Georgia forestry, Vol. 45, no. 3 (Fall 1992)

Georgia

FORESTRY

US PS No. 2171 20
Fall, 1992 No. 3

Vol. 45

STAFF Howard E. Bennett, Editor William S. Edwards, Assoc. Editor Jackie N. Cundiff, Graphic Artist Bob Lazenby, Technical Advisor
Zell Miller, 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

DISTRrCT OFFI CES
District One 3086 M artha Berry Hwy.. NE/Rome. GA 30161
District Two 3005 Atlanta Hwy./Gainesville. GA 30501
District Three 1055 E. Whitehall Rd./Athens. GA 30605
District Four 184 Corin th Rd/ Pwnan. GA 30263
D istrict Five 119 Highway 49/Milledgeville, GA 31061
Di trict Six 1465 Tygnall Rd./Washington . GA 10671
District Seven Rou te 1. Box 23A/Americus. GA 31709
Dist ri ct Eight Route 3. Box 17/Tifton . GA 31794
District Nine P.O . Box 345/Cami lla. GA 31730
District Ten Route 2. Box 2~/Statesboro. GA 30458
District Eleven Ro.Jte 1. Box 67/Helena. GA 31037
District TwPive 5003 jacksonville Hwy./Waycross. GA 31501
Urban Fo restry 6835 Memorial Drive StooP Mountain. GA 30081
Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, Route 1, Box 181 , Dry Branch, GA 31020. Second class postage paid at Macon, GA POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Georgia Forestry Commission, Route 1, Box 181 , Dry Branch, GA 31 020.
Page 2/Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992

OUTSTANDING AWARDS IN ACHIEVEMENT

PRESENTED AT ANNUAL GFA CONVENTIO

The Rome District of the Georgia Forestry Commission and two of the state agency's county units were awarded for outstanding achievements by the Georgia Forestry Association at the organization's recent annual convention on jekyll Island.
The Rome District is one of the larger districts and requires more personnel and equipment to protect the forested acreage in its 15 counties than is needed in smaller districts. In presenting the plaque, the Association cited the Rome District Personnel for their skill in working on fires in difficult terrain in mountainous Northwest Georgia.
In addition to maintaining a superior forest protection program, the district was commended for keeping all buildings, grounds and equipment in very good condition at all times in every county.
Region 1 (North Georgia) county unit honors went to Habersham Rabun-White. The Region 2 (South Georgia) plaque was presented to the Dod ge County Unit.
The attitude of the personnel at the Habersham-Rabun-White County Unit is "accomplishment oriented" and they have a wide variety of skills they are willing to use, according to the Association.
Personnel are called on repeatedly to help with various construction projects and they have assisted in several special projects, including hosting their district's Top Gun competition, assisting with the Field and Brush Day for the RFD Departmentsand the training of Correction Department fire crews.
During the recent Gypsy Moth spraying project in the Gainesville Di strict, the unit repaired vehicles, cleaned aircraft staging area, and attended to other duties during the operation.
The Association pointed out that the Dodge County Unit maintains grounds and buildings in a manner that reflects the pride th ey take in their unit.
Employees are dedicated to pro-

mating services and programs of the Forestry Commission and at every opportunity they are proviCling in formation to owners and others interested in forestry in Dodge County.
These employees also enjoy a close working relationship with local city and county officials.
In addition to their numerous d uties at the unit, they have become involved in several local events such as an amateur lumberjack contest an d forestry displays, including the construction of a log cabin, timber equipment displays, and woodworkin g arts and crafts.
The plaques were presented during an awards breakfast during the GFA's 90th annual convention.
The Logger of the Year Award at the annual convention was actually a Loggers of the Year honor, as it waspresented to brothers Frank and Bi ll Shepherd of Irwinton. The brothersare major transporters of wood chips from the forests to the pulp and paper mills and they are also well experien ced in hauling whole tree timbeF. They maintain a fleet of modern trucks and tim ber harvesting equipment. The brothers were featured in this magazine several years ago.
Lowery (Whitey) Hunt, M organ County landowner who lives in Madison, was honored as Georgia's Tree Farmer of the Year. Hunt, who was nominated for the honor by Forester james K. johnson of the MorganWalton County Unit, was featured in th ~ summer issue of Georgia Forestry.
Forester Cathy Black of the Com mission's Washington Di stri ct rece ived the Outstanding Facilitator of the Yea r Awa rd for leading th e greatest num ber of PLT workshops during the calen da r year. She has made the tra ining avai lable to educators in her Ri chmond County area, as well as ot hers throughout the state through th e Envi ronm ental Education Program at the National Science Center at Fort Gordon each summer. She also won th e Commissi on 's PLT Award for co nducting more PLT workshops than any other Commissi on employee.

ON THE COVER- Autumn came early to scenic Tallulah Gorge in mountai nous Northeast Georgia and Commission Photographer Billy Godfrey was there to greet it. The scene depicts the Tagaloo River as it flows downstream over an anci ent rock bed .

It has been 500 years this fall since Christopher Columbus landed on our shores and although historians doubt he visited the land now known as Georgia, a forester looks back over the centuries and notes that his expedition opened the way for many tree species to be established in this state.

COLUMBUS LEAVES GEORGIA LEGACY OF TREES

By Kim Coder

Although Columbus never set foot in

Georgia, as far as we know, he and his

countrymen did leave us a legacy of trees. In this an niversary year of

Columbus's explorations, Georgians

can look back to what the early

colonists of this hemisphere left

behind.

The Spanish and the English always

took the fruit trees they were famil iar

with and planted them everywhere

they went. Most of these gardens were hastily put into the grouna and often f~rgotten. Some garaens struggled and

dtea out quickl y. At other locations the fruit trees lived and some even repro-

duced. Some of these plantings were

used as places to restock meager ship

stores or as a day of fruit gathering by local settlers.

The Spanish planted a number of

garden areas along the Georgia Coast

tforut~testt~ewehs ewthoeurl

some of their favorite d grow. The English

colontsts sought the aid of botanists to

coiled and pfant fruit trees to accli-

m~ 7a3te6

an d we

cultivate them. have records of

As early as a test garden

tn Savannah.

In mid-February 1740, there are

records of an ambush ot 1:3ntish soldiers by Spanish forces near an orange grove along the banks of the Altamafia River. Tne English scouting party was tempted by the fruit filled trees. When they landed they were fired upon. In the struggle to escape, the English boat commander was killed. The English revenge came when ther discovered the Spanish company s boat and destroyed it. All for the sake of oranges.
Among the trees planted in the area that was to become Georgia were oranges, figs, peaches or nectarines, muloerries and pears. Many other trees were tried but failed to grow. Noticeable failures were olives, limes and lemons.
The oranges planted and maintained were two cultivated oranges, Citrus aurantium, Seville orange; Citrus sinensis, sweet orange and Poncirus trifolia, the native bitter orange. The fig tree planted was Ficus carica, the traditional fig or higuera, as the Spanish called it. The peach, nedarine, or durazno (Spanish), was Prunus persica.
The mulberries c:u ltivated were the

native red mulberry Morus rubra and the imported Morus alba, the white mulberry used in growing the silkworm. The Spanish names for the mulberries were mora l and moral blanco. The pear planted and then escaped from cultivation was Pyrus communis, called pera in Spantsh.
We know of most of these species because the remnants of the plantings survived long enough so someone could recorcf their existence or because the species escaped into their new environment and thrived. The heritage of early Georgia includes the many plants that were moved from many parts of the world to see if they would grow here.
Some of the new plants grew well, but many failed. The ones that survived represent a botanical link to the times of Columbus when the New World was being colonized. Trees have been and continue to be part of people's lives that they cannot bear to leave behind.
(Kim Coder is a forester with the University of Georgia Extension Service)

Georgia Forestry/Fa/11992/Page 3

Why leaves Change Color

Scientists don't yet fully understand all of the complicated actions and interactions that produce the spectacular displays of autumn leaf colors that are a highlight of the fall months. Organic pigments in the leaf cells, sunlight intensity, moisture, temperature, length of day, tree genetic traits, site characteristics, latitude, altitude- all these and other factors affect when and how leaves change colors, and the hues they produce.

What Produces the Change?

Actually, leaves don't really change colors-they reveal their true colors. During the summer, green pigments called chlorophylls dominate and mask out the natural pigments. When chlorophyll production ceases in the fall, the green disappears and the previously hidden yellows, oranges or browns are revealed.

The elongated palisade cells receive th e direct rays from the sun, and are the key players in the process of photosynthesis (converting sunlight, carbon and water into food).

Green chlorophyll , important in the foodproducing process of photosynthesis, is found in tiny cell structures called plastids.
Yellow and orange pigments called carotenoids are also found in the cells' plastids.

Veins have tubelike structures that support the leaf, bring water from the
roots and move food from the leaf to the rest of the tree .

In some species,
r.t-~H-+--anthocyanin
pigments are produced in the sap of the leaf's cells when photosynthesis ceases in the fall. These pigments provide the brillian t reds and purples common in the autumn colors of some trees .

Stomas are pores that allow movement of air into the leaf, providing carbon dioxide needed for photosynthesis and releasing oxygen produced by the process .
Courtesy National Arbor Day Foundation.
Page 4/Ceorgia Forestry/Fall 1992

Loosely packed cells of the spongy layer permit air containing carbon dioxide to move inside the leaf to the food-producing cells.

AUTUMN LEAVES CONVENIENT COMPOST SOURCE

Fall is pri metime for com posting- with

urban and rural forests producing

massive amounts of dead organic mat-

ter. Nature, however, does not treat this

dead material as waste; instead it is in-

corporated as a vital and necessary part of the ecological cycle as a whole.

Leaves decompose to form a rich

layer that returns important elements to

the soil. Carbon, nitrogen and

phosphorus are returned in the right

proportion s to renew the ecological cycle for new growth . The cycle is catalyz-

ed by waste and sunlight. Nature does it all.

The good news is that homeowners

can readily take full advantage of this

process by using leaves to return a more natural balance to the urban forest and ~mmediate surroundings. Gently helpIng nature to take its course is all that

is req uired . Human intervention often
short ~ircuits the urban forest's life cy-

cle; th1s need not be the case. Co ':lposti ng allows cut organic

matenal - ra nging from grass clippings to leaves -to decompose in the same

~mhaennweor otdhsat

has been taking place since the beginning

in of

orjsts. Many cities are now refusing to co1ect all yard clippings, including

NATURE'S ANNUAL GIFT TO GARDENERS
leaves, branches and bushes. In turn, homeowners have taken advantage of this by composting yard wastes .
There are many blends for composting, but the basics are the same. Four critical elements include: oxygen, moisture, and a proper ratio of nitrogen and carbon.
Composting might be defined by some as an art, but nature offers the science. Properly executed, the process can prove very rewarding and (surprising to some practitioners) odor free. Enthusiastic novices are usually pleased to learn that they can create a large supply of rich humus that can be used on flower beds and vegetable gardens. The mixture can also be used as potting soil or just a good-old-plain soil additive.
There are many possible ingredients for a compost pile, ranging from leaves to kitchen scraps; just about anything organic can be composted. There are

probably as many ways to compost as there are ingredients.
The easiest way, however, may be to simply make a backyard pile of leaves, grass clippings, tree and shrub clippings, and kitchen scraps (no meat or fatty foods included). If the pile is dry, it should be wet down and turned over once a week. The pile can also be contained in a wooden, boxed frame or an enclosure made of wire mesh.
The compost should be ready within five weeks (depending on ingredients). A cardinal rule is not to use the compost before it is ready. The organic mixture is ready when it turns the brown color of a forest floor. To prevent odor, keep the compost well ventilated .
The entire process is easy, simple and rewarding. Cqmposting is a highly beneficial way for Americans to deal with more than 30 million tons of cut, organic material that has been previously dumped into landfills. The recycling of such materials offers harmonious rapport with nature in an urban setting. Responsible use of the homeowner' s cuttings is not only personally beneficial , it also prevents the ecosystem from being damaged in an urban setting.

LIST OF WOOD ENERGY USERS
CONTINUES TO GROW

A dd Sutton Lumber Company of Tennga, a tiny hamlet near the Tennessee state line, to the growing number of Georgia industries and institutions now relying on wood as a dependable and economical source of energy.
Advances in engineering, the prohibitive costs of alternate fuels and the immediate need to dispose of mill residue are principal reasons for the return to the basic fuel of an earlier age. More than 120 plants, mills, schools, prisons, hospitals and other facilities from Tennga to deep South Georgia have installed modern wood-fired systems to take advantage of Georgia's abundant forest resource.
"The installation of a wood-fired kiln at Sutton Lumber Company is the most recent example of how wood is coming to the forefront in our state as the most feasible fuel," said Fred Allen , Chief of the Commission's Forest Products, Utilization, Marketing and Development Department. "It is an installation that has reduced lumber drying time from about 45 days to only 20 hours, thus greatly increasing production, reducing labor costs and conserving storage space."
Prior to the installation of the kiln, all lumber at the mill was slowly air-dried and when kiln-dried was requested or a rush order was received, it had to be transported to a competitor who had a kiln and then returned to Tennga for shipment. The mill is now saving $27.00 per thousand board feet by having its own dry kiln, accord ing to the owners.
Page 6/Georgia Forestry/Fa/17992

Sutton Lumber Company had access to electricity and propane gas, but elected to use wood as a fuel for obvious
reasons; sawdust and shavings were readily available from the manufacturing

process, it provided a means of utilizi ng the whole log and solved the problem of disposing of the mill waste in an environmentally acceptable manner.
"The installation of the kiln is not only

beneficial to Sutton Lumber Company, a family owned business established in 1964, but makes a contribution to ~he local com munity and the surround1ng countryside," Allen said. "Unlike traditional fossi l fuels, wood is locally grown and generally remain.s within 100 miles of its origin." He pomted out that the increased utilization of wood at the mill benefits area forest landowners, loggers, truckers and others.
Allen said the mill took advantage of an " Interest Buy-Down Program," a federally-funded incentive supported and administrated by the Commission, Georgia's Office of Energy Resource and the Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program.
The program provides funds to be applied to the interest on a construction loan to purchase and install a woodfired heating system of a cogeneration system using wood as the feedstock.
In order to adapt to different markets, the mill added two operations. One was a total tree drum debarker and chipper installed to allow complete utilization of an entire tract of timber. Smaller stems are separated and chipped for the pulp and paper industry, while bark is run through a hog and then sold as mulch material or as an industrial boiler fuel. The second addition was the dry kiln.
The high temperature kiln has the capacity to dry 50,000 board feet of pine lumber in about 20 hours. It is controlled by a computer system that monitors all aspects of the drying process.
A wood gas generator combined with a 200 hp boiler was selected for the system, which uses approximately 1,200 pounds of fuel per hour. The wood gas produced by the fuel is passed by a con-
Opposite page: Fred Allen, left, and Harold Sutton of Sutton Lumber
~mpany.check a charge of lumber to
rolled mto the mill's new dry kiln. Above: Part of a group of visitors attendmg a demonstration of the kiln
~d other new installations. Below:
L e debarker and chipper that supplies rue/ for the kiln.

Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992/7

nectorto the boiler, where it is burned in aswirling motion to produce 24o-degree steam needed for drying.
One of the points stressed by the manufacturer of the kiln, Converta Kiln Inc. of Tennessee, was that the fuel needs to be uniform, a condition Allen said the Commission realized soon after the first wood-fired system went into operation in Georgia in the mid 70's. All material at the Sutton mill is hogged and screened before going into the storage building and screened a second time before entering the silo that holds enough fuel to operate the kiln for 72 hours.
The overall cost of the energy system was approximately $249,000 and based on current operational procedures and savings on fuel, simple payback time on the investment should be less than two years, excluding the cost of the kiln, according to Allen, the manufacturer and others involved in the program.
Allen said other industries interested in the Interest Buy-Down Program should contact his office at the Commission's state headquarters in Macon (Phone toll free 800-GA TREES for
additional information. 0
CONSULTANTS PRAISED
The House of Representatives ofthe Georgia General Assembly recently offered a resolution commending several professional foresters and others who served as consultants in the drafting of House Bill 283, legislation dealing mainly with forest conservation and taxation.
The resolution named David Westmoreland and Dennis Martin, Georgia Forestry Commission; john Gunter, Jr. and Coleman Dangerfield, Cooperative Extension Service; Harold Reheis and Earl Shipiro, Department of Natural Resources; Larry Snipes, agricultural Statistical Services; and James Bridges Department of Agriculture.
They are members of the Conservation Use Valuation Advisory Group and were consultants to the Depart~ ment of Revenue. They were credited with making "many significant contributions to a more equitable system of real property taxation in Georgia."
The bill was signed into law last year by Governor Zell Miller and "stands as a monument of relief to taxpayer concerns that l_and in Georgia be conserved for the future, that timber be taxed fairly, and that taxpayers be given a voice in the local taxation process...," according to the resolution.

IS--------- - - - - - - - - - I 7
TheUniversityofGeorgia
Georgia Center for Continuing Education

A short course, Fundamentals of Wood Products Marketing, will be held November 6 at the School of Continuing Education, The University of Georgia.
Marketing involves many aspects of the product: its promotion, development, pricing, distribution, planning, etc. and the course overviews the basics of marketing and then blends them into market strategy development. Extensive "real world" examples of forest products firms are used as illustrations.
The instructor, Dr. Steven A. Sinclair, is a recognized leader in forest products marketing in the U.S. He is Professor of Forest Products Marketing at Virginia Tech and has authored a new book on the subject.
The one-day workshop is designed for all senior sales people, sales managers, product planners and strategists in the forest products industry. The registration fee is $125.00 and includes lunch, refreshment breaks and instructional materials.
A second short course, Faster Point Sample, will follow at the center on November 9-10.
Point sampling is the most cost-

effective means of obtaining volume estimates for forested areas and the course provides participants with the knowledge to better design, conduct, and analyze point samples for estimating pulpwood and sawlog volumes.
The course is designed for professional foresters who conduct forest inventories or interpret forest inventory results. A working knowledge of basic point sampling is a prerequisite for this course. The instructor is Dr. Richard G. Oderwald from Virginia Tech, who has over 15 years experience in the research, use and teaching this technique.
Registration fee for the one and one-half day course is $165.00 and includes one lucheon, refreshment breaks, and instructional materials. The course provides 10 hours of Category 1 Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) as recognized by the Society of American Foresters.
For more information on the courses write: Forestry Programs, Georgia Center for Continuing Education, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2603, or call (706)542-3063.

GEORGIA WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST UNDERWAY

Now is the time to take a few wild shots for the 1992 Georgia Wildlife Photo Contest sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Program, Game and Fi sh Division, Georgia Wildlife Federation and Eastman Kodak Company.
Photo entries will be accepted from Aug. 1-Dec. 1, 1992. Categories include game and nongame species, wild plants, outdoor recreation , backyard wildlife and a junior division for ages 17

and under. The overall and first place photos w ill
be published in Georgia Wildl ife magazine, courtesy of the Georgia Wildlife Federation. Additional pri zes w!ll be offered for first, second and thi rd place, including a weekend for two at Amicalola Falls State Park for the overall winner.
For more information and an entry form , write to Wildlife Photo Contest, Route 5, Box 180, Forsyth , GA 31029, or call (912) 994-1438 .

8/Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992

THE IDENTICAL FOREST

Ji~_ A_

~ 1_

t ~

A:~~t.
~< t

UGA Cloning Research Seeks Quantam Leap

The search for the perfect forest popu lated with trees of identical desired traits - is an el usive pursuit. This purest of monocultures inspires visions of utopian forestry with vast benefits and compi ications unknown.
Speculating on the mind-boggling potentials of what is generally perceived as cl oning trees, Dr. Arnett Mace, dean of the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources, looks out his office window at manicured campus trees and reflects an indispensable quality of this research: Patience.
"The advanced science of molecular genetics offers great potential," Mace emphasized. "On the other hand, it is a
~ong-term, high risk type of research that
ISnot an easy task. But if we don't initiate certain things now and sustain the momentum ofour current progress, we could
be here five years from now saying the
same type of thing."
Dean Mace is dedicated to enhancing

By Bill Edwards
molecular genetics aspects of forest resources because it offers quantum leaps across almost every conceivable factor of increased yields, wood traits, disease and insect resistance, chemical yields, biomass production, etc. Future uses of methanol , lignin and cellulose are also interwoven in the research. And now, considering such recent findings as those concern ing the Yew tree (taxol), even the possibility of a super-strain cancer cure taps on the door of possibility.
"Collectively, we (UGA Forestry School) probably have as much expertise in this field as any institution in the country," Mace said. "Our researchers

have not only been pioneers in thisfi eld, some have been recognized internationally for their work."
In essence, molecular genetics has the potential of accentuating the positive through genetic manipulation to create clones w ith identical desired charaderistics. Agriculture is already reaping many benefits from this advanced science because crop cycles provide an annual base for research determinations. Forestry, however, does not have this luxury; trees require years to mature. Nevertheless, highly significant advances and shortcuts have been established in the UGA Forestry School's research program. An entire floor of the school is set apart for such research.
Mace, and other U GA Forestry School researchers, point out that molecular genetics offers an alternative for decades of tedious breeding, long years of progeny testing, reselection, and long-term forest tree breeding programs. Emerging

Georgia Forestry/ Fall 1992/ 9

techniques can theoretically narrow these practices down to a few years; but the mirror image of paradox stares back -successful research in this area can take a longtime. And time is of the essence in a world so much in need to answers that such research can provide - a world of frightening population growth and needs for renewable energy sources.
NO QUICK FIX
This research does not lend itself to movie-scri pt-cure-all-sudden breakthroughs. It is an accumulation of many fragments from different sources that finally form another stepping stone to knowledge. And Dr. Mace points out, it is expensive. It could also be considered a thankless effort by anybody on an ego trip.
The UGA School of Forestry, however, recognized the potential of molecular genetics more than 30 years ago. In 1960, Dr. Claud L. Brown (now retired but sti II active in the field) started the first forest tree tissue culture laboratory in North America at the UGA Forestry School.
Within five years, Brown's lab was the first in the world to grow numerous conifers on chemically defined media. Five years later, after Dr. Harry Sommer joined the lab as a post doctoral fellow, the lab became the first in the world to produce pine plantlets (longleaf, slash and loblolly) on chemically defined media. This was significant because whole plantlets were produced using tissue culture techniques.
This opened the door to techniques permitting forest researchers to manipulate cells of trees in the laboratory in much the same manner microbiologists had done for years with bacteria and other microorganisms. Little imagination was required to envision 100 prime trees of a species, then mass cloning the selection for reforestation on the most receptive sites.
Despite the importance of this accomplishment- in the sense of being a vital link in the research chain- the Sommer breakthrough was greeted for the most part with bland acceptance. "Even in the 1970's," Dr. Brown recalls, "most forest geneticists thought we had gone into outer space with this sortofthing. ln fact, I did send some pine callus cultures to NASA for testing lunar soils, and as with most new technology, we were on the receiving end of many jokes concern ing
growing trees on the moon, etc."
In 1984, Dr. Scott Merkle joined the UGA Forestry School faculty. He went immediately into the research program.
Page 10/Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992

Dr. Scott Merkle examines research samples at University of Georgia School of 1 Forest Resources - an institutional pioneer in the field of forestry related molecular genetics. Merkle's research specialty is gene transfers.

Although he teaches dendrology anC: other forestry courses, 75 percent of his time is now spent in research working closely with Dr. Harry Sommer. Merkle was the last doctoral fellow to join Brown's lab before his retirement.
THE MERKLE RULE
Merkle says the most essential characteristic of this research is "to maintain incredible patience in the atmosphere of an open mind-because you never know when the most unexpected thing might work."
The focus of Merkle's research concentrates on gene transfers. He empha-

. sizes that this is only one aspect of molecular genetics, but like other aspects, it is essential to the functi oning of the whole. Gene transfer is made possible by the availability of a tissue culture cloning system.
"Some of wnat we're doing here mvolves adding positive traits that cou ld not be crossed to a tree by sexual means" Merkle said. "Negative traits are not removed, but positive traits are added to obtain an objective." He added that there are already a few economically important genes available that are good for trees in general. One is a gene that induces herbicide resistance; another is aset ofgenes that confer insect resistan ce.

Dr. Arnett Mace Dean

Dr. Claud Brown Professor Emeritus

"These are actually bacterial genes," Merkle explained. "Theydon'tcomefr~m trees. So the idea is to grow the bactena,
then incorporate the substance into a plant or tree and have it make the toxin. This gene implantation process is already used
on popu lus tr~es and r~search is underway to use 1t on comfers.
The amazing part of this research is that two different, sexually incompatible kingdoms are having genetic qualities
merged for breeding purposes.
A basi c analogy to Merkle's work is that it is like taking cuttings from a tree. Theoreti cally, each of the cuttings come from the same tree without sexual reproduction. All ofthe arttings are of one done-
genetically identical. "All we' re doing is kind of scaling that
down into culture under sterile conditions," Merkle said. "So we can multiply that tree thousands, even millions of times, in that culture. Rootings would not permit this."
MONOCULTUREPHOBIA
So assuming Merkle and others in the chain reaction research succeed in developing a tree resistant to a specific insect or disease, there are those who fear an adapted immunity would develop in turn and a super-bug or superdisease might develop.
"This is a realistic danger that forestry related companies are concerned with," Merkle said. "Monoculturesofaso-called normal variety create enough controversy, but this sort of thing stirs up even more negative feelings."
Merkle explains, however, that there are a number of possibilities to counteract the monoculture problems of potential immunity development; one of the prime considerations is mixing nontrans formed trees with transformed trees to offer resi stance.
Merkle also points out instances in whi_ch a monoculture could be highly d~s1rable while having nothing to do w1th the resistance issue. "If a tree was cion~~ that was an optimum fuel or med 1cmal source - and it did not open the door for disease or fungal attack woul d that be bad?" he said. "Uniformity could be very valuable in such an instance, and the same could prove true for the tim ber industry. If you have a
~lon? l source, you know the same thing
IS be1ng made every time. So the result could be good or bad depending on resu lts and differing perspectives."
Merkle believes the future is bright for tr~e cloning research, but he echoes the Views of others in this field when he says

the time factor is a major consideration. Trees are lagging behind other plant research simply because of this aspect.
Big companies areal readytesti ng some genetically engineered crops, but there is nothing like that happening with trees, except for limited work with populus and herbicide resistance. For instance, in the case of Merkle's work with yellow poplar, 10 to 12 years is required .just to get starting material for research.
Mature yellow poplar somatic embryos ready for germination.
Frazer magnolia plantlet grown from somatic embryo.

Nevertheless, in spite of time constraints and expense, research is expanding. When Dr. Brown started his
lab -at UGA in 1960, similar programs were virtually nonexistent. Now there are more than 50 such tissue culture facilities in North America that are working with forest trees.
So the research goes on with one noncloned virtue daminant above all others: Patience.

Sweetbay magnolia plantlets derived from somatic embryos.

. ....,...-~
,(

~-

<~

u
t
"'~ Co~-- -

Two plates germinating yellow poplar somatic embryos.

Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992/11

ANIMAL INN PROGRAM PROMOTES DEAD TREES PRESERVATION

"People are becoming more and more environmentally consicous and Animal Inn fits in perfectly with good stewardship of the land."

orth Georgia's Chattaho?chee t-:J~tiona! Forest is a maJOr part1crpant m a nationwide wildlife habitat program expected to include 100 mi llion acres of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management public lands within the next year. More than 40 states will be involved. The program, titled AN IMAL INN, is an educational program promoting preservation of dead t rees (snags) as homes for various types of wildlife. Currently, one-third of the National Forests in 15 states are using the program's materials; this encompasses 50 million acres. Laurie Fenwood, a U. S. Forest Service interpretive services and marketing specialist for the Chattahoochee National Forest area, said that only in the last 20 years have scientist discovered just how crucial "snags" are to the ecosystem of a healthy forest. " Nearly a third of all forest creatures depend on standing or fallen dead trees for survival," Fenwood said. "Even fis h, plants, and microorganisms make use of decaying trees. The beauty of this program is that there is not a lot to do to maintain it- just leave the snags as nature causes them to evolve." Leaving snags, Fenwood said, is
12/Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992

beneficial not only to wi ldlife, but also to human beings who fare better when the balance of nature is preserved; one small factor builds on another to harmonize with the

who le. For example, woodpeckers are primary excavators of dead trees. Approximately 75 percent of the woodpecker's diet consists of insects pecked out of the decayed bark. Many destructive insects are consumed by this process.
Woodpeckers also drill out nests in dead trees. A number of creature s take up residence when the wood peckers have abandoned these nests. New occupants incl ude wood ducks, sparrow hawks, screech owl s and bluebirds. Mice and flying squirrels also den in dead trees, while bats, also voracious consumers of insects, hide under the loose bark.
W hen t he tree decays to the point of falling, another cycle of use begins. Insects and plants contribute to further decomposition and provide bu rrowing space for small mammals. Wh en the log is hollow, skunks, opossums and rabbits may use it for shelter.
The final breakdown yields rich wood land soil which nou ri shes the
Dead trees (snags) like this one at left have generally been considered good only for firewood. Now a new program encourages p reservation of snags as an important part of the ecosystem.

entire system so the cycle of life can
be perpetuated. woodlands and rangelands on 147
million acres of National Forests and Grasslands, plus nearly 9~ r:nillion acre of public land admm1stered by the Bureau of Land Management, provide ha bi~at _for more than 1,000 pecies of wildlife. Dead trees ( tan ding and fallen) on these lands provide vital food and shelter for wildl ife. Such trees also sustain fungal growth , nutrient recycling: and edi ment entrapment; tree speCies involved included evergreens and hardwoods throughout the SO states.
Animal Inn was initiated by the U.S. Forest Service on Oregon's De chutes National Forest in 1986. The purpose was to alleviate the dilemma resulting from woodcutters and animals competing for dead tree . Anima ls were getting the short end of the stick.
In itial ed ucational efforts of th e program ranged from classrooms to billboards. Success of the program re ulted in expansion to a national cooperative effort involved included evergreens and hardwoods throu ghout the SO states.
PARTNERSHIPS FORM
Fenwood said. " Partnerships are developing into one of the most important characteristics. " Fenwood i re ferring to collaboration between government, educators, conservati onists, fo restland owners, and managers to protect and conserve tan ding an d fallen dead trees. . " Priv~te landowners are becomin g mcreasmgly interested in the program," Fenwood said. "One reason is because it's easy to do- just leave what is already there. Another reason i th at leaving snags when timber is harve ted serves a useful purpose for regeneration. Dead trees are perches for hawks and owls that eat the rats that eat sprouting trees of the next generation."
In addition to offering educational pro gr~ms for school systems, Animal Inn will assist agencies and landown er~ i~ maintaining wildlife habi~at. Thl 1s co nsidered especially Important because of the increasing ~ubl ic demand for forest products."
he key to continued success of the program_ is education," Fenwood emphaSIZed. " We've had quite a bit of uccess in the Chattahoochee

Laurie Fenwood, a U. 5. Forest Services interpretive services and marketing specialist for the Chattahoochee Forest area, coordinates numerous activities of the Animal/nn program. The preservation efforts benefit humans and wildlife by promoting a balance in nature.

area with programs ranging from grammar school throu gh high
ANIMAL INN
Please Protect Trees With: Trunk holes or visible nesrs Broken tops
Wildlife rree or ANIMAL INN signs

school," Fenwood said. Essential to the program's stru c-
tural success are six " Area" teams workin g with local organizations and private industry partners. These teams develop materials and techniques in relation to social and forest condition s of the locale. Protection of key habitats are emphasized.
In essence, the program provide s th e followin g basics: builds awareness that dead and dying trees provide valuable wildlife and fish habitat for healthy forests motivates woodcutters, recreationists, and landowners to save trees with broken tops, trunk holes, visible nests, or special markings provides a tool for forest managers to meet state and federal wildlife objectives.
Organizations involved with the growin g Animal Inn pro gram include: American Forest Coun cil, Am erican Forestry Association ,
Defenders of Wildlife, International Asso ciation of State Foresters, National Audubon Society, National Fi sh and Wildlife Foundation, National Forest Products Association, National Wildlife Federation, North American Bluebird Society, Portable Equipment Manufacturers Association, Trout Unlimited and Wildlife Mangement Institute. Promotional materials range from posters to bookmarks T-shirts and lapel pin s are also available.
TIME IS RIGHT
"The program is growing because the time is right, Fenwood said. "People are becomin g more and more environmentally conscious and Animal Inn fits in perfectly with good stewardship of the land."
Inquiries regarding the pro gram and materials should be directed to: Animal Inn, Forest Service- Bureau of Land Management, P. 0 . Box 7469, Bend , OR 97708-7469 (Phone: S03388-8S61 or S03-388-8S67).
Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992/13

Augusta's CCA-prese~vat~ve wooden bridge- the first of 1ts kmd

in Georgia - represents an<;>ther first: the experimental model1s ~he
first in the Commission's statew1de

bridge building program .to. be constructed by CommiSSIOn

employees.

.

"Forest firefighters w1th no

previous bridge buildi~g ex-

perience constructed th1s one

from the ground up," said Ste:'e Abbott Commission Ranger I With
the C~lumbia County Unit. Ab-
bott who was selected as foreman

of the crew on the basis of record

and tenure, supervised three other Ranger I employees during the one-year project. Crew members

included : Eddie jackson of Burke County, Randy Walden of Jeffer-

son County, and john Crawford of McDuffie County. Bridge con-

struction was combined with the crew's regular duties.

Abbott described the crew's performance as "excellent." He

also commended the Richmond

County (Augusta) Unit for their

assistance in storing materials and providing support.
"We (the crew) got frustrated

from time to time because much ofwhatwedid was bytrial and er-

ror- and we had to get it right in the end," Abbott said. "But we were always encouraged by Macon headquarters' support.

Safety and quality of the finished bridge were primary objectives

of the project. Abbott is particularly proud ofthe fa~ that no inju~ies occurred in sp1te of workmg
under some potentially dangerous

conditions. Abbott pointed out

that one of the most dangerous potentials of this site was a large snake population. Densely wooded bogs fringing Spirit Creek pro-

vides a haven for water moccasins that would slide under the bridge timbers to hide.
"This is an experimental bridge,

but the experiment turned out real well," Abbott said. "The structure

is providing some valuable research , and if this crew has to build another one- we' ll know ex-

actly how to do it."

~~~l~u'1w"

~ 1
"'4'

Page 14/Georgia Forestry/Fa/17992

Group examines new bridge following dedication

PRESERVATIVE TESTED ON WOODEN

EXPERIMENTAL BRIDGE NEAR AUGUSTA

A wood preservative widely used in
treating lumberfor home decking could be the key to the construction of many long-lasting rural bridges across the state.
The Commission, in cooperation with the Southern Pine Marketing Council, Georgia Southern University and the U.S. Forest Service, recently built a 66-foot bridge from timbers treated with the preservative called CCA as a research/demonstration project.
"CCA is the most commonly used, and probably the most environmentally accepted of wood preservatives," said Fred Allen, the Commission's Chief of Forest Products, Marketing and Development. " This bridge will provide research data necessary to determine the effectiveness of CCA and it could lead to an acceleration of construction of similiar bridges."
Allen pointed out that the bridge, which spans Spirit Creek on the grounds of Gracewood State Hospital in Augusta, is not the first wooden bridge constructed under modern engineering methods with the Commission as sponsor, but it is the first of its type. He said there are 11 other wooden vehicular bridges either built or in various stages of planning and construction across the state.
Allen said the Augusta Bridge is one of a series of planned under a cooperative program with the U.S. Forest and various county governments.
The experimental bridge is 16 feet

wide and constructed in three 22-foot sections. Two sections of the wood floor decking are covered in asphalt, with the third left bare for data-collection purposes. All lumber in the project is Southern yellow pine.
Georgia's Department ofTransportation estimates that of the state's more than 15,500 bridges and crossings, approximately 4,400 are structurally deficient or functionally obselete. Allen said many of the faulty bridges are in ru ral areas and county governments are being shown the advantages of wood construction in replacing the spans; he said recent studies indicate timber bridges ranging from 20 to 60 feet in length can be cost competitive with reinforced concrete and steel structures.
He said such bridges have an expected life of 50 years or longer and they are lighter in weight, have excellent reserve strength, less diffcult to construct, have a strong shoc k resistance and require low maintenance.
" Wood, of course, is produced locally and bridge construction opens yet another market for Georgia's forest landowners and lumber manufacturers. " Allen said. "Timber bridges also provide a pleasing appearance and aesthetic qualities in a rural setting."
Allen said all construction on the experimental bridge was by Commission personnel and 18 forest-related industries and organizations donated the material for the project.

-

commission forester, ra~ger consultants in establishment of proJed.

HARDWOOD GROVE BECOMES OUTDOOR CLASSROOM FOR SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON

It was a small stand of hardwoods in an area choked with briars and weeds when school ended for the summer, but returning students this fall found it transformed into an attractive outdoor classroom and nature trail.
The newly developed facility on the grou nds of Morningside Elementary School in Perry consists of a picturesque entranceway built of cypress and cedar, a foot bridge spanning a small creek, an amph itheater in a small clearing, and a wide path lined with wood chips as it meanders the length of the shady grove.
Although it is located at the school on the eastern border of Perry, school officials said it will provide an outdoor learning environment for all elementary, middle and high school students of Houson County, with an opportunity for the study of forestry and tree identification, natural resource management, ecosystems, outdoor art and biology.
" The project was financed by a $3,390 matching grant from the America th e Beautiful Program, " said Forester Ha rry Graham of the Commission's Eleventh District. " It illustrates
how an unsightly plot can be made in-
to an inviting place for nature study and for a better understanding of the many benefits of our forests when school and comm unity leaders work together."
Graham and Chief Ranger Joe Batcht::lor of the Houston County Forestry Unit were consultants in planning the project and the county school system's mar~tenance department provided expertr~ and labor in clearing the site and handlrng the construction. Proctor and

Gamble Cellulose Company donated pine bark for the quarter-mile long nature trail.
America the Beautiful is a federallyfunded "challenge grant program" administered by the Forestry Comission . The school system matched the grant through machine use, labor and other services.
Cliff Wood of Proctor and Gamble, coordinator of Project Learning Tree
(PLn, another program administered by
the Commission, approached Houston schools sometime ago with the idea of developing such a project. Teachers enrolled in PLT workshops which provide an environmental curriculum for students, al so will use the outdoor facility.
In a recent dedication ceremony, Dr. Harold Chapman, superintendent of Houston County Schools, said " we are pleased to open this learning facility for the students of our system and for the residents of the community. It will provide an opportunity for our students to have a variety of relevant hands-on experiences in learning about the environment and will give the community a place to enjoy a walk in a natural setting."
Graham said the Commission is " proud to have had a role in the development of the project and I commend the school maintenance people and others who planned and worked to bring it about." He said the outdoor teaching facility " will stand as a monument to what a community can do to enhance its environment."

Top: Forester Harry Graham discusses tree aging process with elementary school students. Middle photos: Students check out creek bridge while others use small amphitheater. At right, Chief Ranger joe Batchelor and students at entrance to the nature trail.

SOLID WOOD AND FIN~ CRAFTSMANSHIP WITHSTAND TWO C~NTURI~S

By Howard Bennett

Many motorists speeding along U.S. Highway 17 in Liberty County pay scant attention to the imposing landmark; they see it as just another country church, but to the men rennovating the old two-story building at Midway, it's steeped in the history of Colonial Georgia.
Built 200 years ago, Midway Church tells a story of the durability of wood and the fine craftsmanship of the 18th century builders as pieces of siding, wainscoting and floor boards are pulled off to reveal massive structural timbers expertly joined by mortise and tenon, while smaller dimension lumber is fastened with wooden pegs and hand-forged nails.
The cedar shingles on the roof were replaced with Southern pine shakes and a section of the lofty steeple and spire had to be rebuilt, but workmen found most of the building in sound condition and only certain timbers in the foundation and internal walls had to be replaced . The replacement lumber had to be specially milled to conform to the dimension and pattern used in the original construction.
PINE REPLACES CEDAR
Otis A. Amason of Midway, an
official of the Midway Society, an organization that maintains the historic church, said the taper sawn pine shingles purchased from a Savannah company are guaranteed to last 50 yeprs. "We were about to use ordinary shingle nails on the roof," Amason said, "when someone from the company asked why we would use nails good for only about
Page 16/Ceorgia Forestry/Fall 1992

CHURCH RESTORATION REVEALS INTERESTING
CONSTRUCTION METHODS OF COLONIAL GEORG lA
10 years on a 50-year roof and that's when we took the supplier's

recommendation and used stainless steel nails."
The roof was not the only section given careful attention as the renovation progressed. Replacing lum-
ber where ever needed was a pain staking task, as carpenters tried to make new timbers resemble the old members as closely as possible; th ey used wooden pegs instead of nails in many instances. Although the replaced studs and headers are again covered, Amason said that if carpenters in 75 or 100 years need to re-

place the walls, they will find the flaming virtually unchanged from the original construction.
The renovation revealed several interesting objects, including a wooden mal-
let apparently accidentally dropped be-
tween the walls by one of the 18th century carpenters while driving in wooden
pegs. A museun in a replica of the type
plantation homes that were once found throughout the area is near the church and it displays documents, photographs, artifacts and other materials pertaining to the church and its long history.
PRIDE IN LANDMARK
Amason, obviously a history buff who was fascinated with the way the bui lding was constructed during the adm inistration of john Adams, the nation's second president, takes great pride in the Midway Society and its stewardsh ip in preserving the landmark chu rch. His interest is also personal; his father, the late Otis A. (Fred) Amason, who served for many years as ranger of the Comission's Liberty County Forestry Unit, was married in the church and his funeral was held there. Amason said one of the amazing featu res of the church is two massive 12 by 12-inch wooden beams that extend the length of the 60-foot build ing, with one on each side. Carpenters wo rking on the restoration with their electric saws, drills and other power tools and equipment were impressed with the smoothness of the huge timbers that were so laboriously shaped from virgin pine with hand tool2 two centuries ago.
Each major beam and joist is identified by Roman numerals neatly chiseled into the wood. Heavy iron door hinges, locks, spikes and nails used in the church were believed to have been made by a blacksmith on the construction site.
Replacing the plaster on walls of the church was one of the last
Chief _Forest Ranger Jeffery Stone exammes massive timbers used in the walls of the old church and some of the mortised floor joists that had to be replaced.

Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992/17

THE BRITISH BURNED THE ORIGINAL BUILDING DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND UNION TROOPS USED THE REBUILT CHURCH ASA SLAUGHTERHOUSE DURING THE CIVIL WAR. THE LANDMARK CHURCH HAS ENDURED OTHER WARS, DEPRESSIONS, HURRICANES.

phases of the renovation and someone else suggested to Amason that sheetrock should be substituted for plaster, as it would be less expensive and much easier to install, but the builder, bent on keeping with the original structure as much as possible, refused to compromise. A team of skilled plasterers was employed.
Amason said the renovation cost approximately $200,000 and some donations have come from society members and others "but we still have a long way to go in raising that amount."
The Midway region of Georgia was settled in 1752 by Puritans and French Huguenots who crossed the Savannah River from South Carolina to seek out new lands. The first permanent church was completed in 1756, but was burned 22 years later by the British during the Revolutionary War. The congregation rebuilt the church in 1792.
War came to the region again in 1864, but General Judson Kilpatrick's troops, a part of General William Sherman's army in its March to the Sea, didn't burn Midway Church; they used the building as a slaughterhouse and hung carcasses from the balcony. Amason said livestock was confiscated from plantations in the area and the building's convenience as a place for slaughtering animals probably saved it from the torch. When a carpenter found the hoof of a mule concealed in a wall this summer, Amason said he likes to think that "a mule was butchered and passed off to Union troops as roast beef."
The Midway Church, originally a Congregationalist church but now an inter-denominational church that does not have regular worship services, has produced an astonishing number of prominent men, including governors, U. S. senators, congressmen and cabinet members. Among ministers were the Rev. Abiel Holmes, grandfather of Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes and the Rev. Jedidiah Morse, geographer and father of S. F. B. Morse, inventor of the telegraph. General Daniel Steward, a member of the congregation, was the great-grandfather of President Theodore Roosevelt. Georgia counties named for Midway men in-
Page 18/Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992

Otis Amason, who was in charge ofthe restoration project, stands at the comer of the historic church. Regular worship services are no longerheld in the church, but it is used for weddings, funerals, Easter services and other special events.

elude Baker, Gwinnett, Hall, Screven and Stewart.
Many members of Midway are buried in a walled cemetary across the highway from the church.
The sturdy building that survived the Civil War is only 35 miles from the Atlantic coast and has not been damaged by numerous hurricanes and other storms; local historians said the well built church withstood an earth-

quake that jolted the area sometime in the 18th century.
When local members and former members from California, Wisconsin, New York and other distant points arrive next year on the last Sunday in April for the annual reunion, they will find their historic church completely renovated and gleaming white, ready to stand for the generations to come.

Drawing of a 17th century saw pit where each plank had to be laboriously cut by hand (Note second man in bottom of the pit}.

The log was squared with a broadaxe before it was

placed over the pit; the sawing was stopped just

short of the end of the timber to reserve a place for

the sawyer to stand until the last plank was cut.

The leader of the hard working two-man team was

the sawyer; he stood on top of the timber and guid-

ed the saw along a straight line drawn on the wood.

The sawyer pulled the saw upward and the pitman,

who worked in the hole, pulled the saw down again

Where did the carpenters and joiners of the 18th for the cutting stroke. The pitman also occasionally

century get the lumber to build the Midway Church swabbed the saw with linseed oil to make it cut

200 years ago?

more easily.

It's obvious they didn't have the convenience of

The huge foundation timbers that support Midway

the local lumber yard or building supply house

Church were not produced at the pit. Slash marks

where there is always a selection of smooth studs, show that they were hand hewn with an axe.

joists, planks, moulding and wood in other standard Another important craftsman in Georgia' s early

dimensions.

history was the joiner, a construction worker who

Their lumber did come, however, from something took the rough-sawn lumber from the pit crew and

that slightly resembled a sawmill, just as all lumber dressed the showing side of the planks with his hand

today originates at a sawmill, but the manufacturing plane. He had a wide variety of razor-sharp planes

source the colonial Georgians relied upon probably to use in forming beads and other designs in lumber

was a "pit mill."

and in making moulding. The joiner (also spelled

The pit mill depended solely on manpower; water- jointer) had the responsibility of cutting mortises and

powered mills were in existence at that time, but tenons that connected the main structural timbers in

they were mainly in the New England states.

a building.

There were several types of pit arrangements for

A few rough planks represented a long day of hard

sawing lumber, but the permanent pit consisted of a labor for two men sawing in the pit two centuries

hole in the ground that was lined with brick or

ago, whereas gang saws in today's modern mills slice

stone. It had a level sill at about ground level on

a stack of lumber in mere seconds. The crew ren-

which rested rollers to move the log, or cant, for- novating old Midway Church was appreciative of

ward as it was sawn.

that fact.

Builders in early Georgia cut mortises, or holes, in main support timbers to receive projecting parts called tenons. Wooden pegs were often driven through the joint to help secure the connection.

TENOI'f

Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992/19

NATIONAL FORESTS IN GEORGIA NOW APPLYING SEVERAL NEW STRATEGIES

Georgia's Chattahoochee National Forest and Oconee National Forest will have new strategies applied in future years as part of a new program being implemented in the Southern Region. The Chattahoochee consists of 749,444 acres in North Georgia, while the Oconee includes 109,268 acres in the central Piedmont section.
New management strategies include the following concerns: Ecosystem Management, Rural Urban Interface, Water Quality and Quantity, Recreation/Wildlife/Fisheries, Special Areas, commodities, Silvicultural Practices, and Transportation Systems.
John E. Alcock, Regional Forester for the U. S. Forest Service, said the new
Page 20/Georgia Forestry/Fall 7992

strategies of management reflect changing emphasis and new perspectives on Southern Region National Forests .
" Development of these strategies have been underway for more than a year," Alcock said. " They represent changing public attitudes toward National Forests in the South." He added that the strategies are expected to undergo revisions as needed during the next two years.
Alcock said two of the new program areas, ecosystem and silviculture, are key elements in the recently announced national policy of Ecosystem Management and reduced clearcutting. "This means our policy is in line with the national direction for National Forests," Alcock pointed out.
In relation to Commodities Management, timber and minerals are the most prevalent types produced by Southern Region National Forest s. The value of National Forest commodities has increased over the years. In 1930, the total gross revenues for commodities in the Southern Region was approximately $132,000. Last year, total gross revenues exceeded $93 ,300,000 .
Lands of National Forests are not part of the local tax base. Instead, 25 percent of the gross revenues from timber sales is returned to the states and local governments where the National Forest is located. The money is used in these areas to support local schools and roads. During fiscal year 91 , $23,300,000 was returned .

Projecting future situations in relation to new commodity management strategies, the U. S. Forest Service publication "Management Strategies for the Southern Region" states: " The actual amount of commodities produced on each National Forest is determined through the land management planning process as required by the National Forest Management Act. However, it seems clear that the amount of commodities produced from Southern National Forests will actually be reduced by some amount to meet the needs of threatened and endangered species, protect sp ecial areas, reduce clearcutting, ohase out timber sales negative aspects, an d, in general, practice more ecologically sensitive management."
RlJRAL/URBAN INTERFACE
A significance of the new U.S. Forest Service strategies concern ing Georgia is the Rural/Urban Interface program related to Atlanta's proximity to the Chattahoochee National Forest. Forest managers are designin g strategies to cope with increased demand for all resources whil e protecting them for the future. The interface situation has al so created problems of increased demand for road and utility rights-of-way, fire protection, and over-use of recreation facil ities.
The Chattahoochee, like other National Forests with Rural/ Urban Interface problems, is experiencing an interest in th e number of houses being built near the Forest. Such developments may make it difficult fo r local governments to provide services. Traditional approach es are not offering solutions to th is new syndrome of rapid chan ge. Development of new approaches and partnerships with local governments are expected to be an ongoing factor in the Rural/ Urban Interface strategy- so th at all landowners may be considered in plans and policies.
The new strategies are not intended to cover all Forest Service activities and programs; th ey communicate a shift in eight program areas that will be reflected in Forest Land and Resource Management Plans.

Harry Rosso//, right, famous Smokey Bear illustrator, shows painting he did for the Georgia Forestry Museum. Louie Deaton, left, retired urban forester, modeled for one of th e figures in the painting.

ARTIST CONTRIBUTES PAINTING TO MUSEUM

Ha rry Rossoll, whose talents as an artist spread Smokey Bear's fire prevention message to millions of people, has donated an urban forestry painting to the Georgia Forestry Museum in Macon.
The 5 x 3V2 foot acrylic painting depicts an urban forestry scene with the Atlanta skyline in the background .
Rossoll, an illustrator with the U.S. Forest Service for 34 years, is credited with foste ring the idea of Smokey Bear into one of the most recognized images in the world.
Now retired from the U .S. Forest Service and working out of his Atlanta stud io, he concentrates on a varie-
ty of murals and specialities - such as painti ng hunting dogs. A typical example of his recent works is a series of forestry murals displayed in the Forest Heritage Education Center in Beaver Bend State Park near Broken Bow, Oklahoma; Rossoll spent 12 years completing 14 large murals for the display.
Rossoll ' s quarter-of-a-century

journey with Smokey Bear has won him numerous state and national awards . He was named Conservationist of the Year by the Georgia Sportsman Federation in 1971 . He received a Merit Award from the Soil Conservation Society of America and Superior Service Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Forest Service). He also appropriate-

ly received the Smokey Bear Award for outstanding public service in forest fire prevention.
Rossoll 's association with Smokey Bear since its inception in 1944 was a major influence in the fire prevention program which has resulted in national savings of billions of dollars. As art supervisor, Rossoll was responsible for layout of all publications of Region Eight, including conservation brochures, maps of camping areas, annual reports and special projects.
Rossoll has been described as a one man forest fire prevention force . His dynamic personality and talent blend to make him one of the nation ' s top conservation spokesmen.
So what does Rossoll do to keep himself busy in retirement at the age of 82? AJI things considered, he' s probably busier than when he was officially employed . He serves as art director of the Forest Farmer Magazine and has numerous freelance projects .
Georgia Forestry/ Fall 1992/Page 21

THE BOOK CORNER
REAL GOODS SOURCEBOOK,
edited by John Schaeffer. Real
Goods Trading Corp., 966 Mazzoni Street, Ukiah, CA 95482. $16.00.
Real Goods, a California mail order firm that has been selling products for energy independence since 1978, has now published the 7th edition of its Alternative Energy Sourcebook. With more than 500 pages of articles, photos, charts, and product information, this is an indispensable reference for anyone serious about freeing themselves from the power grid or simply living a more independent lifestyle.
The Sourcebook is edited by john Schaeffer, President of Real Goods, from the collective output of the company's technical staff who boast more than 100 years of combined experience in living "off the grid." Detailed information is provided on all energy-saving equipment including high-efficiency lighting, photovoltaic panels, instant hot water heaters, and composting toilets. The hard information is balanced with equal parts philosophy and even humor. "At Real Goods we take our mission seriously," says Schaeffer, "but we try to keep ourselves in perspective."
A unique feature of the Sourcebook is that the full purchase price ($16) is refundable to anyone placing a $100 order with Real Goods. Additionally, the company will make available future editions for a small shipping and handling charge, plus proof that the old copy was "recycled" by passing it along to a friend.
"The Sourcebook does the best job of any of us in explaining the rationale for energy independence," says Schaeffer.
22/Georgia Forestry/Fall 19 92

Chief Forest Ranger (:harles Mask addresses television audience for last time.
ACE COMMUNICATOR MASK RETIRES

[OJ ne of the Commission's most prolific communicators has retired after 36 years of service. Charles (Bill) Mask's job title was Chief Forest Ranger, but to a large television audience and readers of a half dozen newspapers in Southwest Georgia, he was known as a respected telecaster and writer who provided expert news and views of forestry every month for 20 years.
"Well, I did miss one month," Mask admitted. "That was when my father died and I sent a patrolman to the TV station that month to fill in for me." His telecasts each week consisted of a commentary, an appearance on a popular noon time farm show and the taping of messages on urban forestry.
Mask, who served his entire career at the Calhoun-Clay County Unit at Edison, took over the monthly television obligation after Forester Preston Fulmer, who initiated the project, was transferred from the area. The station, a CBS affiliate, is a short distance across the state line in Dothan, Alabama, but it enjoys a wide viewing audience in Georgia.
Actually, the ranger's weekly newspaper contributions spanned 30 years. He began writing forestry news for his hometown paper, The Southwest Georgia News, and expanded the coverage to several other area newspapers. He also had a radio program for about three decades.
And then there is another record attributed to the public relations minded ranger: an Emphasis Sunday is observed each year during the National Soil and Water Stewardship

Week and Mask delivered the message in his Edison Baptist Church on that particular Sunday for 36 con- . secutive years! He has served as secretary of the Edison Lions Club fo r 32 years.
Mask, who was born in Honol ul u, Hawaii, where his father served in the U.S. Navy, lived for some tim e in Virginia. He attended Virginia Tech for three years, with studies concentrated on forestry. Although he never received a degree in forestry, colleagues contend he is well versed in the profession, as reflected in his thousands of news articles, radio programs and televised discu ssion s through the years.
As his retirement date neared, the ranger said he had to "haul off a pickup truckload of magazines, newspapers, bulletins, scientific papers, farm and forestry reports, annual reports, trade papers and other accumulated publications" from which he had studied and gleaned information for his programs and writings.
Mask, who came with the Com mission in 1956, was feted by a large group of Commission employees and other friends at a retirement dinner in Edison. The retired ranger and his wife Mary have two married daughters, Deborah and Nancy, an d two grandchildren.
What will Mask do in retirement? Loaf for a while, he said, and then settle down to some serious gardening, fishing and hunting...and hope someone else will take over and keep the forestry story before the people of Southwest Georgia.

IN THE NEWS-----------~

CHIEF RANGER jAMES HORNE said he will miss th e personnel in his unit and others in the Commission as he prepared to retire a~er almost 33 year~ of service in Ben Hill County. The feelin g was mu tual as long-time fellow empl oyees and other friend s honored the veteran ranger at a retirement dinner in Fitzgerald . Horne, a native of Wi lcox County, came with th e Commission in 1959 as a patrolman and was prom oted to ranger in 1976. Th e retired ranger and his wife Linda are active in Abba Bapti st Church and he plans to build a pond, put up fences and atten d to his two-acre garden now
that he has som e free tim e. Th e co uple, who has a son, Greg, also pl ans to travel to the w est coast and oth er points during th e retirement years... CHIEF RAN GER j . HOLLIS BURNS, of Gordon County Unit was honored with a party in Calhoun in May in appreciation for his more than 30 years of service to the Forestry Commission . A native of Gordon County and a graduate of Oostanaula High School, the ra nger came with the commission as a patrol man in 1962 and was named ranger in 1975 . He was promoted to senior ranger in 1988. Burns and his wife Cha rlcie have two married children, Penny and jim, and two grandch ildren. The retired ranger, who

served overseas in the Army during the Korean War, received a handsomely framed resolution from the Board of County Commissioners for his long years of service to the citizens of Gordon County. The veteran ranger said he intends to enjoy being with his grandchildren and do some gardening during his retirement years...MIKE BRUNSON, who came with the Commission as a patrolman in the Gordon County Unit in 1984, was recently named chief ranger of the unit to succeed the retired Chief Ranger Hollis Burns. Brunson, a native of Douglasville, attended Armuchee High School and the Coosa Valley Technical School. He had some courses at Floyd County junior College and Shorter College. The ranger has volunteered on three occassions to help fight the great western states fires in recent years. Brunson and his wife have two young daughters, Rebecca and Hannah, and the family is active in the East Calhoun Church of God ....GARY WHITE, former ranger of the johnson county Unit, is now Forester/Chief Ranger of the Hart-Franklin County Unit. A native of Delaware, he came
with the Commission in 1988. White earned a degree in forestry at West Virginia University and served two years in the Peace Corps in West Africa. The forester and his wife Katrina have one young son . They attend the United Methodist Church ...MICHAEL P. GOGGIN is the new director of the U.S. Forest Service' s Southern Region Soil, Water and Air Unit. Goggins comes to the region after serving as Forest Service national liai son to EPA for forestry and water quality issues and he replaces KEITH GREST, who recently retired. Goggins will be responsible for management of the Soil , Water and Air and

cooperative watershed programs for the region ' s 35 national forests. The unit also manages the Center for Forest Environmental Studies in Macon ...Friends and relatives of LOTI W . TURNER gave a retirement dinner in Folkston in late August for the retiring Chief Ranger of the Charlton County Unit. Turner came with the Commission as a patrolman in 1959, and with the exception of four years when he left for other employment, his entire career was spent in Charlton County. He was promoted to ranger in 1970. Turner and his wife Iris are active in the Freewill Baptist Church, where he serves as deacon . The couple have four married daughters, Iris, Donna, Sheryl and Pamela, and seven grandchildren ...
FIRST lADY COMMENDS COLUMBIA RANGER'S SON
The last time Russell (Rusty) Meadows really got serious about conveying a message with his paint brush, news of his effort reached from Augusta to the White House and prompted a letter of commendation from First Lady Barbara Bush .
Rusty, son of Commission Chief Senior Ranger Wayne Meadows (Harlem Unit), said considering the unstable Middle East situation, that he may have to dust off his paint brushes again .
Now 18 and recently graduated from Harlem High School, Rusty and classmate josh Maddox decorated the traditional school rock (known as " The Rock" or " Spirit Rock") with a painting of an eagle over a map of Iraq with the phrase " The Eagle Has Landed ."
"We painted it the morning after the U.S. invasion of Kuwait, " Rusty said . He exJ)Iained that the huge Rock on the Harlem High campus serves to display various paintings and announcements concerning school activities.
" We are proud of it for a number of reasons - it stayed there longer than any other painting had stayed on The Rock, " Rusty said. " But we never expected what happened after we finished it."
Harlem High School bus driver, jean Lytle, wrote a letter to Barbara Bush describing the painting and the First Lady replied: 'Thank you for your message and letting me know about your patriotic symbol painting on the 'Spirit Rock'. I am heartened by the number of Americans such as you who are demonstrating their support for members of our Armed Forces...The President joins me in sending our thanks and best wishes."
Georgia Forestry/Fall 1992/Page 23

TAKE ANOTHER LOOK

The Georgia Forestry Commission urges

landowners to plant profitable trees

on vacant or marginally unproduc-

tive acreage. Many have taken

that advice, but thousands of acres

remain vacant across the state.

If you own land, take a closer look

at your property and if you have

acreage that should be in fast growing

trees, contact a forestry consultant

or a Commission forester for

professional advice on reforestation. ~~:ga~~2fi.

Quality seedlings are now

:J ;;:z::

available at state nurseries.

GEORGIA

FORESTRY

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