Georgia forestry, Vol. 42, no. 4 (Winter 1989)

FEATURE PHOTO

Georgia

USPS No. 21 71 20 Winter, 1989 No. 4 Vol. 4 3

STAFF Howard E. Bennett, Editor William S. Edwards, Asso. Editor Jackie N. Swinson, Graphic Artist

Historic ruins of Marietta Paper Mill still offer a solid reminder of Georgia's early paper making enterprise. Records indicate the mill was constructed near Marietta on Sope Creek between 1853 and 1859. Following incorporation in 1859, more records were kept that give a detailed description of the mill's operation.
Initially, the mill madep~per for tissue, writing, printing, and wrapping. During the Civil War, the mill also produced stock paper for printing Confederate currency and bonds. However, in 1864, the mill was burned by Union troops moving over from Kennesaw Mountain.
Despite the burning, owners did not forget the success of the operation and rebuilt the mill after the war. By 1868, the mill was in full and prosperous operation again. However, misfortune continued to plague the mill; it burned again in 1870.
What was left of the mill was sold to james Brown, who rebuilt the mill and incorporated it again in 1874. It was at this Sope Creek mill, during the 1870s, that probably the first sustained and successful efforts in the United States to manufacture paper from Southern pine took place. The pulp was made from shorleaf and loblolly pine. This was one of the early efforts to utilize Southern species in the manufacture of paper. (Georgia Archives Photo.)
ON THE COVER- Gaunt red oak, in its leafless stage, reflects bleakness
of winter in Atlanta's Buckhead section. Oaks, in general, are ideal urban treesstrong and sturdy sentinels that blend well with city environments. The Commission, which initiated the nation's first statewide urban forestry program, sustains a large scale operation for the Atlanta area.

Joe Frank Harris - Governor John W. Mixon- Director
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Jim L. Gillis, Jr., Chairman, Soperton Felton Denney, Carrollton James Fendig, Savannah Dr. Gloria Shatto, Rome
Robert Simpson, Ill, Lakeland
DISTRICT OFFICES
District One 3088 Martha Berry Hwy.. NE/ Rome. GA 30161
District Two Route 11 , Box 3 7/ Gainesville, GA 30501
District Three Route 4 , Box 168A/Athens, GA 3060 5
District Four P. 0. Box 1080/Newnan, GA 30264
District Five Highway 49/ Milledgeville, GA 3 1061
District Six Route 2, Box 266/Washington, GA 306 73
District Seven Route 1, Box 23A/Americus. GA 31 709
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 3045 8
District Eleven Route 1, Box 46/ Helena, GA 31 03 7
District Twelve Route 6, Box 167/Waycross, GA 3150 1
Urban Forestry 6835 Memorial Dr./Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Georgia Forestry 1s published quarterly by the Georga For-estrv Cornmission, Route 1, Box 181 . Dly Sr.lnch. GA 31 020. Second clasS postoll'
poe at Macon. GA POSTMASTERoSend address changes "' GeorV"
Rlrestry Comrrission. Route 1. Box 181 . Dly B<anch. GA 31020.

Members of the Property Tax AssessmentSub-Committee hold a public hearing in Macon. The state legislators are, left to righ t, W illiam}. Dover, Tom Crosby, Richard Royal, Bill Barnett, Ralph Balcolm and Frank Stancil.
LANDOWNERS PROTEST TIMBER TAX PROPOSAL

" If the ad valorem tax is enforced, the property owner will lose his incentive to produce timber," C.M. Striplin~ ofCamilla, National Tree Farmerofthe Year in 1987 and tree farmer for 50 years, said recently to a large group of Georgia landowners and a panel of state legislators gathered at the Georgia Forestry Center in Macon.
Th e meeting concerned the dilem ma of standing timber in Georgia bein g taxed separately from the land.
Representative Richard Royal, chairman of a sub-committee of the House Ways an d Means Committee, Georgia General Assembly, and other panel mem bers listened to private landowners state what the re-assessment woul d mean to them. The other
legislators included Rep. Frank Stancil of Watkinsville, Rep. Ralph Balcolm of B9-inbridge, Rep. Bill Barnett of Cum mings, and Rep. Bill Dover of Clarkesvil le.
The problem the landowners are facing surrounds the definition of "real property." Timber is considered, by law, to be real property-- such as barns, tractors, irrigation systems, etc., thus, subject to ad valorem taxes. Unlike other crops grown in Georgia, timber is taxed every year. The average time span for a pine to reach maturity is 35 years. With the current tax laws, the trees are taxed 34 times in addition to th e federal income tax levied when tim ber is cut and sold.

Walter Evans of Screven County explained that he fears the private forest landowner is not being treated fairly under the present rules. The landowner who plants trees is taxed every year the trees are growing. All other agricultural crops are not taxed since Georgia law fails to

in 1986 also affected the financial secu rity of citizens involved in the timber industry. Prior to 1986, timber sales could be listed as capital gains, with only 40 percent of the income derived from timber sales being taxed. In 1986,
with the entire restructuring of the tax laws, 100 percent of the income from

C. M. STRIPLING, PROMINENT SOUTH GEORGIA TREE FARMER, ADDRESSES PANEL

require ad valorem tax on crops timber sales is taxed. This income is

grown and harvested in the same still listed under the capital gains

season .

category where it is not taxed for social

. Evans stated that "by 1991, all coun- ' se_curity, but no longer is there a 60 per-

ties in Georgia will have to comply with cent tax free profit to entice land-

inventorying all timber for the purpose owners to invest in the future by

of ad valorem taxes. This will have a planting timber.

devastating effect on landowners . Lynda Beam, a private forest

holding timber to maturity or reforest- landowner from Savannah, reminded

ing land tl}at has been cut over."

the subcommittee that timber growers

In addition to the--ad valoremtax;- must regenerate the forests after har-

the change in the capital gains tax laws . vests. " Trees utilize carbon dioxide

Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/3

and give off oxygen," Beam said. "Trees are more than the raw material for our many industries, they purify our water, conserve our soil, and give us fresh air to breathe."
She said planting trees is also one of the best things that can be done to help reverse the global warming trend .
John W . Mixon, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, told the legislative committee that forestry contributes $8.7 billion to Georgia's economy annually and provide s more than 80 thousand jobs, with the potential to continue to expand if reforestation is supported and pursued.
" The redefining of the capital gai ns law and the new interpretation of the state ad valorem law," Mixon said, " is certainly discouraging Georgia forest landowners from regenerating their harvested areas."
Mixon pointed out that Georgia is harvestin g more pine timber than it is growing each year and the trend must be reversed if forestry is to remain the state's single largest industry.
Georgia's forests are a subject of pride and beauty for the state, as well as a crucial element in the state's economic prosperity. As a business, the Georgia timber industry cannot survive and expand under the tax laws in question. Revi sions ofthe laws, with the future of the state in mind, must be made in order to keep Georgia's economic prosperity secure, according to those attending the hearing.
ARBOR DAY PLANS SET
Arbor Day in Georgia is February 16 and citizens around the state are again being urged by the Georgia Forestry Commission to participate in atree planting ceremony in their community or at least plant a tree on their lawn or other property.
Teachers in public and private schools are asked to plan classroom programs and schoolyard exercises in observance of the annual day set aside to focus attention on trees and the contributions they make to the state.
The Commission each year provides brochures to teachers as a guide for student participation.
Teachers and others requiring additional information should contact the nearest Commission office.
4/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

Plaques honoring foresters displayed in new quarters.
HALL OF FAME DEDICATED
" They were the few who were willing to go the extra mile to help young students learn their trade, to be innovative in their approach to forest management and to be on the cutting edge of research in forest technology," said Tom Gilpin, chairman of the Georgia Division of the Society of American Foresters, at the dedication ceremony of the Georgia Forester's Hall of Fame in the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources.
"The members of the Hall of Fame represent forestry at every level in state and national agencies, private industry, and research and acad emic institutions," Gilpin said.
The Georgia Division of the American Society of Foresters sponsors the Hall of Fame, which honors current and former residents who have made outstanding contributions to the forestry profession.
Gilpin said "they are recognized by their colleagues as pioneers in their respective fields."
Although the first inductions were made in 1969, the Hall of Fam e had no permanent home until recently when a section in the School of Forestry was dedicated to that purpose.
The 43 members of the Georgia Forester's Hall of Fame and the ir year of induction are: 1969, George Norman Bishop, Inman F. Eldredge, Charles Floyd Evans, Bishop Franklin Grant, Burley M . Lufburrow, Henry J. Malsberger, William M . Oettmeier, Bonnell Harold Stone; 1970, Allyn M. Herrick; 1971, Ernst Victor Brender, C. Dorsey Dyer, James D. Strange; 1972, Basil Ernest Allen, Charles A. Connaughton, L. W. R. Jackson; 1973, Herbert Clay Carruth, Ben C. Meadows; 1974, Frank A. Bennett, Sydney B. Kinne, Jr.; 1975, Harry Guyton Deloach; 1976, John Warner Cooper; 1977,JackTruettMay, William H. McComb; 1978, Douglass A. Craig; 1979, Archie E. Patterson; 1980, Robert W. Cooper, James F. Spiers; 1981, William A. Campbell, John Sisley, Vernon Yow; 1982, George A. Anderson, Leon A. Hargreaves Jr.; 1983. John C. Barber. Frederick W. Haeussler, Charlie Bonner Jones; 1984, Jerome L. Clutter; 1985, Claud L. Brown, Theodore W. Earle Sr.,J. Walter Myers Jr.; 1986, H. Edward Ruark; 1987, L. W . Eberhardt Jr.; 1988, Harley Langdale Jr., William Patrick Thomas.

...TH E EARTH 'S CLIMATE MAY CHANGE MORE DURING THE NEXT GENERATION THAN IT HAS IN THE LAST 15,000 YEAR S.

s JE F ES s T VG BA WARM G TRE

orestry, as a measure in con t rolli ng global warming, was the main topi c at the recent ..__ . annual meeting of the
ational Association of State Foresters, according to john W. Mixon, Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, and an attending member of the NASF.
He said it was emphasized in a position paper at the meeting that the earth's cl imate may change more during t he next generation than it has in th e last 15,000 years due to fossil fuel com bustion and industrial and agricultural activiti es that have already com mitted the planet to sign ifi cant warming. It is a fact that the four warmest years of the century have all occurred since 1980.
. The cause for these major changes tn th e earth's climate is th e "greenhouse effect," which is the action caused by a blanket of atmospheric g~s es that surrounds the earth and proVIdes a therma l trap allowing solar en ergy to pass throu gh while at the sam e ti me trapping the longer wavelength radiation emitted back from the earth'ssurface. Without thi sprotective layer of gases, the earth wou ld be covered in ice.
Carbon dioxide isthe major co mpo nent of the greenhouse gases. Current worl dwide C0 2 emissions total an e timated 5.5 billion tons from fossil fuels and another one billion tons from Ia h an d burn operations in the

tropics. Energy use and production, along with use of chloroflurocarbons, are the primary contributors to global warming in the 1980's an.d account for 75 percent of the total warming activity. From these statistics, it is obvious that the most important thing world society can do to reduce global warming is to reduce energy consumption, according to the paper.
The second most important thing is to increase the amou nt of carbon tied up in long-term carbon sinks like trees and wood products and this iswhere forestry plays an important role.
The U. S. forests currently contain 12 billion tons of carbon. The carbon is bound until trees are burned or decay or until products made from trees are burned or decay.
Some other observations from the paper:
Since about one half of the dry weight of wood is carbon, trees serve as effective carbon sinks. One tree will absorb 13 pounds of C02 per year and a fully stocked acre of trees will absorb 5,200 pounds of C02annually.
One approach to reducing carbon emissions is to enhance the productivity of existing forestlands to maximize carbon absorption and to harvest older mature trees and replant, because a healthy young stand of trees absorbs more C02than a mature stand that has stopped growing at a fast rate.
Greatly increasing the utilization of durable wood products in manufacturing,

com merce, and industry is another approach to controlling the global warming problem from the forestry perspective. New markets and new uses for durable wood products, such as timber bridges, wood foundations, wood houses, wood flooring and other products that meet practical needs but also serve for long-term carbon storage are needed .
Programs to increase urban forests must be put into effect. Not on ly do trees in urban settings absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, but they shade to reduce heat gain, provide wind control to reduce heat infiltration, and provide localized cooling through evapotranspiration.
Existing and future forests must be protected from harm. Although wildfi re probably affects global warming the most because it produces a nearly instantaneous release of large volumes of C02 to the atmosphere, widespread forest insect and disease epidemics which kill entire forests are nonetheless dangerous because the result is a huge accumulation of forest fuels which can contri bute to wildfire.
Trees can play a major role in reducing the severity of global warming. Research that addresses how best to plant and grow trees and utilize the world's forest resources to increase the carbon sink is necessary and immediate.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/ 5

Norcross home, owned by Ron W. Key, is typical of reroofjobs replacing Western red cedar with treated Southern yellow pine shingles. In spite of heavy rains, tear offand replacement required only two weeks- indicating ease and efficiency of pine shingle application. Pine shingles are uniformly cut and time consuming node removal is not needed.
GEORGIA PROMOTER OPTIMISTIC
SOUTHERN YELLOW PINE TAKES AIM ON NATIONWI DE SHINGLE MARKET

0

new developing market for Southern yellow pine shingles could create financial benefits for the forestry industry and Georgia's economy.

Research and marketing activities indicate

that pressure treated Southern yellow pine shingles

could establish a new roofing trend with nationwide

potential. The wood shingle roofing market, previously

dominated by Western red cedar (and other cedar

species), is expected to have a serious new competitor

in Southern yellow pine.

6/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

Much of the anticipated success of the pine shi ngle market in Georgia can be attributed to the efforts of Roy Bourne, an Alpharetta based entrepreneur who is a roofing manufacturer's representative operating th ro ugh his privately owned Bourne & Company. Bourne confines his representation to Felts Forest Products of Hemphill, Texas. He is one of the few commercial promoters of pine shingles in Georgia, although his territory covers everything east of the Mississippi. The past few years have been an uphill struggle promoting pine

"Pressure treated Southern yellow pine shingles can be used anywhere red cedar shingles can - and with better results."
shingles, but Bourne can now "see the light at the end of the tunnel."
"It seems," Bourne said, "that the general public is permeated with the misconception that Western red cedar has been the universal roofing since Jamestown was settled in 1607."
In spite of this interpretation, Bourne seems to enjoy the challenge. He is no stranger to challenging situations. A liberal arts graduate of The College of William and Mary in Virginia, he spent 17 years as an investment banker, 10 years in the construction business, and did some commercial fishing. He even managed to live with Eskimos for three years in Point Barrow, Alaska- the northernmost inhabited community in the world, only 500 miles from the North Pole.
For the past six years, Bourne has been a roofing manufacturer's representative. He points out that early Americans used various indigenous species of wood for roofin~. The wood was obtained from the area where the .building occurred. Species included cypress, oak, Southern yellow pine, and even heart pine. However, as progress took its toll, these species became scarce or cost prohibitive under heavy demands of logging and construction. West Coast cedar suppliers seized the opportunity and promoted Western red cedar shingles to capture the hearts, minds and wallets of the American public. Canadian lumber dealers did likewise and began shipping Western red cedar into the U. S.
The result: pine has not been used in the United States to any extent as a roofing material for half a century. So the present generation of architects, builders and homeowners are not familiar with the superior qualities of pine roofing simply because they have not used it. Bourne (and others) believe this is going to change.
"Pressure treated Southern yellow pine shingles can be used anywhere red cedar shingles can - and with better results," Bourne said. "Georgia homeowners are now replacing cedar roofing with pine shingles. They found out, at their own expense, that Western red ced~r will not hold up. The average lifespan of the best quahty Western red cedar roof is only eight to ten years."
Bourne's selling point is a valid one. Traditionally,
W~stern red cedar has not been preservative-treated.
Th1s can be a problem, especially in states like Georgia where heat and humidity can rot untreated wood with a vengeance. However, Bourne emphasizes the durability

of untreated Southern yellow shingles by pointing out numerous cases where pine roofing has lasted more than 50 years.
"So it's hardly farfetched to assume that pressure treated Southern yellow pine shingles will last in excess of 50 years," Bourne said. "The company I represent gives a 30 year warranty with their shingles; I consider this conservative. It stands to reason that if you can bury a piece of pressure treated Southern yellow pine in the ground and it will last indefinitely, then it will certainly last as long when used as roofing."
Although the pine shingle industry is now in an embryonic stage for Georgia, research has been completed to substantiate Bourne's enthusiasm. Texas Forest Products Laboratory of Lufkin, Texas, has been testing pine shingles for more than ten years. The lab's sophisticated testing methods can duplicate years of use in a short period of time.
During the past three years, the Georgia Forestry Commission has also been engaged in a sort of informal, but practical testing. Many Commission units throughout the state, as well as buildings at the agency's state headquarters in Macon, have been roofed with pine shingles. The commission's research depart-
ROY BOURNE
ment wanted to be sure of shingle quality and according to research department reports, there have been no disappointments.
When technical research and practical applications are combined, the advantages of Southern yellow pine over Western red cedar are obvious. The shingles are thicker and heavier, but cost less. From an aesthetic perspective, pine shingling is applicable to all architectural styles, with the possible exception of some European styles. Homeowners are also discovering the attractive design that pine shingles offer for siding. The shingles can be stained with transparent or opaque finishes, and they weather beautifully with age.
Then there are the advantages for the builder. Pine Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/7

.....

Historic Mable House in Mableton, originally roofed with pine shakes when it was constructed of heart-
pine in 7843, wa:s recently
reroofed with Southern yellow pine shingles to enhance authenticity. Th e antebellum home, named after Robert Mable, serves as a Cobb County Center for the arts, business groups and civic programs. A thousa nd-seat amphitheater is scheduled to be constructed behind the house.

shingles are easy to work with and minimize problems of keeping construction on schedule. The shingles can be applied directly over decking or lathing, which simplifies the application process.
From a state perspective, establishment of pine shingle markets could have considerable benefits for Georgia. The shingles could be processed in Georgia from local timber supplies. Employment opportunities would increase with demand. Cost efficiency would also be improved, since shingles for the Southeastern U. S. would no longer have to be transported from the Pacific Northwest and Canada.
Quality control is also a vital consideration. Agencies are now available to insure pine shingle product standards in relation to chemical treatment and wood quality (with minimum standard qualifications). This enables architects to use the product with confidence.

As product acceptance increases, so will competition. Bourne realizes that it is possible to promote himself out of business in such a situation, but he is not w orried about it for a number of reasons.
" My goal has always been to have the company I represent establish a satellite plant in Georgia- wh ere the Southern yellow pine supply is plentiful," Bourne said. " I believe that will be a reality within a year. I also believe that the quality standards of this operation will require competitors to treat this product with the respect it deserves, or they will not be able to survive in the pine shingle market."
Bourne said one of the most encouraging factors he has noticed is the large number of inquiries he receives from Oregon concerning Southern yellow pine shin gles. Oregon is a major U. S. supplier of Western red cedar.

This 7902 photo of a South Georgia house shows how previous generations used indigenous wood species for roofing. These shingfes (or shakes) are probably all Southern yellow pine cut from nearby forest land. This particular house, apparently the site of a family reunion, also indicates an unusual enthusiasm for the use of pine shingles, since the entire house is covered with them. (Georgia Archives
photo.)
8/Georgia Forestry

[ J ine trees, commonly associated with lumber and paper making, have entered the health food market with research indicating some species may offer a vital link in providing man with a 120-year lifespan. An extract of pine bark is now being sold as an
an tioxid ant. Animals in a natural/healthy habitat
can live six to eight times their maturity age. Many researchers believe human beings fail to live a full lifespan for reasons ranging from abnormal stresses to improper nutrition. A primary cause for this premature demise is an excess of what is defined as " free rad icals" in the human body.
A free radical is a molecular structure containing unpaired electrons (normally there is a pair). Each free rad ical can destroy an enzyme, protein molecule, or a complete cell. If permitted to increase, they multiply by chain reactions into the thousands. Research has associated free radicals with various degenerative conditions ranging from cancer to heart diseas~ to premature aging. Chemical stress, emotional stress, physical trauma and infection all contribute to free radical development.
In essence, today's high tech civilization has created a spawning ground for free radicals. Polluted air, polluted water, rad ioactive wastes, smoking, drinking, and even jet travel (by exposure to high levels of ozone and radiation) are among the maze of free radi cal promoters.
THE GOOD NEWS
But with the bad news, there is good news. Free radicals can be destroyed and research indicates that the pine tre~ may play an important role by supplymg a powerful antioxidant.
Antioxidants destroy free radicals. ~ld stand by free radicals scavengers mclude vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and beta carotene (all sold in health food stores). Now, however, a pine
bark extract is on the market that is
daimed to be 50 times more effective as an antioxidant than vitamin E and 20 timesmore effective than vitam'in C. The pine bark product is being sold in health food stores under the trade name of Pycnogeno /.
.The substance is an extract of the Pine species (Pinus pinaster). Pro~nthocyanidin is the active compound In Pycnogenal that possesses free radi-

Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/9

-

cal scavenging effects. A U. S. patent (no. 4, 698,369) has been granted to Dr. Jack Masquelier, of the Uni.yersity of Bordeaux (France), who recognized the therapeutic influences of the substance. Specifically, it is the 85% proanthocyanidin content of the pine bark that provides powerful antioxidant capabilities.
Although the substance is now apparently being extracted only from the (Pinus pinaster) _species in Europe, proanthocyanidin also occurs in Southern yellow pine. According to the text "Organic Chemicals from Biomass" (editor: Dr. Irving S. Goldstein/Professor of Wood and Paper Science/Department of Wood and Paper Science/North Carolina State University), "Although the procyanidins in fruits, leaves, etc. of a number of trees and plants have been surveyed, there have been few investigations of the procyanidins in the barks of commercially grown important tree species other than Roux's work on the (Acacia) species. Porter and later Yazaki and Hillis found procyanidin B-1, B-3 , B-6, and C-2 in the inner bark of Pinus radiata. The dominant proanthocyanidin in (P. taeda) (loblolly pine) is procyanidin B-1 ."
SOUTHERN PINE SIMILAR
Dr. julian R. Beckworth , Ill, (Cooperative Extension Service Wood Products Specialist with the University of Georgia/and faculty member of the UGA School of Forest Resources) comments on the text: "Since the Southern pines are similar in so many ways, I'm sure that proanthocyanidin is present in loblolly (Pinus taeda), as the article indicates, and is present in most- if not all - of the other Southern yellow pine species."
Dr. Beckwith's observation leads to a question: If Pycnogenol evolves into a successful product and proanthocyanidin occurs in loblolly and other Southern yellow pine species - might Georgia's Southern yellow pines become a future source of this substance?
Already widely used in European countries as an antioxidant, the substance is relatively new on the U. S. market. Use of pine bark for therapeutic purposes goes back several centuries- and possibly into unrecorded history. In 1534, French explorer jacques Cartier was trapped by ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Cartier and his

ship's crew were forced to live on biscuits and salted meat for a prolonged period. Scurvy set in and 25 of the 100 man crew died; at least 50 more were critically ill. Fortunately, the crew encountered an Indian who provided a pine bark tea and poultices made of the same substance. The treatment worked with incredible effectiveness and the remainder of the crew
Will Georgia's vast stands of Southern yellow
pine become a
pycnogenol
source...if so,
what would it mean to the economy?

recovered. Approximately 400 years later,
researchers from the University of Bordeaux found that pine bark used for Cartier and his crew contained no expected vitamin C, and the pin e needles contained very little vitamin C. Eventually, it was discovered that the bark contained a water-soluble antioxidant substance now avai lable in Pycnogenol.
WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE
Despite impressive research and optimistic claims, a random sampling of Atlanta health food store owners revealed a general wait-and-see attitude. They prefer to wait for definite customer response and more validation from research. However, there is some agreement among health food experts that Pycnogenol could be a major breakthrough. It was also pointed out by health food store personnel that several pine species are used in the manufacture of medicine, and so called "pine nuts" (seeds from Pinyon pine/Pinus edulis) have been sold in health food stores for many years.
Pinus pinaster, the species fro m which Pycnogenol is extracted, iscommonly known as maritime pin e. Although usually not considered a decorative tree, the species is useful in a number of ways. The pinaster's habitat is the seashore. Pinaster populates the largest man-made forest on earth; a forest developed on the shi fting sands of Southwest France during the last century.
In 1789, M. Bremontier planted more than 12,000 acres of sand dunes with pinaster and broom seed. Following his experiment, three million acres were added to the cultivation. Third and fourth generations of these pines are still being tapped for turpentine. However, the recent extraction of Pycnogenol from this species may prove it to be an even more valuable natural resource.
This new role of the pine tree creates questions: Will Pycnogenol prove to be a major breakthrough in the health field? Are there other pine substances that might provide health prom oti ~g products or even miracle cures? W 1ll Georgia's vast stands of Southern yellow pine become a source of Pycnogenol and other health promoti ng substances? And, if so - what would this mean to Georgia's economy?

10/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

EARLY WARNING AIDS LANDOWNERS

POPULATION PREDICTIONS IMPORTANT IN CONTROL OF PINEBEETLE MENACE

There are no easy solutions to Georgia's Southern Pine Beetle dilemma, but the Commission is "optimistically pursuing several avenues of prediction and prevention techniques that may be effective in battling the destructive insect," said Entomologist
Terry Price. Predicting population trends is al-
ways tricky business and oftentimes self incriminating, according to the Commission entomologist, but early warnings do help landowners prepare for the inevitable. For instance, the 1979 epide mic in Georgia was predicted as early as January of 1979 and major publicity efforts were employed by the GFC as well as by private organizations.
Although accurate figures are not available, it was evident that timber tracts were being offered for sale before the spring explosion of beetles. and as a result, a lot of crowded overmature stands were eliminated prior to the beetle surge.
Susceptibility of stands can be determined, Price said, and research has identified those factors that make stands more beetle prone; these are old age, overcrowding and species composition and all of these factors can be determined by a professional forester or entomologist. If a stand has been identified as highly susceptible, it should be scheduled for removal regardless of the current status of beetles. There is no room for sentiment. Landowners should make economic decisions based on sound professional advice.
"Too often, timber growers will re~use to cut biologically and econom1C~IIy mature stands due to stumpage pnces as they want to wait until prices Increase. If the stand in question is 45 Y~ars or older, it has already withstood Wmd, lightning (fire), hail, ice and

beetles at least once along the way and delaying one or two years could result in a complete loss of the stand," Price said.
The entomologist explained that the Commission is now deploying

Pheromone traps are

to help

determine beetle population trends.

~ BEETLE
~~T UPDATE

pheromone traps in selected counties to determine beetle population trends prior to outbreaks; the phermone frontal in is a chemical substance released by the female SPB to attract males and other females. The beetles collect the airborne molecules of pheromone from the environment with their
highly specialized antennae; the molecules trigger a behavior response in the beetles. The pheromone is used in funnel traps to collect beetles from their natural habitat.
Traps are emptied at designated intervals and the beetles are sent to the Commission Headquarters in Maco.n to be identified and counted. The rat1o
of SPB to predator beetle (checkered beetles) helps determine the population trend of SPBs in an area. The traps are deployed in March and remain in place for four weeks.
Pheromone traps, in conjunction with aerial surveys conducted by the Commission, are just two ways by which predictions can be made. Current research underway at the University of Georgia is looking at the genetic structure of individual beetles which might eventually offer insight into beetle behavior. Further research in the fields of microbiology and virology may reveal diseases that are capable of causing beetle population crashes.
"All of these factors combined are possibilities for a more integrated approach at predicting and controlling SPB populations," Price said, "and the Commission wants to be in the middle of any new and exciting technology that offers additional insight into understanding the beetle."
A major stumbling block is the lack of research funds at the federal level and current funding levels are inadequate for such a severe problem which requires long term basic research, according to Price.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/11

@] onnie Price was herding an 18-wheeler up and down the East Coast back in 1973 and he thought he had truck driving in his blood to the extent he would never give up life on the open road. His attitude, however, changed abruptly one day when he came upon a forest fire and observed patrolmen subduing the blaze. "That's the day I decided firefighting would be more exciting than driving a big rig up and down the highway," said Price, " and I began
looking for a way to change jobs." Fortunately, the Commission's Emanuel County Forestry Unit had a vacancy and the truck driver lost no time in filling out an employment application.
"I also had another reason for getting off the road ," Price said, "I was only at home on weekends and it was Sunday night before my two-year-old son began to call me 'Daddy.'"
Today, Price is ranger of the Emanuel County Forestry Unit, one of the largest in the Commission. He supervises five patrolmen and a tower operator. His unit is responsible for the protection of 339,430 acres of forests and the personnel work closely with 12 Rural Fire Defense Units across the county.
Price, a native of Johnson County, came with the Commission as a patrolman and was named ranger of the Emanuel County Unit following the death of Ranger Leon Ray in 1980. He

is a graduate of Johnson County High School and attended Swainsboro Tech. The ranger and his wife, Gail, and children Joel and Christy, live in rural Emanuel County.
The spacious headquarters building of the Emanuel County Unit and the site were donated to the Commission

by the county and Price said "all we had to do was add on the front porch...the county did all th e other construction."
The ranger said he experienced " only one really tight spot" duri ng his 15-year tenure with the un it. " I became trapped on a 300-acre fire

EMANUEL COUNTY
FORESTRY UNIT

Top photo: Front view of unit headquarters. At right: Ranger Donnie Price and Tower Operator Shirley Radford, who works in the office when not on tower duty, check records.
72/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

while worrying about a new patrolman who was plowing behind.me and had to douse an old shirt with a can of water I happened to have on my tractor an d then dive under the tractor while the fire roared over it." He said he came out of it with a "burned face an d singed ears."

PATROLMAN LARRY WOMACK

Patrolman Larry Womack is another former truck driver assigned to the unit, but his vehicle was a bakery truck an d he grew tired of delivering bread and donuts to retail markets in the Swainsboro area after it became somewhat of a seven-day-a-week job.
The patrolman, a native of Jenkins County and a graduate of Emanuel County Institute, studied mechanics at a local technical school and operated and maintained heavy equipment while serving eight years in a National Guard engineering battalion. Ranger Price said Womack " had no trouble adjusting to our equipment when he came with us in 1981 ."
Patrolman Womack and his wife, Linda, and their children, Jody, Ryan and Rhett, live on afarm nearSwainsboro and attend Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He is fire chief of the Canoochee Volunteer Fire Department and was recently presented an award of appreciation by Commission Director John Mixon for heading a fire department sponsored drive that provided funds for a young cancer patient to visit Disneyworld.
PATROLMAN SAM WILLIAMS
Patrolman Sam Williams, who grew up on a Jenkins County farm, said he was looking for interesting employment with

Forest Patrolmen Larry Womack, left, and Sam Williams weld a section of metal to be used in the construction of a fire truck tank. The modern shop at the unit builds tanks for the Rural Fire Defense program, a project that provides equipment for volunteer fire departments mainly in Georgia 's rural areas.

good job security when he applied for work with the Commission. He was
ANOTHER IN A SERIES OF STORIES ON OUTSTANDING COUNTY FORESTRY UNITS
hired by the Emanuel County Unit in the fall of 1987 and he said he found his experience with machinery back on the

farm helped him "feel at home" with the heavy equipment he now operates.
After graduation from Jenkins County High School, Williams joined the Marine Corp and served some time in Vietnam. He retumed home and attended East Georgia College for two years.
The patrolman said he hasn't had a " close call" since he came with the unit, although he did have the unpleasant

"I not only consider the Emanuel County Forestry Unit the most outstanding in my district, but one of the most efficient in the entire state. The personnel work well with landowners and others in all phases of our forestry programs and the county reforestation committee is the most active in the Tenth District.
"The Emanuel ranger and crew keep equipment, buildings and grounds in excellent condition and willingly accept additional responsibilities when called upon."
jerry R. Lanier District Forester

---

experience of bogging his tractor in a swamp during a big fire on the EmanuelJohnson County line.
Patrolman Williams and his wife, Winnie, and children, Patricia, Sam, Jr., Robert and Timothy, attend Johnson Chapel Baptist Church.

PATROLMAN BILLY McDANIEL

Patrolman Billy McDaniel was-con-

fined to inside work during 15 years of

employment at a Swainsboro night

club before he finally decided to seek

ajob in the great outdoors. He said his

big break came in 1974 when a

vacancy occured in the local county

forestry unit.

McDaniel, who attended Swains-

boro High School and served four

years in the Air Force, said he enjoys

operating and working on heavy

equipment and his involvement in the

many other duties of the unit. He said

his only accident came when he was

plowing a pre-suppression firebreak

across a field of grass adjacent to a

PATROLMAN KENNETH BRINSON forest tract. "It looked like a level

field, " he said, "but all of a sudden my

Patrolman Kenneth Brinson would tractor hit a deep wash and tilted and

rather fight fire than farm. He grew up on broke my leg." He said his tractor radio

a farm and remembers the many times was knocked out of commission and

he plowed his father's fields with mules. "I had to hobble for a half mile or more

Now he plows firebreaks with a powerful to get to a radio in a pickup truck and

crawler tractor and enjoys his work.

call for help." His leg was in a cast for 11

There was no vacancy in the unit crew weeks.

when Brinson applied for a patrolman The patrolman and his wife,

position in 1968 and he had to serve for Laverne, own a small farm and they

more than two years as a tower operator attend the Baptist Church. Their four

at Oak Park while awaiting an opening. married children - Brenda, Debra,

Brinson said most of his experience out Steven and Calvin - live in the area

on the fire line has been uneventful, but and family reunions are frequent

he does recall one bad incident. " It was a occurances.

big 400 to 500 acre fire on a dry and

windy day and I got my tractor hung up

on a stump. I raked around the tractor as

the fire approached, but there was too

much fuel around and I had to abandon

the equipment," he related.

Patrolman Brinson, who was born in

Treutlen County but has spent most of

his life in Emanuel County, lives with

his wife, Doris, and son, Lee Allen,

near Swainsboro. They attend Holton

Chapel Church.

PATROLMAN SAMMY Ml LLS, JR.
Patrolman Sammy Mills Jr. wanted to represent the Georgia Forestry Com: mission in his home county, but he had to take a circuitous route to get there. While working as a diesel mechanic for a tractor company, he began to notice the heavy equipment used by the Commission and decided that he would enjoy working with crawler tractors in the field rather than being confined to shop work.
Mills came with the Commission in 1982 when an opening occurred in the
Effingham County Unit. He later transferred to the Toombs County Unit and on a third move he was in his home county of Emanuel.
The patrolman, who lives with his wife, Deborah, and sons, Sammy II and Adam, in Adrian, said it has been relatively smooth sailing since comi ng with the Commission, but he does remember one harrowing experience. "We were on a big fire and the tracto r I ordinarily use was in the shop and I wasn't familiar with the equipment I was operating," he explained. "There was a sudden wind change and t he area was filled with very thick, white, suffocating smoke created by bu rni ng pine straw and berry bushes and thats when I got my tractor hung up between some pines." After raking around the tractor, he had to abandon it to save his life.
Mills was treated for smoke in halation and the burned plow tires and hydraulic lines were replaced an d t he equipment was soon back in service.
Patrolmen Mills and Womack have fought the big fires in Idaho and Mon-

14/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

tana and Mills said he considers it " a great learning experience." He said "we found out that the Georgia Forestry Commission doesn't have to take a back seat to any other state when it comes to firefighter training, equipment and communications...we have the best. "
TOWER OPERATOR SHIRLEY RADFORD
Shirley Radford feels comfortable in the cab of her tower that overlooks the vast forests of Emanuel County and she is not even disturbed when the tower sways with a strong wind, but there is an element of the weather that bugs her; Lightning.
She said she remembersone beautiful , clear day when " a black cloud came out of the blue and just seemed to be suspended over the tower." She said lightning was flashing all around the tower cab and that was one of the few times herjob has been frightening. When t he tower operator, who atten ded public school in Wadley and had secretarial courses at Swainsboro Tech, is not on duty in the tower, she is in the unit office assisting the ran ger in record keeping and other chores.
She once taught pre-school children in Dubli n, but she said she would rather visit the Swainsboro area schools with the ranger and other unit personnel to conduct fire safety programs an d promote forestry. Ran ger Price sai d " she is very good with child ren and we are fortunate in having her involved in our school programs."
Tower Operator Radford and her husband, Charles, have two sons, Ben and John. The family attends Sardis Baptist Church.

Byron wood carver specializes in songbirds.
HARD TO REALIZE THEY AREN'T REAL!
hen it comes to woodworking, Jim Peale is a true craftsman. He uses only Georgia woods, mainly from Peach and Houston counties, to make a wide range of items, including furniture for his home, clocks, and carvings of animals such as deer, dogs, raccoons, ducks, and songbirds. Songbirds are Peale's specialty, with such attention to detail that it's ~ard to realiz~ t~ey aren't real. Peale first carves the wood to the right s1ze, usually llf~s1zed , and then uses a wood-burning iron or etcher to ~hape the deta1l of the feathers and otherfeatures. The next step is paintmg the bird. For authenticity, he uses calendars, photographs, and " bird watching" books to be sure his efforts are truely lifelike. In addition he builds bird feeders for color observations and to pose his creation ~. P~ale sai? ittakes him about30 hours to complete asongbird, with the card mal bemg the most difficult to paint because of its six shades of red and hints of gray and green with an orange beak. Hi s clocks are usually made in the shape of the state of Georgia. The woods he uses include pine, walnut, cherry, persimmon, and red cedar. Peale saws hisown w~:>ad with a band saw and then lets it age, air dried under cover, for approximately two years before using it. " I try to finish all my wood naturally, using only clear pine oil or natural stain," he said. An engineer at Warner Robins Air Force Base, he said he started woodworking in 1981. " I needed an inexpensive hobby. Woodworking is just that, and it's very enjoyable." Peale gives away most of his carvings as gifts to friends. He does, however, keep his favorites to display in his rustic log cabin home in Byron .
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/15

"He has saved a lot of property and we will never know how many lives. "

LONG, ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER ENDS FOR COMMISSION'S FIRST PILOT

By Howard Bennett

[ ! ] he first pilot ever to fly for the Georgia Forestry Commission landed his Cessna Skylane at the Waycross Airport on a recent November afternoon and quietly walked away from a career that spanned 42 years of aviation history.
It was suddenly over for Thurman (Mac) McDonald, who had learned aeronautics at a little flying school in his hometown of Alma and became a pioneer in the detection of South Georgia forest fires by aerial observation . All the countless hours he had soared across the skies to check smokes and direct ground crews in bat-
tling fires came ro an abrupt end as he made his final
approach; the moment was not without emotion. " Joey Hall asked to be with me in the cockpit when I
made my last flight," McDonald said, "and I was glad to have him." Forester Hall heads the Commission's Waycross District and was the pilot's immediate supervisor. Others also reacted sentimentally as the veteran flier bowed out. "I'm going to miss that familiar voice that I've heard coming over the radio during the 15 years I've been here," said Patrolman Warren Yawn of the Jeff Davis County Unit. "He has saved a lot of property and we will never know how many lives."
HOOKED ON FLYING
McDonald had been out of the Army for a few months when he and a companion stopped by the newly established flying school one day in 1947. "Just out of curiosity we wanted to see what was going on," McDonald said. The instructor gave the two young men a " demonstration flight" in a Piper Cub and McDonald, who had never flown before, was thoroughly hooked. After six hours of training under the Gl Bill, a federal educational funding program for armed services veterans, he made his solo flight He said he remembers it was a "beautiful landing" and a time of high exhilaration.
There were 86 students who learned to fly under Instructor H. A Strutz and others at the Bacon County School that flourished for a few post war years and then
16/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

closed, but McDonald was the only one to obtain a commercial license. "In those days a commercial license cost $1 ,800," he said, "but today, it would run about $14,000." He could have gone on and qualified for an airline transport rating, but he was intrigued with the little J-3 Piper the school used for training and he decided to stick with light planes.
EXPERIENCE ON GROUND
McDonald's career in forest fire detection goes back to 1950 when he worked under contract with the old Timber Protection Organization. The late Troy Spell, Clinch County Ranger, was his supervisor and an arrangement was made for the pilot to fly six months of the year and spend the remaining six months with Union Camp Corporation, where he operated a bulldozer, fought forest fires and attended to other routine duties. "That was some of the best training I ever had," said McDonald of his summer work. "It gave me an opportunity to learn first hand what really went on down there on the ground and I remembered it when I was spotting and directing crews from the plane."
McDonald was using his own plane during the early years. "It was a little Piper Super Cruiser that I was lucky enough to buy for $1,350. It had been flown only 21 0 hours," he said. "It was a fine plane and it was just like new."
The late Guyton Deloach, who was director of the Commission, and Ed Ruark, who was chief of Forest Protection, came to South Georgia in the early fifties to discuss the fledging aerial operations with McDonald and settled on buying a Cessna 170. It was a time when they hired the late Hank Slentz as a pilot and later began expanding the air arm statewide.
Patrolman Yawn is right in his assumption that lives were saved through McDonald's vigilance and devotion to duty. He tells of shifting winds on a big fire in his county three years ago that could have cost the lives of three tractor drivers if the alert pilot had not radioed escape instruc-

p:z

tions. Similar reports have come from other units, but per- conditions became a little harrowing. He took off from sonnel in the Ninth District will always remember one of 1 Homerville to spot fire in a swamp, but a line of thunder

his heroic deeds in particular. The pilot was cruising over a showers moved in and visibility became extremely poor.

40-acre fire near St. George one day in 1961 when he spot- Unable to land at Waycross and at any other airport within

ted trouble. Patrolman Vess Yeoman was plowing a break range, he was forced to land on a narrow forest trail and

when the wind suddenly shifted. "That's when I realized

spent the night protecting his aircraft from high winds and

that nobody else could get to him and I had to make an

roaming animals.

emergency landing and do what I could," McDonald said.

He said he had to pull the plane into a ditch and sat on

After landing and dragging the semi-conscious firefighter, the tail to keep the wind from wrecking it. This was before

who was seriously burned, to the cockpit, the pilot radioed open range was outlawed in Georgia and livestock roamed

a landing field at Folkston to have an ambulance standing at will. McDonald, who lives on a 60-acre farm near Alma

by. McDonald had no time to consider the danger of land- and raises beef cattle, said "cows like to come up and lick

ing in a close place during the rescue, but he said he "felt a the fabric wings of a plane because of the dope that is

great sense of relief when it was all over...I could have

applied to the cloth...they would rather lick that than a salt

easily clipped a power line."

block."

SAFER IN THE SKY

Although McDonald learned to fly at a time when aviation was approaching the jet age, he has never regretted

The pilot, who contends that ''I've always felt as safe, or his decision to stick to small aircraft and often surprises

r;'aybe even safer, up there in my plane than I do when

friends when he tells them that he has " never even ridden

I m on the ground driving my pickup truck," has had few

in an airliner or a large plane of any kind to this day." He

close calls during his career and said alertness is the key to has, however, had to contend with military aircraft darting

keepin.g problems to a minimum. He quotes the old avia~ors ax1om: "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots,

across the sky at supersonic speeds, but he knows the restricted areas and the flight patterns and gives a wide berth

ut there are no old, bold pilots."

to the jets.

M cDonald does recall one Saturday afternoon when

When the pilot and his wife, Verlene, were wed it

Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/17

was agreed that he would not engage in one particular type of flying. " It was in our marriage vows," McDonald said, " that I would never do any crop dusting. In that kind of flying all you have to do to be killed is to become a little fatigued and make just one little slip." He told of close friends who had been killed while doing low altitude crop dusting and said there is "no comparison between that kind of flying and flying to spot forest fires." The pilot, who has served as a deacon in Baptist Church since 1955, said " I believe the Lord looks after you up there, but you have to realize your limitations."
Although the Commission now has planes flying patrol across the state, with a pilot stationed in each of the 12 districts maintaining an enviable safety record, there have been three fatalities since the air operations began. The one McDonald remembers most vividly and painfully was the 1981 death of Pilot Ben Watkins who crashed about five miles from Statesboro while returning from a fire. " I had talked to Ben on the radio that Sunday afternoon just ten minutes before he was killed," said McDonald.
Spotting fires and directing ground crews has always been the main functions of the pilots, but McDonald remembers when they worked with another state or-
ganization: "Before the State Patrol got planes of its own, Mr. Deloach had us flying on holiday weekends with a state patrolman in the cockpit with us. We would follow highway routes and the officer would radio his ground units when reckless drivers were spotted."
Radio equipment during McDonald's early years as a flier was crude compared to the sophisticated communications systems of today, but he said the late Henry Cannon "was our engineer and a true genius who built our radios and they served us well. I remember when we got up to nine channels and we thought we were something." Today's Commission planes have 720-channel radios.
Air strips have changed, too. " When I started, we had a lot of grass strips and we still do, but we now have a network of modern airports and a pilot flying in Georgia is never more than 25 miles from an airport," McDonald explained.
Commission personnel, other friends and relatives gathered on a recent Saturday night at the Bacon County Recreation Center- just a short distance from where the flying school once stood - to bid farewell to "Mac". In retirement, he plans to spend more time visiting with his children - )eny, LaGay and Danny - and their families. He said his wife will join him in doing some extensive traveling around the nation "but we will be on the ground... in my truck. "
Will he miss flying? "Yes, I certainly will," he said. "Flying is all I've known and it will take some time for me to adjust." The Commission also has an adjustment to make now that the veteran flier has served his time.
1 R/C.eoreia Forestrv/Winter 1989

Anished blank plaques are stacked high in the Ellijay plant awaiting shipment to dealers where they will be assembled with name plates, medals, etc.

FAMILY BUSINESS STARTED IN ABACKYARD SHED NOW ENJOYING INTERNATIONAL SALES

By Clifton Plumley

"We stayed up all night to finish our first order of one thousand plaques," Teresa Davis said, recalling the humble beginning of her family's business that today maintains manufacturing facilitiesand warehouses in four states and enjoys international sales.
"I've done a little bit of everything in this business," Davis, vice president of
material management of Blueridge Mountian Woodcrafts, Inc., said from her office overlooking the North Georgia Mountains. She said herfather, Fred Stahl, started the business in 1974 from a small shed beside their home in Ellijay.
"We made cabinets at first, but had to move on to something else when people stopped building as many houses," Davis said.
The " something else" was wooden plaq ues acd trophy bases. She remembers cutting, sanding, and staining the plaques and trophy bases by hand in her father's make-shift shop in Gilmer County.
. The business has come a long way smce those days, but it is still family owned. Stahl oversees the company whil e his son, Tony, is plant manager at the Ellijay site, and daughter, Teresa, ~arks with the import and export diviSion of the business.
Davis, who has worked in the trophy

business for 15 years, has moved up process, much of the work is still done

the ranks. She started her career in her by hand.

father's small backyard shop, became A computerized table saw which

manager when the first plant opened, stores cutting instructions and pro-

and now coordinates sales and pur- . vides exact precision in sawing raw

chases with Greece, England, Ger- wood, and a new exhaust system

many, Australia, and the many other which vacuums sawdust out of the

countries that purchase BMW's plant and into receptacles outside, are

products.

two of the advances the company has

Warehouses in Georgia, Missouri, recently made.

and Texas, as well as manufacturing BMW uses over one million board

plants in Ellijay and Decatur, Indiana, feet of wood each year. Plaques and

are all managed from spacious and bases are either made from solid

modern offices at BMW's headquar- walnut or hardwood fiberboard-- both

ters located on a beautiful Blue Ridge from the forests of the southeast.

mountaintop in Ellijay.

Since the wood is cut into pieces as

BMW employs 60 people in Geor- small as 2 x 3 inches, there is very little

gia, and although advances in automa- waste. What little scrap wood that is

tion have simplified the manufacturing accumulated finds it's way into the

boiler which heats the plant.

BMW is not alone in the plaque and

trophy industry. There are five or six

WOOD USING INDUSTRY U.S. competitors and a few foreign ones, according to Davis, but BMW

HAS GONE FROM

sells only to certified trophy dealerships. "We don't want to sell retail

HUMBLE BEGINNING IN

because it would put us in competition with our customers," she said.

ELWAY TO OPERATIONS IN FOUR STATES.

In order to stay abreast of the competition, BMW provides an extensive and varied product line and will even do custom jobs for some customers.

"We are very proud of our ability to

work with customers on special de-

Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/19

A computerized table saw that stores cutting instructions assures clean and uniform sawing of wood product.

signs," Davis said. Although the company brings out
new items each year, it is " always open for suggestions from custome~s for new design concepts," Davis sa1d .
One such place to display innovative and new designs is at plaque and trophy trade shows, where standa~ds are often set for the industry, accordmg to Davis.
"We always try to unveil new products and plaque and trophy designs at the shows," Davis said, " and it is a good way to meet potentia~ cu stom~rs by showing them our h1gh quality products."
BMW makes many other products from wood besides plaques and trophy bases. The company's product line includes music and jewlry boxes, clocks desk sets, and even a cigar humid,ifier. Most of the parts used in the products are manufactured in the U.S., with the exception of the marble used on the trophies, which is imported from Italy.
" We would like to buy the marble from Georgia, but there are no facilities here that are able to cut the marble into the sizes and shapes we need,"

Davis explained. The wood, whether walnut or fiber-
board, is brou ght into the plant in a raw state. Using the computerized table saw, the wood is cut into the sizes and shapes needed to make the various plaques and trophy bases. The wood shapes are then sanded, the edges bevelled, and keyholes cut. A process
of staining and lacquering is then performed before the product is ready to be assembled and shipped . Each step is expertly and precisely executed to insure a finished product that will look professional and have a perfect fit.
" Although we are very competitive in our prices," Davis said, "it is our high quality products that keep us in busines s."
The constantly ringin g phones in th e company's Ellijay offices, and a fax machine continuously printing orders, as well as the busy plants and distribution warehouses, are in sharp contrast to the days when Teresa Davis filled orders by hand from her father's small backyard shop.
"It's definitely been a challenge," Davis said, "but the progress we have made has made it well worthwhile."

20/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1YtiY

DISTRICT FOR ESTER
DIES UNEXPECTED LY
Commission employees across the state, forest landowners and others who knew him were shocked and saddened recently by the untimely death of Athens District Forester Don Griner.
Commission Director John Mixon said "Don's sudden death has left a void in our organization, an emptiness that will be difficult to overcome. He was an enth usiastic leader who was dedicated to his profession and although eligible for retirement, he often said he wanted to continue with th e Commission because he thoroughly loved his work and his association with fellow employees."
Richard Donald Griner, a native of Camilla and a graduate of the School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, came with the Commission in 1958 as an assistant ranger and was named assistant district forester in Rome the following year. He became Camilla District area forester in 1968 and transferred to Washington as district forester in 1972. He tran sferred to Athens in 1986.
He served in the U. S. M arine Corps from 1951 to 1953 and excelled in several sports while in high school and college. He was a member of the Baptist Church, where he had taught Sunday School and worked closely with church youth organizations. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters and the Georgia Forestry Association.
The Commission extends heartfelt sympathy to his wife, Polly, and sons, Richard and Don.

Wildlife students jeffery Brooks and jeff Witt at field study site.

STUDIES INDICATE WILDLIFE NOT HARMED BY HERBICIDES

By Karl V. Miller
School of Forest Reso urces Un ive rsity of Georgia

C antral of competing vegetation is one of the most important steps in achieving sue' -- cess ful forest regeneration in th South. Every year more and more acr s are treated with herbici de for ite preparation and for pine release. Herbici des can be used cost effectively to en ure stand regeneration and rapi d early growth . In addition , h rbicide u e can minimize soil eraion that i often a problem associated with mechanical means of site preparation. Although it is known that forest herbicides have very low toxicities to wildlife, relatively little is known about their indirect effects on wil dlife.
The structure and composition of ~egetatio n is a primary factor influencmg the distribution and abundance of wil dlife. Since the primary purpose of ~erbicides i to kill vegetation , doesn't 1t make sense that herbicide use would adversely affect wildlife? The answer i a resounding 0 . Research at The Un_iversity of Georgia, and at other un1veristie (mo t notably Mississippi S~ate) ha indicated quite the oppo-
lte.
Over the past couple of years there

have been studies on how different herbicides affect the vegetation on newly planted pine stands. This research has been funded in part by the Georgia Forestry Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, and the. University's School of Forest Resources. Past studies have shown that on the year after treatment, herbicide use can actually increase the amount of valuable wildlife food plants over that which would be found on mechanically prepared areas.
Different types of plants have a high degree of tolerance to the different type of herbicide u ed. For example, hexazinone (Trade ame=Velpar or Pronone) , actually appear to promote the establishment of legumes, most of which are very valuable food sources for deer, turkey, quail, and a number of songbirds. On the other hand , picloram (Trade ame=Tordon) encourages grasses to become the dominant vegetation on an area. These gras y areas then provide home site for mice and other rodents, which in turn are preyed on by numerous predators.
Most chemical site preparation is aimed at control ling hardwood sprouts that will compete with the

planted pine trees. Many people are dismayed that several important hardwood species of trees (oaks, cherries, etc.) are eliminated. However, they must realize that these hardwoods would never reach a size or age where they would produce mas uch as acorns and hickory nuts.
In addition, hardwood brush is very competitive with more desirable wildl ife plants. By controlling hardwood sprouting a forest owner will promote many species of herbs, weeds, and vines that actually are the key wildlife plants. These understory plants provide abundant forage for deer and rabbits. They also produce an abundant supply of eeds for quail, turkey, and other songbirds.
Herbicide application to clearcut areas often result in an abundance of dead standing tree . While these areas often appear unsightly and devoid of life to the human eye, these dead trees are extremely important to cavity nesting birds. Woodpeckers, bluebirds, chickadees, and a number of other species will make these areas home. In fact, several of these bird pecies would not even be found in an area if it wasn't for standing dead trees. ~

Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/21

Several studies have shown that the

number of different kinds of birds is

higher on these chemically treated

areas than on mechanically treated

areas. Numbers were even higher than

could be found in mature forests. So

the next time you see a chemically-

treated area with all those 'ugly' dead

trees, think of it as an apartment com-

plex for birds.

,

Two studies are in progress that are

designed to look at the effects of her-

bicide site preparation on wildlife food

availability. Because different her-

bicides result in different plant com-

munities the best one to use must first

be determined. These studies are

being conducted by two wildlife stu-

dents at the School of Forest Resour-

ces as part of their Master of Science

degree research program. Jeffery Witt

is finishing a study that he has been

conducting for the last year in the

Georgia Piedmont. His study sites

included an area on the Bishop F. Grant

Memorial Forest in Putnam County

and another near Forsyth in Monroe

County. Four different chemical treat-

ments and two types of mechanical

treatments were compared .Jeff is now

compiling his tremendous amount of

data. Hopefully, a report on his results

will appear in a future edition of

Georgia Forestry.

The second student, Jeffrey Brooks

is currently evaluating potential sites in

the Coastal Plain of Georgia. Jeff is

scheduled to begin his field data

collection early next year. In addition

to looking at wildlife forage in re-

sponse to chemical site preparation,

Jeff hopes to be able to evaluate pop-

ulations of some wildlife species on

these areas. He certainly will have his

hands full when he begins his data

collection.

In summary, chemical site prepara-

tion is not bad for wildlife as was once

believed. In fact, this method appears

to be preferred to mechanical site pre-

paration as far as wildlife is concerned.

There is still a lot not known about the

effects of herbicides; however, studies

like those being conducted at the

University of Georgia with suppport of

the Georgia Forestry Commission cer-

tainly will help expand the present

data.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT SHRINKS TIMBERLAND IN NORTH GEORGIA

More than 50,000 acres of timberland have been cleared annually since 1983 for urban development and other related uses in the 53-county northern region of Georgia, according to a new survey of forest resources.
Results of the comprehensive survey-an inventory conducted by the U. S. Forest Service and supported by the Georgia Forestry Commissionwere presented at a meeting in Gainesville. The northern section of the state is one of five geographic divisions set up for the statewide survey. Data was earlier reported on the other four areas.
The survey showed that softwood is down by almost 10 percent from 4.9 billion cubic feet to 4.4 billion cubic feet, and it is predicted an additional 20 percent reduction will occur over the next decade. Hardwood inventory has increased 8 percent to 5.9 billion cubic feet in the northern region.
The survey revealed a continuing decline in softwood growth. Since 1983, annual softwood growth has dropped 31 percent from 243 million cubic feet to 167 million cubic feet. Over the same period, softwood removals increased by 24 percent to 239 million cubic feet-- 40 percent more than growth. Hardwood growth declined by about 13 percent, while harvest jumped by almost 50 percent. However, hardwood growth still exceeds removals by 70 percent.
Herbert Knight, forestry consultant who presented the findings, noted an

encouraging trend in the rate of pi ne regeneration in the region. He predi cted that the current 40 percent increase in pine regeneration wi ll help stem declining growth over the next 10 to15 years.
After the meeting, Comm ission Director John Mixon stressed t he importance of forest surveys to t he economic health of the State. "Forestry is an $8.7 billion industry in Georgia and the sixth survey of forest re sources is critical, both in understandingtren ds and in guiding industry expansion. We view the results as both a challen ge and an opportunity."
Lamar Beasley ofthe U.S. Forest Service said "Georgia now has th e most complete set of data available on the state's forest resources. It represents state-of-the-art data gathering and analysis, as well as a spirit of cooperation among federal and state agencies and forest industry. As in the past, we will study the report closely to determine whether our research programs are in line with current needs."
Detailed information for the region is contained in two publications: Resource Bulletin 108, "Forest Statistics for North Central Georgia, 1989" by Tony G. Johnson; and Resou rce
Bulletin 107, "Forest Statistics for North Georgia, 1989" by M ark J. Brown. These publications are available from the Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, P. 0. Box 2680, Asheville, N.C. 28802.

22/Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989

BRAD HALL, a native of Columbus and a graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with an associate degree in forest technology, has been named ranger of the Talbot County Unit. The new ranger is a licensed forester and worked five years in the landowner assistance program of the Union Camp Corporation. He succeeds Levy Rentz, who transferred to the Brooks County Unit. Ranger Hall is a mem ber of the Methodist Church,
the Georgia Forestry Association ana Ducks Unlimited... LEROY JONES, Southe rn Region Deputy Director, U. S. Forest SeJVice, based in Atlanta, will retire in late December. A native of

Clarksville, Jones is a graduate of the

University of Georgia and seJVed as

director of the Eastern Tree Seed

Laboratory in Macon and in other

important posts during his 37-year

career. He has written more than 30

technical articles on forest silviculture

and management...GLENN EDWARDS,

twhheo sCeoJmVemdiswsioitnh .Ill.~r

for 32 years, was

recently honored

with a retirement -.r~,rn.

party at the Stone

Mountain unit.

Edwards, who retir-

ed as a district ranger, was employed

1---.ll...lllo

by the Com mis- .____:__ _____:;;___.

sian in 1957 as patrolman for the

Gainesville District. He was later pro-

moted to assistant ranger and county

ranger. Currently a resident of Dacula,

he and his wife, Esther, attend the New

Hope United Methodist Church in

Lawrenceville. They have three sons

and a daughter.



NATIONAL FOREST FIREWOOD PERMIT FEE IMPOSED

Persons who cut firewood off ational Forest Land must now pay a small fee, according to Forest Supervisor Ke n Henderson of the U. S. Forest SeJVice.
Although firewood permits in Georgia have traditionally been given free to the public , the U. S. Forest SeJVice this year implemented a nationwide fee system to help cover adm inistrative costs of processing the perm its.
Firewood oermits are now issued on the Chattachoochee-Oconee Nationai.Fo rests in Georgia for $5.00 per cord, With a two cord minimum per perm it.
" Some National Forests have been charging for firewood for years," Henderson explained, "With the new fee system, all National Forests will

charge for firewood." The potential return to the federal treasury from the nationwide fee system is an estimated $2.25 million annually.
Demand for fuelwood off National Forest Land increased dramatically during the early 1970'sas a result of the oil embargo. Although demand has decreased in recent years, the National Forests still provide an alternative to those who want to cut their own wood. Last year more than 3,566 permits were issued on Georgia's two National Forests for about 18,000 cords of wood.
Permits for cutting firewood are issued by the district ranger. Because some wood might be insect-infested or diseased timber, certain portions of the National Forest are off limits for gathering firewood.

Plant a tree, cool the globe
Its getting pretty hot around here.
Every time you plant a tree, you're helping to solve
what may be the greatest environmental problem of
our lifetime, global warming. How? Carbon
dioxide from energy consumption is trapping the
sun's heat in our atmosphere, turning the Earth
into a planetary hothouse. Just in the process
of growing. trees convert carbon dioxide into
life-giving oxygen, letting the Earth "breathe"
again. America has room for at least 100 million
trees, around homes and offices, schools and shopping malls. Won't you do
your part to help cool the globe?
Georgia's coordinator for Global Releaf is Sharon Dolliver
Dial1-800 GA TREES
GIBAL
~Ali
.
Georgia Forestry/Winter 1989/23

GEORGIA

FORESTRY

t:?

~

t:~) MI S~"<:::>

Time passes swiftly when you're an adult and often there is asenseof regret when you look back over an
old year and think of unfulfilled accomplishments. One regret
that many Georgia landowners have is that they failed to plant trees on their idle acres last year or year before last -or even ten years ago. Each year of postponement is a season of growth lost forever. THE FUTURE BELONGSTO THOSE WHO PLANT FORIT is afamiliar slogan of the Georgia
Forestry Commission. Why not make
it your slogan in 1990 if you have land
that should be growing profitabletrees.
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT MACON, GEORGIA