WASHINGTON
Dear Mr. Hitchcock: As you are in a better position than most to know, in 1985 the United States was struck by the worst wildfire season in more than half a century. Devastating fires raged through nearly three million acres of our forests and rangelands, but the fire agencies of the Departments of the Interior and of Agriculture, and of State Foresters, dealt with the severe problems presented to them. Thanks to their coordination and, especially, to the courage and tirelessness of the fire fighters, our citizens, their properties, and valuable resources were spared extensive destruction. I am proud to congratulate you and your membership on this magnificent team effort. You have my personal commendation, and the deep appreciation of the American public. Keep up your fine work. God bless you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Raymond B . Hitchcock President National Association of State Foresters Hall of States 444 North Capitol Street Washington, D.C. 20001
ON THE COVER - Kathy Laurie Finch, named Miss Jackson County Forestry in a local pageant, went on to capture the Miss Georgia Forestry crown at the state finals on Jekyll Island. See story on page 13.

Patrolman Randy Sockwell replaces a shingle on the roof of the commission's Urban Forestry headquarters at Stone Mountain. The roof of chemically treated pine shingles is one of several unique features of the building which is visited frequently by builders and others interested in innovative uses of wood. The structure is built on a treated all-wood foundation. The building is one of several new commission offices that are roofed with shingles manufactured from Georgia pine.

YELLOW PINE COMPETES FOR SHINGLE MARKET

When the heart pine disappeared from the forests, Georgians thought they'd seen the end of the resin-soaked wood shingles used by their forefathers . Builders turned to the insect and rot-resistant Western red cedar, found in the North western states and Canada, as a replacement.
But pine shingles are showing up on Georgia Forestry Commiss ion roofs all over Georgia, not heart pine but pressure-treated yellow pine. "The pine has been pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate" said Tommy Loggins, The commission's Associate Chief of Research . "Research shows that the pressure-treated pine sh ingles are as durable as those of cedar which last a quarter of a century more. But up until now, Southern yellow p ine couldn't compete econom ically aga inst the cedar because the chemical t reatment raised the cost above that of the cedar."
The possibility of using Southern yellow pine as an alternate wood for making sh ingles has been recogn ized for years by the commission, because the United States is running out of Western red cedar forests . The shortage

of cedar is making this country more and more dependent upon Canada, a country that grows one-sixth of the
world 's commercial cedar. In the first protect ive action taken
against Canadian wood product imports, the United States imposed a stiff import tar iff (in effect as of June 6) on Canad ian cedar shingles and shakes entering this country over the next five years. The U. S. Timber Industry claims the Canadian wood products are selling in America at artificially low prices because they are subsidized by the provencial governments that own the forests .
Two years ago , the commission pur chased a modern shingle machine to demonstrate the manufacture of shingles from yellow pine and thus re-introduce another product from the species . Al t hough wood shingles are cons idered a " Luxu ry Item" and the cost is about double the price of asphalt shingles, builders favor the wood shingles because they compliment the rustic a rch itectural styles which are so popular today .
"Our biggest obstacle is making the architects and builders aware of this product as an alternative to red cedar shingles." said Loggins. "Pressure-treat-

ed pine is recogn ized by the National Fire Protection Agency as be ing fire retardent . An advantage is that it is grown locally , but cedar must be transported at a very high cost from the northwestern Un ited States and Canada. Pine shingles are available and are now equal to the cedar shingles in price as well as quality ."
Although no Georg ia m ills are cu rrently producing pine shingles, Loggins feels it would be an ideal sideline operation for an existi ng mill to incorporate into its business . " The pressure-treatment equ ipment is readily available and accessible," Logg ins said , "and the mills already have personnel on hand who could handle the sh ipping . With the tar iff bringing the price of the im - ported cedar shingles and shakes up to nea rly match Southern yellow pine, the t ime is right ot give Canada a little competition ."
EDITORS NOTE: Building contractors, materials manufactures and others are invited to contact the commission's Forest Research Department for further information.

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Lightn ing k ills o r damages many of Geo rgia's trees, including pr ized shade trees on residential lawns and those
deep in the forests, but the full extent of the damage occurs when the bolt of electricity sets off a woods fire .
Dur ing the most recent f iscal year, more than 378 forest wildfires were caused by lightn ing in the state, burning more than 3 ,357 acres.
The worst problem was in the Waycross District of Southeastern Georgia where lightn ing caused 132 wildfires, far more than in any other area of the state. Incredibly, over 150 fires were started by lightning in the same district in July of this year alone, amounting to roughly 70 percent of its total fires. Strikes without rainfall are mainly responsible for the increase in lightning related wildfires.
It is advisable to remove shattered limbs and hanging bark and splinters soon after lightn ing hits the tree, but full treatment should be put off until the next season because the severity of damage is not immediately observable . It may be several months before the weakened tree t iss ues die .
Because lightning bolts usually generate temperatures around 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, they instantly rob trees of their water. If the current reaches the ground, it dries out the surrounding soil and roots as well .
The best treatment for a tree after a lightning strike is immediate and intense watering. The soil under the tree's crown should be watered until it is moist to a depth of five or six inches . Periodic waterings should continue to keep the soil moist.
Spraying tree wounds with insecticides is also of great importance for the health of all trees in the area . The south ern pine beetle, for example, often attacks fresh wounds caused by lightning.
Tree wound coverings may help in the tree's recovery. In some instances, parafin wax and bark combinations are effective. Though not universally agreed upon , some tree experts believe that tree wound paints are beneficiaL
If the strike occurs in early summer, the homeowner should inject a liquid fertilizer into the root feed ing area of the tree . Two to four pounds of fertilizer should be applied for each inch of the tree diameter, measured at four and one half feet above ground . However, if the tree is less than six inches in diameter, it should receive half the amount, followed with a complete food application the following spring .
Lightn ing not only affects the tree it strikes, but also the surrounding trees. Small trees nearby may die, and larger ones may show leaf scorch or dead branches on the side facing the spot
of the strike.

LIGHTNING CAUSES MAJOR

DAMAGE TO STATE'S FORESTS

Lightning rods may protect valuable o r la rge trees, but they are qui te costly and difficult to set up. If installed im properly, lightning rods can do more harm than good .

Because lightning is so unpredictable , there is nothing that can be do ne to completely protect trees . However, if a tree is hit, it may still be saved if given a fighting chance.

In the Waycross District, the number of lightning_caused fires in July totaled more than all that were recorded in the past fiscal year.

GYPSY MOTHS "VERY CLOSE TO GEORGIA"

The gypsy moth that has already ravaged many Northern forests is now beginning to invade Georgia and other states of the deep South . At least, advanced scouts have arrived.
In the past few years, the moth has mad e one of its quickest migrations . Maryl and has been overrun by the pest, and now they are spreading forcefully into eastern Virginia . Outbreaks have also been detected in Arkansas , North Caro lina and Tennessee . Even California and several communities in the midwest are now host to the unwelcomed invader.
The moth is spread mainly by vaca tioners from infested areas . Egg masses, moths and caterpillars hitch rides on campers, motor homes and other vehi cles. Th ey often find new homes in camp grou nds , picnic areas and other wooded sections.
Terry Price, entomo logist of t he Geor gia Forestry Commission , said the moths are now "very close to Georgia ." In Tennessee, 45,000 acres of forests were treated with insecticides last year. The comm issio n has trapped male moths in Georgia since 1972, however, no colonies of t he species have been found . The traps are coated with a sticky, female scented substance.
In th e caterpillar stage, the pest strips trees of their lea ves . A multitude of them can seriously damage tho usands of acres in several days . Each caterpillar eats about a square foot of foliage per day, slowing tree growth . If a tree is at t acked several years in succession, it may die . On the average, 20 percent of the affected trees die.
Mil lions of acres of No rtheastern for ests have been da maged, with New Yo rk, Pennsylvania, and Maryland suffering the greatest losses.
Wh ile the moth presents no threat to pine trees, oak leaves are its favorite meal . Oaks are very important in the South as shade trees and a favorite wood for furni ture, flooring and other products.
Th e moth was impo rted into Massa chusetts in 1869 for the purpose of crossing it with silk worms for the pro duction of si lk . However, many esca ped from the experimental laboratory and in a few y ears they had well establis hed themselves in many New England states.
Gypsy moths are in an egg form during the winter , but in t he spring t hey become larvae . Defol iatin g trees for ten weeks, they grow into adult caterpillars, then change into pupae for a couple of weeks before coming forth as moths in middle to late summer.
Th e moths become a frustrating prob lem for people in No rt hern states where they swarm over houses and yard s and

The folded cardboard trap contains a sex -attractant strip and a sticky substance on the inside to attract male moths into the device.

fa ll into swimming pool s. In Pennsyl vania, automobile wrecks have been blamed on roads that have become slick with caterpillars .
A practical so lution to t he gypsy moth prob lem has not yet been found as some co mmun ities prohibit widespread use of the insecticides that wou ld kill the pest .

Research is still being done on the appl ication of bacteria, viru s or predator in sects.
The best way to prevent serious damage is to mainta in a healthy fores t, accord ing to Price . The old , weak or diseased trees are usually the ones that die , he said.

BEETLE UPDATE

The Southern pine beetle has been observed over a 58county area of Georgia and 23 counties in the state have been listed as epidemic.
In the last statewide fly-over by commission pilots, 4,551 spots of infection were sighted.
Terry Price, commission entomologist, said the extreme heat this summer has temporarily slowed the spread of the insects, but an increase in spot sizes is expected in September.
"The insects have a low fat content during the summer months and do not have enough stored energy to aggressively compete with the high temperatures. This doesn't mean that they are not breeding and feeding, it simply means they are not flying too far from the trees they emerged from," Price said.
Salvage is still the best control and landowners should keep in touch with the Georgia Forestry Commission to stay abreast of the wood markets, he said . "Shortwood produce rs are few and far between, therefo re, salvaging small spots is almost an impossibility . However, landowners are being urged by our foresters to allow salvage

crews to block out up to 20 acres to make it feasible for a longwood operator to move in and take the beetle wood," Price explained.
Records show that 101,710 cords of beetle-damaged pulpwood and 3,997,196 board feet of sawtimber have been salvaged in Georg ia since June of this year.
The commission will continue to aid landowners in conducting "cut and leave" practices throughout the critically affected counties. It is a method that has been effective in the past and offers a control alternative if salvage is not possible or feasible.
Counties that have been declared epidemic - those having more than one multi -tree spot per 1,000 acres of loblolly or shortleaf pine - include Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rockdale, Butts, Lamar, Upson , Baldwin, Bibb, Jasper, Monroe, Lincoln, T aliaferro, Stewart, Clay, Early and Houston.
Oglethorpe, with 380 spots, had the worst infestation in the state, acco rding to ae ri al spotter records.

Georgia Forestry/September 1986/5

The large , brown , meaty , and mouth watering Shi itake mushroom , which has been grown and loved in the O rient fo r many years, is very new on the American market, but is ga ining popularity fast . Amer ican tree farmers are realizing the benefits of produc ing them in small, previously unused woodlots , and many restaurants in this country are beg inning to serve them .
Some Georgia landowners have expressed an interest in cultivatin g the fung i.
The Sh ii take is noted fo r grow ing on hardwood logs . The white and red oaks seem to bring the highest y ield and produce mushrooms with the best taste.
Recently, Georgia was considered by the Elix Corporation as a possible location for a Shi itake farm, which could have bought oak logs from within the state. Study on growing the mushroom in this state has been underway for several years.
In 1982, the firm decided to settle in Virginia, but found that the Sh iitake would not grow well during the winter months, according to Mark Titus, the Corporation's Vice-President.
"We were looking toward the deep South to produce mushrooms in the winter," he continued , "when a very rei iable greenhouse strain was developed." Greenhouse cultivation has permitted Elix to produce Sh iitakes year round in Virginia , where they buy inexpensive spare logs from local paper companies.
Titus also pointed out that Elix sells its produce in most major cities in America and Canada, along with some dried mushroom shipments to Europe. Japan has also inquired about the purchase of Shi itakes from the firm .
The Or ientals have a large demand for the mushroom, but they must buy the costly oak logs on which to produce it from American tree farmers. In Japan, where the Sh iitake is a $2 billion per year industry, the average person eats five times more of it than the average American's consumption of white mushrooms.
Georgia's weather is too warm for Shiitakes in the summertime , but would be just right in the spring and fall, Titus said. Possibilities still exist in Georgia for Shiitake farming, as well as the sale

GROWING

MUSHROOMS

ANOTHER FORESTRY-RELATED INDUSTRY

of oak logs to the Or ient. After nume rous experiments, Les
Kodger , a Shi itake grower in Vi rginia, has found that the plants grow most effec tively on four to six inch diameter logs cut into four foot segments. Th e t hicke r logs can last four o r f ive years, whereas thinner logs produce a great quantity, but have a shorter Iifespan .
After the log is cut , it must cure for three to four weeks before it is treated with fungus . When it is ready , inn ocula t ion begins. Ten to 15 holes are drilled in the log, then fungus covere d plugs are inserted into them. Then the logs must be stacked on racks and stored for three to four months in a shady area near a water source. The mushroom mycelium will grow throughout the log and will appear at the cut ends as a wh ite growth .
To induce sprouting, the stacked log rack must be pushed over. Then the logs must be soaked with water by immersion or sprinkling for 24 hours. Kodger claims that this year's dry weather has made it difficult to keep his logs moist.
Finally, the logs are restacked on the racks and the mushrooms sprout. Though logs are only innoculated once, they must be pushed over and soaked every three months . Shi itakes will sprout every yea r from April to November.
Kodger has been growing Shiitakes for two years . After attending several conferences and traveling across the country to research the plant , he decided to grow them for supplementa l income . Since then, he has devoted the bulk of his time to his 13,000 log operation. He hopes to harvest several thousand pounds of mush rooms this year.
Shi itakes are more expens ive than wh ite mushrooms , but they last longer . Growers claim that their product is meatier than the whites, and is wo rth the price for the taste alone. "When you consider the work of preparing the logs , harvesting, packaging , sh ippin g and ma rketing," Kodger says, " you earn every penny you make. Determination and the grace of God w ill get you by in this business," he continued .

The Sh iitake grower must keep a close watch on the progress of his logs. He must beware of insects , low hum idity , and a certain fungus which attacks black oaks. Obse rving product ivity can also show him what changes to make . Experi mentation with different types and sizes of logs and d ifferent stra in s of mushroom fungus can help to increase production . Kodge r explains that different strains work best in different climates.
Sh iitakes are very nutritious , and are es pecially h igh in protein . Furthe rmore, Japanese studies have found that eat ing Shi itakes reduces cholesterol buildup in the body. More recently, they have determ ined that extract from the mushroom reduces cancerous tissue in laboratory animals .
Kodger said there is a large local market for fr.esh and dried mushrooms and that he is having a difficult time meeting the demand . The huge response of the local restaurants has made it easy to sell his produce without having to ship it to the large cities.
He has also found a growing demand for spawn fungus, specially designed mushroom log drills and other equipment.
Other farmers in Virginia now have small but profitable operations of 1000 to 2000 logs. Larger growers have sprouted in North Carol ina and in Pennsyl van ia, where experiments are being con ducted with indoor cultivation on saw dust bags .
Presently , the Kodger's are trying to increase the output of the family business to keep pace with demand . As his prod uct becomes more access ible to the public, Kodge r explains, the white mushroom producers w ill suffer. He is look ing for Sh iitake to become a household word within the next five years. With the increasing supply and demand on the American market, and the poten tial of Shiitake exports to the Orient, his predi ction may become real ity .
Mushroom production could eventual ly become anot her profitable enterprise to add to the long list of forest -related industries in Georgia .

Photos on opposite page, top to bottom: A brown covering in the hole indicates spawn has provided its function as the catalist to introduce shiitake into the oak log. Plugged logs are stacked with first layer on blocks of wood or stone until they reach a workable height for the individual grower. Area becomes a series of "pig pen" structures. Bottom scene is growth produced on a bag of sawdust under indoor conditions.

NORRIS AND MALM NAMED
TO TREE FARM POSITIONS
Thomas F. No rri s, ass istant t o the operations manage r, Un ion Camp Co rporation , Sa vannah, has been named the 1987 Georg ia State T ree Farm Chairman to succeed Charlie A . Wiseka l.
Norris , a native of Mart inburg, West Virginia and a former member of the Board of Directors, Georgia Forestry Assoc iat ion, w ill assume t he office January 1, 1987.
A graduate of the Schoo l of Fo rest Reso urces, Univers ity of Geo rgia, No rris is immed iate past president of the Savannah Area Forest ry Club and a member of the Society of Ame ri can Foresters.
The new cha irman is ma rried to th e former Miss Linda Barnes and they have one so n, Sam. The fam ily attends the Wilm ington Is land Method ist Church in Savannah, where they reside .
Meanwhile , Richard L. Maim, also of Union Camp Corporation and a resident of Savannah , has been named Reforestation Comm ittee Cha irman, Georgia Forestry Association . He w ill assume the off ice effective July 1 of next year.
He is reg ional manager , Savanna h Wood lands, for his company and at one t ime served as a fo rest econom ist with the Peace Corps in West Africa. He earned forestry degrees from West V irgi nia Uni versity, (BSF) , University of New Hampsh ire , (MSF ), and the Un iversity of North Florida, (MBA) .
Maim, a native of Long Island, New York , is a member of the Georg ia, Florida and South Ca ro lina Forestry Associations, Society of American Foresters and the Savannah Area Forestry Club . He is ma rr ied to the former Miss Patricia A. Cox of Massapequa Park, New York , and they have three ch ild ren, Michael , Elizabeth and Matthew. The fam il y at tends St. Francis of the Islands Episcopa l Ch urch .
SEPTEMBER LANDOWNER CONFERENCES SCHEDULED
A series of forest landowner conferences sched uled for September by the Georgia Forestry Commission and three other organizations w ill include discussions on a wide range of forest topics to bene fit both the rural and city res idents who own wood lands .
A conference will be held at Albany Jun io r College in Albany on Septembe r 9, w ith Eley F raz ier Ill serving as moderator. The second confe rence w ill be at Cracker Will iams Recreation Center, Jesup, on September 10, w ith Bill Miller, Sr. as moderator . A conference will be held at Hol iday Inn in Milledgeville on September 16, w ith Will iam C. Humphr ies as moderator. An Athens conference, to be held at Finchum Phoen ix on September 23, will be moderated by Owen Perry. Sydney Kinne Ill will moderate the conference at Berry College in Rome on Septem ber 24.
All conferences will beg in at 1:15 P. M. Dis cussions w ill include timber management, production, tax laws , Southern p ine beetle, life afte r the sa le , and other top ics .
Coope rat ing w ith the comm iss ion in sponsori ng the confe rences w ill be the Georgia Forestry Associa tion , Cooperative Extension Service , and the Forest Farmers Associat ion . Detailed information on the ser ies is available from any of the sponsors .
Georaia Fore~trv/Seotemher 1986/7

8/Georg ia Forestry/September 1986

The full extent of damages brought about by the record -breaking drought that seared fields and forests across Georgia this year has not been tabulated, but the Georgia Forestry Commission has determined that about one-fourth of the young seedlings planted last winter failed to survive the extreme heat.
Following a statewide survey in late August, Lynn Hooven, chief of the commission's Forest Management Department, reported that approximately 100,000 acres of seedlings were killed by lack of moisture and temperatures that often soared above 100 degrees.
"If we can get sufficient rain," Hooven said, "we can get a more accurate picture of the damage statewide. Some fields of seed Iings have been com-
pletely wiped out, while others somehow survived the heat and lack of moisture. We've seen quite a number of fields where survival has been scattered." Hooven said a greater number of trees might have survived the drought if proper care had been taken
in handling,transporting and planting the young seedlings. "We have found instances in which landowners or others who do the planting for them have been careless in their reforestation effort and survival is poor even when weather conditions are favorable. It's obvious that during the drought we
have endured this year, seedlings that are not handled properly would naturally have no chance of survival."

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As a result of the commission's continuing reforestation campaign, more than 420,000 acres of trees were planted last fall and winter. "With the drought canceling a fourth of this planting," Hooven continued, "we are encouraging landowners to replant this acreage." He said many have agreed to replant .
Meantime, the firefighting crews of the comm1ss1on have seen more activity this summer than in any previous year.
Wesley Wells, chief of the Forest Protection Department, said more than 1,200 fires occured in July, a considerable outbreak when compared to the less than 200 that occur in a normal July. A substantial decrease was seen in August, however, as a result of scattered showers, he said .

THE GREAT
DROUGH T
OF 1986

VEGETATION PARCHED
Wells explained that vegetation that normally retains moisture during the summer months and resists fire has been very dry this year. It feeds a fire as if it were frost-killed underbrush that is present in the fall.
The protection chief also pointed out that the temperature of fires during a heat wave often reach 180 degrees and "that's enough to kill even mature trees ." In the winter and early springthe traditional fire season -temperatures are much lower and fire in the forests does not kill all growth, he said.
The drought also dried up many streams and swamp areas that normally serve as natural firebreaks. Commission personnel annually plow approximately 17,000 miles of firebreaks, however, and this precautionary measure has helped firefighters keep damage to a minimum during the summer months. The average fire is being held to less than five acres, records show.
Paul Butts, utilization forester at the commission's state headquarters in Macon, said the drought has made it possible for loggers to "get into the woods every day in the week ." He said the activity, however, has brought about an abundance of logs at the mills and has actually depressed the market.
Johnny Branan, chief of the commission's Reforestation Department, said the seedling crop at state nurseries has not been affected by the heat wave, as the beds are irrigated during every growing season. He said, however, that "we can certainly expect a higher demand for seedlings this year, as landowners will want to replant trees killed by the drought...we anticipate a shqrtage of seedlings ."
Ken Bailey, staff forester who heads the Urban Forestry Units, said his office at Stone Mountain received from 150 to 200 calls daily from residents of the Atlanta Metro areas who are concerned over dead or dying lawn trees.
Many of the trees were already under

stress because of overcrowding, beetles, root rot, adjacent construction and other causes and the drought hastened their death, accord ing to Ba iley. Trees in areas of rock outcroppings d ie more readily than others , he said, as they are growing on a shallow layer of soil.
Bailey predicted damages from the drought will be felt for at least the next two years. "Trees store carbohydrates for food in roots and trunk and the small growth this year has limited the storage space for that food ... because they haven't been able to store or pro duce the food, many trees will die next spring when they try to regenerate new buds and leaves," he said .
Urban Forester Louie Deaton said 35 trees died in the South Atlanta area which he serves. He said trees close to concrete paving have suffered from the drought and many of the weakened trees are being killed by beetles . He sa id established young trees have a better chance of survival because they require less water. Deaton foresees "a lot of available firewood in the next few years" as a result of the death of mature trees this summer and those that will die in the months to come.
WATER TRANSPORTED
Don Freyer, coordinator of the Rural Fire Defense Program, said some tankers and other equipment on loan to rural fire departments might have to be used to help battle forest f ires if the drought situation worsens. Presently, some equipment is being used to transport water to areas where wells have gone dry and some commission trucks are being used to haul hay to farmers in several sections of the state.
High temperatures in July and Aug ust curta iled the spread of the South ern pine beetle, according to Entomologist Terry Price , but he said cooler weather will def inately bring about increased

act1v1ty of the insect . The beetle out break is currently listed in the epidemic category in 23 counties.
Ed Ruark , a director of t he Geo rgia Christmas Tree G rowers Assoc iat ion , said almost all growers have lost newl y planted stock and the drought has killed some trees that were two and three years old. He said white pine, Virgin ia pine and red cedar have been hit by the extreme heat and lack of mo isture on his farm near Bostwick . He said growers are finding that the drought is preventing the trees from rep len ish ing and many will not have the new growth to provide a good appearance for the Chr ist mas market.
Ru ark said, however, that there will be enough quality trees this winter to compete. with trees shipped in from the Northern states. He said some sections of the state have had sufficie nt rains to produce a good crop.
WILDLIFE SUFFERED
The lack of rain and intense heat in the woodlands has also had a drast ic effect on wildl ife . Dick Whitt ington of the Georgia Game and Fish Department said fruits, nuts and acorns are falling prematurely and many animals will be faced with a food shortage th is w inter. He said wildlife may already be in a weakened condit ion because of a poorer quality of vegetation this summer.
Whittington said there will be a poor quail hatch this summer as the long periods of low humidity dries out the membrane in quail eggs . He sa id repti les and fur bearing animals are relocating to larger bodies of water as small streams and ponds dry up.
Foresters, farmers, financ iers and others directly involved in assess ing the cost of the great drought of 1986 agree that it will take years to fully realize its impact.
Georgia Forestry/September 1986/9

Church officials admire the richness of yellow pine in their recently completed church. Left to right are Felton Denney, pointing to the ceiling that was installed by members, the Rev. Larry Pearson, standing at the custom built pulpit, and Chester Gibson, examining a section of wainscoting_

YELLOW PINE:

When 66 Carroll Countians decided to band together and form a new church, they re-discovered the beauty of wood in church architecture while using a 100-year-old sanctuary as a temporary meeting place.
The charter group was so intrigued with the ancient edifice and its beautiful natural pine interior that it was unanimously decided that the church they were to build would feature plenty of rich yellow pine.
Today, Rocky Mount Baptist Church is an attractive, gleaming white structure surrounded by a pine forest that borders a scenic, six-acre recreational lake. The interior features approximately 5,500 feet of exposed yellow pine.
The material, all consisting of one -by -four tongue and groove stock, is used in the ceiling, as a wainscoting and even in the hand -crafted pulpit.
Chester Gibson, a member of the faculty of West Georgia College and a charter member of the new church, explained that although the lumber went through a planer at the mill, each piece was carefully sanded by members of the congregation before it was used . He said about 80 percent of construction work on the church was carried out by members.
Felton Denney, another charter member of the new church some six miles south of Carrollton, pointed out that the type material they used is not found in lumber yards. He said they had to find a mill that still makes tongue and groove lumber. Denney, who is also a member of the board of directors of the Georgia Forestry Commission, naturally took a keen interest in the use of pine and advocates a wider use of native wood for durability and beauty in other new buildings.
The Rev. Larry Pearson, minister of the young church, said he is especially impressed with the craftsmanship that

went into the pulpit. Made entirely of pine by Carl North, a member who works in antiques and furniture finishing, the handsome rostrum was constructed with wooden pegs instead of nails.
Denney said there was one drawback in using the exposed lumber so extensively in the interior of the church. The material was not uniformly manufactured and it was not clean.
Blue chalk marks and oil stains from mill machinery were found on practically every piece, he said, and "every piece had to be sanded before we could use it." One member arrived at the construction site at four o'clock in the morning to begin sanding so the carpenter work could continue uninterrupted during the day, according to one of the group.
Denney said he would like to see more pine used in construction in Georgia, especially in buildings where it could be exposed to reveal its beauty in grain and color. He calls, however, for two changes: a uniformly manufactured product with careful attention to tolerances and a clean, packaged product that would not have to be "refinished" by the builder.
If these reforms were made, he feels architects and building contractors would take a greater interest in using native pine. He also urges research that would lead to more lamination of pine, especially high quality pine that would be backed by a lower grade plywood to create paneling.
The congregation is proud of the 9Y. acres of forest and lake donated by a member for the church site and grounds, but the solid pine ceiling inspired by a church down the road that was built a century ago is what draws the attention and admiration of many visitors.

10/Georgia Forestry/September 1986

HARVEST BY// HELICOPTER ,~~W WAY OF LOGGING

Tallison Lumber Compa ny of Perry has completed an expensive and hazardous six-month helicopter logging operation that produced some of the highest quality hardwood to be found in the state.
The ope ration, located 15 miles south of Macon, produced 100,000 board feet a day from designated areas of a 11 ,000acre tract. Yellow poplar and blackgum were the main species harvested. Some high quality cypress was also included .
Steve Carte r, who directed the operation for Tollison, said most of the hard wood will go to specialty markets . "Eighty percent of our hardwood goes to the North Carolina furniture market," Carter pointed out.
Tollison contracted with Rocky Mountain Helicopters, Inc. to log the re mote area. The helicopter organization, with headquarters in Provo , Utah, carries on logging operations nationwide. Al though highly skilled in logging, the firm also specializes in numerous operations including building ski lifts . The corpora tion has 90 helicopters and a matching staff of pilots and ground crews.
The usual helicopter logging opera tion crew includes one project manager, three pilots, three mechanics, one woods boss, and two landing crew workers .
Brian Brennan, a pilot with the Rocky Mountain crew, accepts the danger of the job as routine . "If you don't scare your self once or twice a day , your're not doing your job," he said .
A Vietnam veteran with 11 ,000 hours of helicopter flying time, Brennan pointed out that a number of aerial maneuvers used in helicopter logging are complicated and dangerous. One such maneuver is called the "Wanachee Snatch ." Brennan said eleven people have been killed attempting to perfect the technique.
The 36-year-old Brennan flies a Bell 214B-1 helicopter capable of lifting 8,000 pounds. The lift cables range from 150 to 300 feet in length . It is not d ifficult to imagine the potential problems and danger of an 8,000 pound oblong load swinging 300 feet beneath a flying he I icopter.
The ground crew on the Tollison operation worked from a large, cleared area of swamp . The helicopter sweeps back and forth out of the swamp with one or a cluster of logs swinging from a steel cable. The aircraft swings over the cleared area and drops the logs with in -

credible accuracy in a designated drop zone - all the while maintaining radio contact with the ground crew. The hel icopter then hovers as Mark Looman, 21-year -old woods boss from Oregon , runs out under the deafening noise and blast of wind created by the hel icopter . He catches a giant , electronic hook swinging near the ground, uses h is body weight to stop the swing , then quickly attaches a fresh co iled cable .
The heIicopter turns backwards and disappears over the treeline into the swamp as Looman and a co -worker quickly coil the dropped cable so the process can be repeated again in a matter of minutes. Another ground crew, deep in the swamp, will perform a similar process while attaching logs to the helicopter. As soon .as the logs are dropped, a large transporter scuttles across the clearing, picks up the logs, and then takes them to a loading dock where they are cut in various lengths.
The work is fast -paced and hazardous . However, when running, catching the swinging hook, and deftly flipping the cable into place , Looman makes th is manual labor look like an art form. He realizes the danger of his job, but doesn't dwell on it. He considers his job less dangerous than those of the helicopter crew and says he has "close calls only about every other day."
The entire operation is efficient and goes like clockwork .
Tollison's Steve Carter said the ex tremely high quality of the hardwood harvested made it possible to use such an operation profitably . He said building roads into the remote swamp areas and using conventional methods of logging would be too time consuming and costly .
"Using the helicopter was the only practical and profitable method," Ca rter said . " Actually, it would be difficult and impractical to log certain areas of this swamp any other way."
The big log dangling from the end of the cable in this photo represents thousands of pounds of hardwood. The aerial Jogging team contends that snaking the logs out of the big swamp by helicopter is the only practical way to harvest the timber.

VALUE OF STATE'S HARDWOODS CONVEYED AT GRADING SEMINAR

" There's an all -too-common miscon ception that forestry in Georgia concen t ra tes on the elimination of hardwoods so pines can grow," commented Utilization Forester Paul Butts , during a recent ha rdwood grading seminar.
Butts explained that low-quality competing hardwoods are eliminated on pine sites, but high quality hardwood sites are carefully managed . He said the commis sion encourages the growth of high qual ity hardwood stands and is making a sustained eff0 rt to attract hardwood in dustry to Georg ia.
"The fact is," Butts said. "from a practical viewpoint, low quality hard woods are used primarily for fuel and industrial products ; so their value is often m inimal to the landowner. But high qual ity hardwoods are highly valued by specia lty markets. "
Butts emphasized that when commis sion foresters apply their hardwood grad ing skills it is an important step in letting the pubIic know t hat forestry in Georgia is vitally concerned with the cultivation of high quality hardwood .
The hardwood grading seminar, attended by 70 commission foresters from throughout the state, was conducted by Butts and Karen Kenna of the U . S. Forest Se rvi ce.
Butts said the most significant consid eration in buying and selling hardwood

logs and timber is the grade of the wood . He said accurate grading is vital in rela tion to high quality hardwoods because the lumber is inte nded to be used for furniture parts, flooring, and other high quality wood products.
The seminar inc luded an introduction to lumber grades and pointed out how log grades are developed from them.
" Grade one logs will yield 60 percent or mo re of number one common and better grade lumber," Butts said. " Grade two logs will yield 40 percent; and grade three logs will y ield 20 percent ."
The course emphasized the use of hardwood tree grades that have been developed from lumber and log grades to determine the value of standing timber. Tree grades consider size, soundness, straightness, and bark characteristics.
The seminar concluded with a field trip to a prime -quality hardwood site where a cla ss was held in tree .grading and defect identification. All 70 foresters participated in individ ual eval uation of marked trees.
Butts described the course as "highly successful on a technical level." He also said the long term impact of f o resters using hardwood grading skil ls t h roughout the state should create a positive public relations impression. "We need this sort of impression in relation to hardwoods ," he said .

Some forestry commission personnel are given a refresher course in hardwood grading under the direction of Utilization Forester Paul Butts.
12/Georgia Forestry/September 1986

The new Miss Gum Sp irits o f Turp entine poses with James L. Gillis, Jr. , president of the American Turpentine Farmers Coop erative, shortly after she was selected for the crown.
KARA BOATRIGHT
WINNER OF
GUM SPIRITS CROWN
Kara Boat ri ght o~ Bacon County was crowned M iss Gum Spirits of Turpentine in the recent Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant on Jekyll Island.
The young lady was one of 38 con testants representing Georgia counties in the competition for the Miss Georgia Forestry title. Each year , girls representing the 17 turpentine - producing counties among the entrants are also eligible for the M iss Gum Spirits of Turpentine honor.
Miss Boatright graduated from Bacon County H igh School , where she was involved in various activities. She par ticipated for three years as a cheer leader and a class officer, and was a member of Junior Superlative and the school's Annual Staff. She was also nominated for Who's Who Among American High School Students. In addition, Miss Boatright enjoys aerobics, cross stitch ing and "meeting people."
She plans to attend a college in the area to study dental hygiene.
Kara, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edsel Boatright of Alma, will represent the American Turpentine Farmers Asso ciation during the year and will be featured on the large wall calendar of the association .
Miss Boatrigh t was crowned by the retiring M iss Gum Spirits, Sha ron Mc Neil, also of Bacon County .
The contestant selected for the honor each year works with the cooperative in promoting products from the important naval stores industry.

MISS
GEORGIA FORESTRY
Apretty 19-year-old mountain climber - the first in the history of th e annual pageant - has been crown ed Miss Georg ia Forestry for 1986. Kathy Laurie Finch of Commerce was selected from a field of 38 young ladies who had won elimination pageants in their home counties. M iss Finch, who represented Jackson Coun ty , was selected for th e title and crowned at the state finals held in conjunction w ith the recent annual convention of the Georgia Forestry Association on Jekyll Island .
In addition to mountain climbing, the statuesque brunette excels in t ennis , basketball , swimming and other vigorous sports. "Mounta in cl imbing is someth ing some of us do at North Georg ia College , " and I also enjoy repelling ." Repelling is descending from the height of a mountain by means of a taunt rope , according to the college junior . She said she also enjoys reading , cooking and cross stitching.
Actually, the victory on Jekyll Island was her fourth win in beauty and talent contests . She was crowned Junior Miss of Jackson County while in high school and later won the Miss Jackson County t itle. She captured first place to become Miss Echo and was featured in the school yearbook.
The new Miss Georg ia Forestry, who was crowned by the ret iring t itle holder, Miss Ansleigh Riddle of Montezuma , is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority at the college in Dahlonega and also serves as a resident assistant.
When home in Commerce for the summer, she is active in the local United Methodist Church and jokingly declares she serves as "cook and maid for my three brothers." She said it is "because of my brothers that I learned to love sports."
Kathy rode on the Georgia Forestry Commission float in the July 4th parade in Atlanta and will participate in other parades, festivals, fairs and other events in which forestry will be promoted .
Placing second in the annual pageant was Su san Gowen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs . Gary Gowen of Folkston. She is a graduate of Charlton High School and is now attending Georgia Southern College in Statesboro.
Runners up were Torri Turner, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Clayton Turner of Glennv i lle, and Kim Tatum, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Toomer Tatum of Waycro ss.
Home for the summer from college, the new Miss Georgia Forestry spends some time in the kitchen to help prepare family meals, but she would rather spend more time with a good book. She said there are always "plenty of books around the house," as both her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Finch, are educators.

RUARK NAMED TO HALL OF FAME

Begun as a relief program during the 30's, the Civilian Conservation Core establ ished working camps all over the country in an effort to bring jobs and hope to a depressed nation. To a young man from Bostwick, work ing at a CCC camp only meant bringing in extra money to help sup-

Although Ruark left the commission to work for Owens-Ill inois in Florida, his work at the commission set the precedent for his rise to the highest honor bestowed on a forester in Georgia .
In 1959, Ruark was appointed director of Georgia Forest Research Council, where he coordinated and initiated all of the forest research in Georgia conducted by state, federal and private agencies. After his retirement in 1978, the GFRC became a part of the commission .

"greatest thing

farm . He had no way of knowing that pened," he is no stranger to awards

some 50 years later he would look and recognition. An active member of

back at that temporary job and say SAF for 40 years, Ruark has held many

"that's where it all started ...the beginning offices and committee posts on the local,

of my career in forestry ."

state, and section levels . In 1978 the

Ed Ruark, newest inductee to Georgia Southeastern Section of the SAF honored

Foresters' Hall of Fame, recalled that him with their research contribution

the advice of a University of Georgia award . In 1966, the Secretary of Agricul -

professor influenced his decision to ture appointed Ruark to the Cooperative

study forest resources. "I worked in Forest Research Advisory Committee of

the nursery," Ruark remembers. "My the U. S. Department of Agriculture for

boss had a degree in horticulture, but two consecutive terms .

he encouraged me to study forestry."

After such a celebrated career, one

After graduation and a four-year- would expect the 'retired' forester to

to11r in World War II, Rl:lerk's ca1ee1 =-xe:l:ax and enjot' peaeef1:1l li1ifl~. "lrr the

in forestry began in a North Carolina 70's, Kaye and I bought some land in

saw mill. "My father hurt himself chasing Bostwick with retirement in mind,"

a loose cow back on the farm in Bast- said Ruark . "We began a small Christmas

wick ...so I came back to Georgia." tree farm called Jack's Creek." Now the

On his return, Ruark was appointed small farm has grown into one of the

Chief of Fire Control for the Georgia most respected and productive farms in

Forestry Commission for five years. Georgia.

STATE'S LARGEST DRILL CONDUCTED

A Commission coordinated mock disaster drill-the largest ever staged in Georgia-was recently executed in Carroll County and involved virtually every emergency vehicle in the area and approximately 200 people.
Bill Woodyard, a commission district ranger stationed in Newnan and chief coord inator for the drill, spent six months planning and setting up the complex exercise. The purpose of the massive drill was to coordinate efforts of all emergency personnel in the event of an actual disaster.
The simulated disaster area covered more than 1,000 forest acres and in cluded a large forest fire, house fires, arson fires, auto wrecks, numerous injuries, and a helicopter crash.
To maintain an atmosphere of reality, none of the emergency personnel were informed of the drill date until the morning it was executed. Expert makeup artists made up numerous simulated victims with blood, compound fractures, etc . Drill umpires graded the emergency personnel on the handling and treatment of these victims as well as all other phases of the exercise.

Commission Director John W. Mixon said Carroll County was a valuable drill site because of large areas of open forest land and a large rural population that could be threatened by a major forest fire. Mixon explained that forest fire emergencies experienced by other states emphasize the urgent need for Georgia to be ready for such situations.
Ranger Woodyard said a major reason for the success of the drill was the cooperation of area residents - especially those on the actual 1,000-acre drill site. "Many of the site residents participated as volunteers. We simply could not have had such a successful drill without this sort of cooperation."
Other agencies involved in the drill included the Carroll County Fire Department, Sheriff's Office, and Civil Defense; the Carrollton City Police and Fire Department, the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia State Patrol, the American Red Cross, West Georgia College Police Department, West Georgia Emergency Medical Service, Georgia Baptist Medical Center Life Flights, Georgia Kraft Co., and the Tanner Medical Centers .

Millians

Womack

W.D. MILLIANS, who has been with the Commission 34 years, has retired. He holds a degree in forestry from the University of Georgia and he started as an assistant district forester in Newnan, and retired as a District Forester in Milledgeville. Millians is a native of Franklin and has a wife, Betty, two sons, Ricky, and Mike, and four grandchildren. A retirement party was held in his honor August 29 at the Milledge-

Finch

Harcrow

ville Country Club...COY WOMACK of Davisboro has recently retired from his position as district ranger in the Milledgeville District. He began working for the Commission 34 years ago as a patrolman and also served four years in the Navy. Womack and his wife have three children, Bobby, Wayne, and Donna, and four grandchildren ... Ranger JACK FINCH has retired after 31 years of service with the Commission . He started as a patrolman and was promoted to ranger in 1976. He spent two years in the army before working for the Commission. In his hometown of Sylvania, Finch attends the Methodist

Church witb his wife, Shirley, and son Wendeii .. .JOHN HARCROW, former ranger of Heard/Troup County and graduate of Berry College, retired in August. In 1955, after two years in the army, he joined the Commission as a patrolman. Harcrow, a native of Heard, has a wife, Wanda, and five children, Merrell, Doyle, Dennis, Riley, and Kim. He also has 12 grandchildren ...A native of Rochelle, SHELTON McWHORTER retired last

month after 32 years of service to the Commiss ion. Hired as a patrolman, and retired as Wilcox County ranger, he also served almost two years in the army. McWhorter and his wife, Mildred, have five children, Terry, Larry , Carol, Jon, and Beverly, and two grandchild ren .. .HAROLD WATKINS recently re tired from his posistion as Twiggs/ Wilkinson County ranger. A comm ission employee for 32 years, Watkins lives in Wilkinson County with his wife, Shirley, and has two sons Thomas, and Victor, and four grandchildren. They

are active in the Methodist Church ... WAYNE BELFLOWER , former superintendent of Morgan Nursery. has assumed the head position at the Page-WalkerShirley Complex . A graduate of Middle Georgia College, Belflower spent four years in the Marine Corps and is currently in his 17th year with the Commission. He lives with his wife Mattie, and chil dren, Tony, Kim, Nikki, and Joy, in Cochran, where they attend the Baptist Church...Belflower has been replaced by

Allen

Degler

CHARLES JOHNSON, who joined the Commission in 1979 and who was pre -

viously the assistant superintendent at the Morgan Nursery . Johnson Iives in Macon County with h is wife Debra and four yea r-old daughter Tabatha . They are members of the First Baptist Church there... DENNY THIGPEN, who holds Associate degrees in forestry technology and wildlife technology from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, has been promoted to forestry technician at the Walker Nursery . He came to the Comm ission one year ago as a Liberty County patrolman and lives with his wife, Sheila,
in Reidsville. They attend the Baptist Church ... Forester JOHN WELLS is on loan to the Department of Industry and Trade in Atlanta. In his second year with the Commission, Wells holds a bachelors degree in forestry and a Masters in Forest Economics, both from the University of Tennessee. He has also spent 14 years in the Army Reserve, and is currently a captain. Wells is a member of Fairview Methodist Church south of Atlanta .... RONALD ALLEN, a graduate of the University
of Missouri School of Forestry, is now serving as the District Four Forester, moving up from his position as Meri wether County ranger. This Missouri native lives with his wife, Donna, and stepdaughter, Heather. They are active in the Baptist Church .. .Taking his place as Meriwether County ranger is GARY DEGLER , originally from Reading, Pennsylvania. Educated in environmental studies, Degler is in his fourth year with the Commission ...The Sixth Distr ict wel comes CATHY LYNN BLACK as its

Gallman

Gray

newest forester . Orig inally from Ma ry-

land , she was educated at Clemson

Un iversity, and has worked as an urban

forester in R ic hmond County. Black

and her husband, Sonny , are members

of the Methodist Church ... MARGARET

PERRY of Forest Adm in istration in

Macon , has been promoted from Ac-

counting Technician to serve as Pay roll

Supervisor. She was educated at the

Georgia/Alabama Bus iness School of

Commerce and has three ch il dren and

three grandch ildren . She attends the

Baptist Church in Macon ...Aiso in Forest

Admin istration, TERESA (TERRI)

TOOLE was promoted from Clerk

Principal to Property and Supply Super-

visor as of July . A Bibb County nat ive .

Toole is in her 15th year with the Com-

mission and is ac-

tive in the Baptist

Church with her 10

year-old daughter,

Heather... BENJA-

MIN BREWTON, a

Video/Audio Spe-

cialist was trans-

ferred as of March

from the Research

Department to the Education Depa rt-

Helms

ment in Macon .

This native of Claxton is a member of

Vineville Baptist Church ...JIMMY GALLMAN, a former patrolman of Pickens

and Whitfield Counties, was recentl y

promoted to Whitfield forest ranger.

Gallman, who has worked with the

Commission eight years, and his wife,

Paulette, have a son, J immy ...STEVE

GRAY is now serv ing as forest ranger

of the Douglas-South Fulton Unit,

following a promot ion from Carroll

County patrolman, a job which he has

held since he joined the Commission

five years ago . A native of Carrollton,

he has a five year -o ld son, Jimmy J r.

.. .WILBUR HELMS has been p romoted

to the Wilcox County forest ranger

position. A nat ive of that county, he

formerly served as a forest patrolman.

He has worked w ith the commission

for 32 years. Helms and h is wife, Vernice,

have two sons, Michael, and Jeffrey _

DO IT FOR HIMI
You will not see all his tomorrows, but you can be assured that the trees you plant and protect today will enhance his future. What better way to help provide financial security for your children when they reach adulthood in an uncertain world! The Georgia Forestry Commission this year is growing more than 176 million seedlings. If you're a landowner, a portion of those young, healthy trees are for you. Pick up an order form at any commission or ASCA office. Plant for yourself. Plant for your children.
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT MACON, GEORGIA
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