Georgia forestry, Vol. 50, no. 2 (Summer 1997)

ATTRACTIVE WOODEN PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES HELPING PUBLIC ENJOY NATURAL AREAS

By Tommy Loggins Chief of Forest Products, Utilization, Marketing & Development

With Georgia's growth continuing to surge along with many other states in the South, such as North Carolina and Texas, many residents bring with them a need and interest to be outdoors and in the natural environment for at least a portion of their available leisure times.
As a result of this population growth, many small tracts of land are being developed for housing. Many homeowners find a corner of their lot or property cut off from easy access due to lack of an appropriate way to cross a stream, ravine, gully or other such obstacle. That particular, but unaccessible portion of the tract might hold an interesting grove of forest trees, a rock outcropping, or an attractive collection of native plants. It could even provide location for effective bird watching. But with no way to cross the stream or ravine, the unique spit of land might be left to be admired from a distance rather than up close. The benefit of a foot-bridge, or as it is more commonly called, a pedestrian bridge, at a location like this can be high.
Now multiply this unique opportunity for expanded recreation several times over for a community of citizens who wish to explore a city or country park, school based natural area, or even a forested tract that requires a bridge to safely access. It is easy to recognize the need of practical egress to natural area visitors, whether they be students assigned to a particular school, community group, or travelers just passing through. Whether for

nature study or physical contact, for those individuals who are looking for an interesting respite beyond the grassy, landscaped areas of a park or public forest, pedestrian bridges add to the quality of experience.
In addition to all of those activities already mentioned that support the need for pedestrian bridges for community usage, another very important function for these man-made crossings is on golf courses to allow players to move from fairway to fairway across geography that might be more or less impassable for the average player. Crossings on golf courses can be built for human-only traffic, or to allow golf carts to travel through the area.
Bridges of this type then allow efficient, quick, and safe passage of large numbers of pedestrians across a zone of interference that might keep them from reaching a desired area on the far side of the park, golf course, or forested tract. Whether the travel be for hiking, nature enjoyment, or study, the pedestrian bridge can turn an otherwise arduous journey into a fun adventure, even for those individuals who cannot get around well because of physical challenges.
A bridge can break up the geography of a nature trail, and add interest. Not having to cross the stream banks also reduces erosion wear on the soil from footprints and can thereby help maintain stream quality.
Perhaps the original pedestrian bridges in rural areas were made by

hunters who felled trees adjacent to a waterway or gully and used them to cross from one side to an improved hunting ground beyond. It is likely that even before early hunters learned to cross streams by felling adjacent trees, or using already downed trees to relocate across the stream for future use, they simply made the best use of existing blowdowns that had fallen by chance across deep or dangerous ravines.
So it seems that the idea of using wood for bridges has been around for a long time. And, of course, the use continues because it is such a good solution to an age-old problem, even as we move quickly toward the third millennium. The improvements now include the use of pressure-treated preservatives that protect the wood against insects and decay organisms for the life of the bridge.
Three commonly used preservative treaments for wood are (1) CCAwhich is a short description for chromated copper arsenate. It is a waterborne preservative. It is often seen in use for backyard decking, privacy screens around pools, picnic tables, and other such applications. It comes in several different preservative concentrations, but one important point to remember is that the required stamp or tag designate "ground contact" if the treated wood will come in contact with the ground. It is commonly a greenish color, but can also be procured from some sources in a tan color; (2) penta sometimes called pentachlorophenol is

JO/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

other such applications, including highway sound barriers, are locations where penta treated wood is often utilized (3) creosote - also an oil-borne preservative and has long been used for effectively treating everything from railroad trestles, bridges and power poles to railroad ties. It is often a dark brown or blackish color, and probably isn't as widely used for pedestrian bridge treatment as the first two mentioned preservatives.
Southern yellow pine is the wood of choice in pedestrian bridge construction in the South, and many other parts of the nation as well. Other species have been and are being used, but due to the relative factors of price, availability and ease of treatment, much Southern yellow pine lumber and timbers find their way into the treated wood markets. There are many uses for treated wood other than for pedestrian bridges and related components, including housing

foundations, construction framing, and outdoor furniture.
In fact, Southern yellow pine, being widely grown and managed across the South, finds an ideal outlet in construction uses that a growing population and a related healthy housing market require for costeffective building systems, including the pedestrian bridge needed to cross the stream in the homeowner's backyard.
Pedestrian wood bridge systems can be plain or fancy. They can be handbuilt on site, or they can be factory built as a kit and shipped to the site by truck for installation. They can even be completely factory built, delivered by truck, and installed across the stream by crane, thereby having an instant bridge in place in very little time.
Not only do construction contractors offer to build site built bridges, but there are a number of fabrication shops who will furnish complete kits or

packages. Someone with a sense of adventure could even specify a swinging type bridge to be constructed. Either method of construction, whether kit or site built, works well. Often there are companies who specialize in building or installing wood crossings for golf courses, etc., and could easily build or install a crossing wherever there is a need. There are even portable wooden bridges available for logging contractors to use to access harvestable areas.
Obviously the length affects the costs, because it affects both the size and amounts of materials that the bridge will contain.
Often guard rails are of exquisite design for aesthetic purposes, which could possibly add to cost; but they can be very simple and functional in design. Both the on-site construction companies and package suppliers
(continued on page 19)

Pedestrian wood bridges can be plain or fancy. Many are hand built at the stream site, while others are factory built and shipped to the site for assembly.
Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997111

JACKSON, SWAINSBORO WIN FIELD DAY FINALS
More than 200 students from 20 Georgia high schools, accompanied by their advisors, competed in a series of forestry skills. Each participating school was a first or second place winner in regional statewide field days held throughout the state.
Steve Meeks, consultant forester with the state's Vocational Agriculture Department, said the top team in the finals will participate in national competition.
Schools competing in the state finals, sponsored by Sun Trust Company, Union Camp Corporation, and Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Atlanta, included: Pierce County, Brantley County, Wayne County, Swainsboro High, Wheeler County, West Laurens High, Jefferson County, Portal High, Jackson County, Oconee County, Harris County, Troup County, Mitchell/Baker High, Seminole County, Miller County, Charlton County, Irwin County, Perry High, Wilcox County, and Murray County.
First place winners in the various events were: Tadd Wiggins of Swainsboro High, reforestation; Brandon Pittman of Jackson County, standing pulpwood estimation; John Rondeau of Charlton County, standing sawtimber estimation; Randall Scarboro of Swainsboro High, dendrology; and Brian Moulder of Jackson County, ocular estimation.
Others included: Jason Barnes of Portal High, land management; Jearmy Gay of Jefferson County, compass; Eustace Griffin of Brantley County, forest disorders; Matt Thompson, Jonathon Herring of Jefferson County, forest management; and Craig Brewer of Harris County, timber stand improvement.
The Jackson County FFA Chapter, directed by Jimmy Mock and Phillip Todd received an inscribed plaque.

The Jackson County High School Chapter of the Future Farmers ofAmerica, above, was declared first place winner in the highly competitive annual FFA Forestry Field Day Finals at the Forestry Center in Macon. Second place honors went to the Swainsboro High School FFA Chapter shown below.
Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997113

LUMBER STANDARDS SHOULD BE MET BEFORE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

The Commission urges Georgia home builders to be certain that building code standards for lumber have been met before construction begins. The concern is primarily focused on people building their own homes - sawing or procuring their own lumber, and doing the actual construction work themselves.
Tommy Loggins, Commission Chief of Utilization/Marketing & Development, said there has been increasing concern over use of ungraded lumber m home construction. "The general misconception," Loggins said, "is that there is a large percentage of home building projects being initiated in the state with the use of ungraded lumber. This is not true; the percentage is relatively small and insignificant. But it becomes very significant if you are one of the uninformed who inadvertently violates the building code by using ungraded lumber."
"The other primary misconception," Loggins said, "is that all this home building with ungraded lumber is the result of people using portable sawmills. The fact is ungraded lumber can come from a portable sawmill, or bought from an established sawmill. The issue is not where the lumber comes from, it is that the lumber must meet local building code standards or negative repercussion can result."
There can be problems with structural integrity of the house, financing, safety, continuation of construction, or what ever applied codes adhered to by the area. Loggins said, "this is a county-level situation with variations, but basically. statewide, the building code requires
14/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

that lumber going into residential construction must be grade stamped."
PUBLIC PROTECTION
Loggins emphasized that building code standards are not to punish the initiative and pioneer spirit involved in building one's own home, but to protect the public by sustaining standards of consumer safety, economic clarity, and determining the market value of wood.
"Buying or building a house is probably the mostexpensive pursuit the average person will engage in during a lifetime," Loggins said. "So there is great need to maintain a criteria of consumer safety and economic protection in the home building process."
A house built with improper grades of lumber can crack, sag, and even collapse. "And keep in mind that grading of lumber is only one of many code standards that must be met in construction," Loggins said. "Others include wiring, plumbing, foundation, etc. But the wood framing goes up early in the beginning of the process and if the building inspector does not approve what has been done, the whole process is stopped and the homeowner goes into a panic. This can be especially devastating if the lumber has already been nailed up and covered. In contrast, if everything is signed off and approved by building code officials, the progressive phases should flow smoothly."
The bottom line is this: Ifyou intend to saw or obtain your own lumber for home construction, check with county building code officials and have a clear understanding of all requirements. If

lumber is cut on a portable sawmill or purchased from a mill, the lumber must be grade stamped according to county building code requirements. Regardless of the lumber source, the services of a third party grading agency can be enlisted to ensure that standards are met.
"Building a home can often be a frustrating and expensive experience under the best of conditions," Loggins said. "So there is no point in creating problems that are totally unnecessary."
LUMBER GRADING
Wood grading is a complicated process. It is an exacting science, whose skilled practitioners may come from forestry schools or wood science backgrounds. All grading systems in the United States are promulgated under the American Lumber Standards. Although all commercial tree species oflumber are graded (for different uses and by varying guidelines) under this grading system, the primary type of lumber Georgia home builders must be concerned with is Southern Pine used for structural house framing.
Used since Colonial Times, Southern Pine products have changed during the past ten years. Approximately half of Southern Pine lumber now produced is pressure treated with preservatives to offer more design versatility and increase longevity. A quarter of production is used in trusses and other structural framing applications.
Exposed uses of lumber require products with better appearance than lumber enclosed within walls and

floors. Regardless of changes in Southern Pine building uses, the fact remains unchanged that Southern Pine is the strongest structural lumber for engineered and framing purposes. Also, Southern Pine remains the preferred species for world export markets.
QUALITY CONTROL
The Southern Forest Products Association and Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association maintain publications listing member mills and products. Each piece oflumber should be identified with the grade mark of an agency certified by the Board of Review of American Lumber Standards Committee, and manufactured in accordance with Product Standard PS 20-94 published by the U. S. Department of Commerce. Grade stamps identify various lumber characteristics including the following:
Product Classification - Products should be identified by manufactured categories including timbers, boards, decking, dimensions, and structural light framing. Products in such categories as flooring and finish include the pattern number assigned by the rules of the writing agency.
Size and Length ofPieces - Products included in lumber standards, such as Dimension Lumber, should be

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specified by normal sizes for thickness and width, and common lengths that are 8' to 20' in 2' increments.
Grade and Strength Material Standard grades for each product class should be specified after considering all grades appropriate for intended use and strength requirements.
Moisture Content - Desired moisture content (percentage) is specified based on requirements for product, grade, and intended use. Most product classes and grades of Southern Pine have specific moisture requirements.

Surface Texture - Surfacing requirements specified. Lumber is most commonly ordered S4S (smooth surfaced on all sides) or rough sawn. There are also other designations.
Transportation and Storage - All lumber in transit, storage, and handling areas should be protected from moisture, weather and contaminants.
Preservative Treatment - When pressure-treated lumber is required, it should be treated according to appropriate American Wood Preservers Association (AWPA) standards. Each piece of lumber should be identified with a quality mark or end tag bearing the name of inspection agency, product class, process, preservative, use exposure, retention level and procedures.
For further information on lumber grading contact: Southern Forest Products Association, P. 0. Box 641700, Kenner, LA 70064-1700 Phone (504) 443-4464 or Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, P. 0. Box 1788, Forest Park, GA 30051, Phone (404) 361-1445.
Grade Marks, lumber specification examples, and grading descriptions, courtesy ofSouthern Pine Council.

Lumber used in construction should be stamped with approved grade marks. The standard grade marks identify various lumber characteristics and protect the homeownerfrom the use of improper materials in his home.

Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997115

COMMISSION ALERT TO ELUSIVE GYPSY MOTH AS IT MOVES SOUTH

By Terry Price Commission Entomologist

T he Georgia Forestry Commission in 1987 began a long journey in cooperation with the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), to find the elusive gypsy moth in Georgia and eradicate it from the state's mountains to the sea.
The Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Georgia Department ofAgriculture, Entomology and Pesticides Division, that would name the Commission the lead state agency responsible for detecting and eradicating the insect.
The gypsy moth trapping program actually began in Georgia in the early 70s. APHIS was cooperating with the Georgia Department ofAgriculture and every spring and summer, traps were placed in recreation parks throughout the state. Entomologists, at that time, were almost certain the moths would rear their fuzzy heads in these areas due to the overwhelming number of tourists, who may be unknowingly carrying egg masses of the moth on their vehicles. The gypsy moth trapping in Georgia, therefore, was limited to the recreational and scenic areas of north Georgia and to a few isolated areas in South Georgia like
16/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

Jekyll and St. Simons Islands from 1969 to 1986.
The total number of moths trapped between those years was small and state and federal officials began questioning the efficiency of the trapping program as relating to trap locations. When the Commission began the accelerated trapping efforts in 1987, the state would soon be surveyed in its entirety. Every county in Georgia north of the Fall Line was gridded and traps were placed at one square mile intervals. An infestation was discovered in White County in 1991 and was eradicated with aerial applications of the bacterial insecticide Bt in 1993. Again in 1994, an infestation was found in Fannin County and it was eventually eradicated in 1996.
Since the successful eradications in White and Fannin Counties, the gypsy moth has been found in Rockdale and Union Counties. Current trapping efforts in these two counties will eventually help officials determine whether or not the moths are established and what should be done to eradicate them.

The gypsy moth caterpillar eats the leaves of many trees, preferring those of oaks and birches. It was introduced into the United States in 1869 by a Frenchman living in Medford, Massachusetts. He had hopes of crossbreeding the gypsy moth with native silk moths to produce a higher quality silk. The moths escaped from his home and have since spread to all of the northeastern states - Michigan, Virginia and North Carolina.
The female moths lay eggs in masses of 500 to 1000 eggs on trees, rocks, stones, firewood and other accessible articles in outside areas. If any of these items are relocated to non-infested areas and are covered with egg masses, then an introduction has occurred. Not all relocated egg masses survive, therefore, it may take many years for the moths to be planted in new areas.
The newly hatched caterpillars are often wind blown from host trees as far as two to ten miles. This natural means of spreading, given enough time, will ensure the eventual spread of the moth throughout the nation. The gypsy moths in Southern Virginia are expected to reach Georgia within the next 20 to 30 years by ballooning caterpillars.
In the meantime, introductions of

the moth by people (artificial spread) are aggressively sought after by officials. Forestalling the inevitable may sound a bit rediculous, but a 2030 year delay in the moths establishment in Georgia will prevent the mortality of several thousand oaks and birches, as well as savings in suppression costs estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. A delay will also give research more time to develop better control methods.
A !ready the fungus Entomophaga maimaga has destroyed millions of caterpillars in the northeastern United States. Entomologists are hopeful this fungus will ultimately bring moth populations into check naturally, thus eliminating the need for human intervention. Georgia has already benefited from efforts in the northeast. All of the survey tools and methods and eradication technologies used in

Georgia were developed by state and federal officials in the northeast. Southerners are benefiting tremendously from the knowledge gained about the gypsy moth since its introduction in 1869.
The traps used to detect adult gypsy moth males are baited with a synthetic sex attractant that lures only the male moth. Moths enter the trap instinctively to mate due to the overwhelming effects of the sex attractant. The inside walls of the traps are coated with a very sticky glue which traps the moths instantly. Officials are then able to determine the whereabouts of the moths by checking traps placed during the active season.
In North Georgia, the eggs hatch every spring around the first part of April. The tiny caterpillars develop over the next few weeks and pupate and emerge as adults between June 15 and July 15. It is critical the traps be in place by June 15 of each year in North

Georgia. In South Georgia, the eggs hatch probably as early as March and adult males are flying the first part of May. Traps need to be in place in South Georgia by May 15.
The number of trappers employed each year by the Commission varies based on the number of counties being surveyed. High risk counties, those most likely to be visited by Northeasterners and counties where industry is attracting new residents from gypsy moth infested areas, are trapped every one to three years. On the other hand, many rural counties in South Georgia are trapped every five years. Each trapper is expected to do his/her fair share and they are required to place 800 to 1200 traps each season.
H ighway gridding involves the placement of traps at determined intervals along road and highway rights of way.

Entomologist shows how traps are attached to trees. From 6,000 to 8,000 traps are used each season. The public is urged to not disturb the traps.
Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997117

Delimiting gridding refers to the placement of traps in areas where male moths and egg masses have been found. These traps are placed at onefourth square mile intervals over an area big enough to determine the exact location of an introduction. This type of gridding requires a knowledge of topographic map reading and pacing and compass reading to insure the proper placement of traps.
Delimited areas trapped in Georgia have ranged in size from 6 to 42 square miles. A lot of foot travel is required and the trapper must be in excellent physical shape and know how to stay oriented in remote wooded areas. The importance of the trapper's abilities cannot be overemphasized. The effectiveness of the gypsy moth trapping program in Georgia can be attributed largely to the citizens of the state because these individuals make up the trapping pool.
The Commission has employed over 100 different trappers since 1987. Most work for one season and then move on to other jobs. However, a few have returned for two or more years. It is the dedication of these individuals that has protected Georgians from the ravages of this moth.
Citizens of Georgia are encouraged to cooperate fully with officials who are trying to battle the gypsy moth. When Georgians visit the northeast and bring items back to Georgia that may harbor egg masses, they should contact a local Commission unit or APHIS representative so their location can be noted and evaluated.
Ideally, citizens need to be familiarized with the identification of egg masses and always remove them from items before entering the state. Laws are in place to prevent the spread of egg masses and other life stages, but the job of enforcing laws, however, is too big without the help of private citizens. When traps are discovered along the highways and roads of the state, citizens are encouraged to leave the traps undisturbed.
The search continues. The hunt is
18/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

on. The dedication of your local gypsy moth trapper and the cooperation of the citizenry, will insure success in this important battle.
SEASONED WOOD TARGET FOR CARPENTER BEES
Carpenter Bees? Don't Panic! Oftentimes, the first bees seen in the spring are carpenter bees, the wasps that derive their names due to their boring habits into seasoned wood. Adult carpenter bees resemble bumble bees, as both have yellow hair over most of their black bodies, but the carpenter bee differs by having a hairless abdomen. The adult female bee bores a 3/8 to 1/2 inch round hole into wood, makes a right angle tum, and tunnels along the grain of the wood. Wood is not ingested, but discarded out the entrance hole.
PARTITIONED CELLS
The tunnel is partitioned into cells, each containing a ball of pollen, nectar, and egg. The offspring feed on this food until mature, then all emerge through the hole made by the parent female. Young adults overwinter until April or May, feed on nectar, mate and then reuse the tunnel where they were reared to lay eggs. Reused tunnels may be several feet long. Repeated tunneling may weaken an individual timber.
Carpenter bees are a nuisance around a home and since they don't eat wood, insecticides applied to the wood surface are ineffective in killing them. Many species of seasoned wood, treated and untreated, are attacked. Eave trim, rafters, joists, and logs are preferred.
TEND TO RE-INFEST
Unpainted wood, regardless of the coating stain, weather seal, insecticide, you name it, will be attacked. Once the bees find suitable wood to bore in, they tend to re-infest for many years.

Homeowners resort to all types of tactics to rid themselves of the bees. Tennis rackets work well to knock the bees out of the air, but you have to develop a good back stroke in order to compete with the bee's agility.
Insecticide dusts are very effective in killing the bees if squirted into the holes. The bees, upon crawling through the dusts, will hopefully contaminate their bodies and die from the absorption of the insecticide. Holes should be sealed with a wooden dowel or latex filler to prevent other bees from using the entrance and to prevent moisture from entering deep into the wood. Structural damage can occur, but most often the bees are just a nuisance.
DEVASTATING DOGWOOD DISEASE NOT FOUND IN MOST OF GEORGIA
The deadly dogwood disease that takes its toll along the East Coast and is occasionally found in North Georgia, has not been a concern of most Georgia homeowners, according to horticulturists.
Although Discula is devastating in New England, Georgia has escaped the disease, particularly from the Piedmont south. Precautions, however, should be taken.
Since the 1970s, Discula has killed half of the dogwood trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, park officials estimate. The disease prefers high elevations, cool temperatures and moist soil, and is most commonly found on trees growing in dense shade.
Symptoms include purple spots on the leaves that gradually spread, from the bottom branches up, until the leaves tum brown and die. Twigs then begin declining until the entire tree is dead. Owners can have trees examined by the Forestry Commission. Treatment with a fungicidal spray such as Daconil may be recommended.

BRIDGE'S
(continued from page 11)
usually offer a choice of designs for both the bridge and hand rails from which the consumer may choose.
Designs can vary widely from simple post and beam type applications to clear-span pedestrian bridges. Even curved bridge designs are available. Again, cost-factors and aesthetics are two important variables to consider. Each have certain perceived advantages and disadvantages. No one type bridge is recommended over another. Each can meet the need if the use of the bridge is carefully thought out ahead of time.
The Commission has worked with several counties, local school systems, and communities in the last several years in assisting with funding and/or construction of preservative treated Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) pedestrian bridges. Uses have been found at local parks, as well as at the school nature centers, to allow classroom access. Needless to say, pedestrian bridges are valuable community assets.
The Commission is a cooperator in the Wood in Transportation National Information Center in Morgantown, West Virginia, (http://witfsl.wvnet.edu) which has assisted the Commission in actively promoting pedestrian and trail bridges, along with other bridge types such as vehicular and portables. The center has a complete listing of publications available to the public from research conducted at the Forest Products Laboratory and other sources. Additional encouragement of the use of Southern Yellow Pine wood structures have been aimed at railway components, retaining walls, box culverts, sound barriers, highway signs, and marine structures.
As Georgians place greater emphasis on sustainable community development, and as communities coalesce around natural areas for recreation, outdoor enjoyment and other reconnection with nature

activities such as hiking and bird watching, wooden bridges are expected to continue to contribute to maintaining the quality of life of local residents.
And we haven't even mentioned the importance of utilizing locally grown and processed wood products. The economic impacts a community receives from the value-added benefits of improved wood markets, processing, treating, and installation of a renewable resource helps benefit the entire state.
SAWTIMBER REMAINS STEADY AS PULPWOOD PRICES ARE DOWN
Pulpwood prices received by Georgia timberland owners dropped sharply in May, while sawtimber for lumber production remained stable on the continued strength of the nation's housing industry, according to Eley C. Frazer, III, chairman of F&W Forestry Services, Inc., based in Albany.
Although prices for some paper products have strengthened recently, linerboard--a major component of pulp and paper production in Georgia-remains in excess supply and under considerable price pressure, Frazer said. Demand and prices for pulpwood, the key fiber source for making paper, closely tracks the economic health of the pulp and paper industry.
Frazer noted that sales by his firm on behalf oflandowners slowed in May, a normal seasonal occurrence due to dry weather and corresponding lower prices. Even so, he said demand for sawtimber in Georgia remained strong and prices for this class of trees dipped only about five percent on average-about in line with the decline in wholesale lumber prices.
"Looking forward, I expect prices will continue to be weak for pulpwood and that sawtimber will remain stable or even decline slightly through the rest of the summer," Frazer said.

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROJECTS CONTINUE AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The trend to create "outdoor classrooms" at schools across the state continues as Commission personnel provide assistance in the establishment of the nature trails, small amphitheaters, foot bridges, and other facilities.
The idea is to bring students closer to nature and the environment in their studies. The facilities are developed in a wooded tract adjacent or near the school and the long walking trails also provide recreation for the students.
Some schools find a natural setting for their outdoor facilities, while others have to plant additional trees. One school had to clear a large city dump site to make a place for its facility.
One of the most recently built facilities involving the Commission was at the Wilkinson County PrimaryElementary School complex near Irwinton. Dedicated to Marlene Thompson, superintendent of schools, a nature walk area has been designated a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.
Typical of other schools, the Wilkinson County trail meanders along the school property, crosses a small bridge, and continues through a heavily wooded area with labeled plants and study areas along the way.
BOARD NAMES SHORTER
International Forest Company has named W. Wyatt Shorter, former president of MacMillan Bloedel Inc., to its board of directors. It simultaneously unveiled a new corporate name for the 25-year-old company, a major producer of tree seed and seedlings for reforestation work in the Southeast and abroad.
International Forest Company operates three facilities in Georgia: a nursery and seed orchard at Statesboro and nurseries at Ashburn and Buena Vista.
Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997119

The Colquitt County Forestry Unit, under the supervision of Chief Ranger Donald Bennett, was named the Commission's Outstanding Unit of the Year, Region Two, and was awarded at the Annual Convention.
Camilla District Forester said, "All Colquitt Unit personnel are customer oriented and work hard in their daily duties to serve our customers." He said fire control duties are carried out effectively and the chief ranger frequently staffs his office during weekends of the wildfire season to better serve landowners and others.
The unit continues to be a state leader in Rural Fire Defense, with personnel working on fire knockers and other equipment to help volunteer fire departments around the county combat fire. Chief Ranger Bennett has special training in water handling techniques and is frequently called on to assist with district and state equipment problems.
The Colquitt Unit is one of the state's leaders in firebreak plowing and through March of the current fiscal year, personnel plowed 598 miles of pre-suppression breaks for 171 landowners.
Personnel often perform complex repairs to equipment that is usually the work of vendors. They recently saved the Commission $1,800 in shop labor by rebuilding a tractor tract system. There are many other instances of savings, according to the district forester.
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HONORED
AT JEKYLL
The Georgia Forestry Association presented Outstanding Achievement Awards to the GFC Colquitt and Morgan-Walton County Units and to the Americus District at the recent annual convention on Jekyll Island.
The Commission's Americus District, under the leadership of District Forester Phil Porter, was named the "Outstanding District of the Year" and its excellent service to its customers (the landowners) is a major reason why it received the honor.
Field Supervisor Charles Gremillion said, "The district is also awarded for the significant improvement it has achieved from the previous year in many areas. Personnel set high goals for the current fiscal year and they have met most of them."
The supervisor said the district consistently keeps equipment and grounds in top condition at the district office in Americus and throughout the 17 county units. He said personnel collect more seed than any other district and have increased the number of landowners given assistance in controlled burning.
During the year, the district sold more than 6,740,000 seedlings and plowed 2,355 miles of pre-suppression firebreaks. Management-Cost Share plans totaled 526 and several stewardship plans were initiated.
Numerous programs were presented in the public schools and personnel assisted in the planning and construction of nature trails and outdoor classrooms on several campuses.

The Morgan-Walton Unit was declared the Outstanding County Forestry Unit, Region One, for its superior performance under the leadership of Chief Ranger Mark Batchelor, according to Field Supervisor Ken Bailey. "The unit exemplifies what a local Georgia Forestry Commission unit should be," Bailey said. "The personnel are dedicated and efficient, the office and grounds are well maintained, the equipment is well serviced, and customer service is their focus."
Batchelor and his rangers manage a high volume of pre-suppression work. Thus far in this fiscal year, the unit has plowed 152 miles of pre-suppression breaks for 52 landowners and 39 have received on- site burning assistance on 1,026 acres.
The chief ranger has provided leadership in the organization of the Greene-Morgan County Landowners Association, which currently has 130 members. He also places a high priority on educational programs and he and his personnel frequently present forestrelated programs to the public schools in the two counties.
The Walton Unit sold or distributed more than 399,500 seedlings during the fiscal year and personnel completed the James E. Owens Memorial Arboretum, an outdoor teaching facility in Morgan County.
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20/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

BENNETT RETIREMENT SET FOR AUGUST 1
Howard Bennett, editor of GEORGIA FORESTRY and public relations and information manager of the Commission, will retire August 1 to end 22 years of service.
A native ofArkansas and a graduate of Mercer University, he was a news reporter for The Macon Telegraph and later chief of the paper's Warner Robins Bureau. He later established an advertising agency in Macon and was in that business prior to coming with the Commission.
Bennett was named chief of the Commission's Information and Education Department in 1983 and became public relations and information manager four years later.
The retiring magazine editor is an associate member of the Georgia Press Association and a member of the Magazine Association of Georgia, an organization that presented him with the Best Magazine Feature Story Award for two consecutive years. He is also a member of the Middle Georgia Historical Society and the Macon Arts Alliance.
Bennett is credited with proposing and helping establish the Georgia Forestry Museum on the grounds of the Georgia Forestry Center.
Bennett and his wife, Betsy, live in Macon and are active in Mulberry Street United Methodist Church. They have two sons, Keith and Craig, both of Atlanta, and two granddaughters.

FORESTRY FEATURED
IN OLD FARM MUSEUM
A charcoal cooker, shingle mill and an excelsior mill - equipment that once manufactured three important products from the Georgia forests - are only three of the dozens of attractions at the Old South Farm Museum and AG Leaming Center.
The museum, located in the little town of Woodland in Talbot County, also displays old saws, wood splitters, wood stoves, mortise machines, and a wide array of farming equipment.
Curator Paul Bulloch said the facility is as much a learning center as a museum and pointed out that "In the 1900 's more than 60 percent of Americans farmed for a living, today only two percent farm. Where do your food and fiber come from? Since vocational agriculture is no longer required in school and most schools have no AG Programs, a visit to the Old South Farm Museum would help educate our youth about Georgia's Agriculture and see a glimpse of the past."
Bulloch explained that Westville Farm Museum near Lumpkin spotlights farming in the 1850's. The Georgia Agrirama spotlights farming in the 1890's, and the Old South Farm Museum spotlights farming from 1900 to 1960.
In addition to forestry artifacts, the spacious museum includes areas on dairy farming, poultry raising, cotton and com farming, livestock farming, wagons, hay presses & balers, blacksmiths, com shellers, water & well pumps, tools, grinders, hand planters, tractors, cane mills, grist mills, grain & corn binders, silage cutters, disc plows, harrows, sprayers, cotton dusters, and peanut pickers.
The museum offers educational classes and tours for children and adults and many visitors visit the center. Bulloch said, "I've been told we have the best kept secret in Georgia." For further information, phone 706/674-2894.

KENNETH MASTEN NEW DISTRICT FORESTER
Kenneth Masten of Toccoa, a graduate of the School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, was named Gainesville district forester upon the recent retirement of David McClain.
The forester, who had been assigned to the 13-county district since 1991, attended Young Harris College for two years before transferring to UGA to complete his education. He worked as a research technician at the university after graduation and later served as a forester for the Stephen F. Austin College in Texas for two years.
Masten came with the Commission in 1986 as chief ranger of the Chattahoochee - Marion County Forestry Unit and was transferred to the Americus District as a forester a year later , serving there until he came with the Gainesville Office in 1991.
The district forester is active in the Boy Scouts ofAmerica and is currently an assistant scoutmaster and serves on the council advisory.
Masten and his wife, Debra, have two sons, Caleb and Ethan. They attend Toccoa United Methodist Church, where Masten and his wife serve in the church nursery rotation. They are remembered as avid bike riders who often rode their bikes on trips ranging from three or four days a week, but Masten said that sport will have to be placed on hold a while, now that they have young children.
Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997121

RESEARCHERS SEEKING BENEFICIAL USES FOR PULP, PAPER MILL WASTES

By Helen Fosgate

Pulp and paper mills in the Southeast generate more than 3 1/2 million tons of sludge and ash residues a year, enough to fill 50,000 train cars. About two-thirds of these wastes, which include cellulose fiber or sludge, lime mud, grit, wood ash and other woody materials that fail to pulp, end up in landfills.
But research at the University of Georgia shows mill wastes are a valuable source of nutrients and organic matter that can improve the productivity of forest and crop lands. Now researchers are studying just how to make the best use of what's piling up at mills across the South.
LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES
"The rising costs oflandfilling--and a growing recognition of the value of residues as soil amendments--have many mills looking at alternatives," said Dr. Larry Morris, a forest soil scientist in UGA's Warnell School of Forest Resources here. The high cost of commercial fertilizer also has some farmers and non-industrial forest landowners interested in using mill wastes as fertilizer substitutes.
Morris, and colleagues in the UGA Department of Crop and Soil Science and others in Georgia Tech 's Department of Environmental Engineering, began in 1994 to evaluate the potential of wastes from pulp and paper mills for re-use on agricultural and forest lands. With funding from the Georgia Consortium for Technological Competitiveness in Pulp and Paper and
22/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

seven forest products companies, researchers began collecting and analyzing wastes from 11 participating mills.
The wastes fall into two categories. The inorganic portion, composed of wood ash, lime mud and other process residues can substitute for lime and/or provide a source of phosphorous and micronutrients. The organic wastes, which include sludge, produced during the wastewater treatment, as well as other woody materials, contain enough nitrogen and phosphorous to substitute for commercial fertilizer.
"Philosophically, reusing the wastes from mills makes perfect sense," said Morris. "In the process of producing any food or fiber crop, the land takes nutrients from the soil. By returning these materials to the land, we are emulating the normal nutrient cycle."
Beyond that, Morris said it's important to understand the biological response of trees and crops to the wastes. Greenhouse studies using loblolly seedlings and alfalfa are helping scientists decide which residues to use.
QUESTIONS ON RESIDUES
Besides nutrients, mill residues also contain small amounts of metals, pesticides and organics. So far, lab analysis show metal concentrations, like cadmium, lead, and mercury, are low in mill residues and well below limits established by the Environmental Protection Agency for land application. But Morris is cautious

about saying they are safe. "There are still questions about how
these residues, especially organics that are of regulatory concern, move and break down in the environment," he said. "We have to understand this before we know how much can be applied to specific sites."
SCIENTISTS OPTIMISTIC
While scientists are optimistic about the potential of recycled mill residues, there are several practical obstacles to their routine use. Field research trials have highlighted the problems of transporting and spreading the materials. Mill wastes are heavy and expensive to transport, making them economical only for those whose land is fairly close to the mills. Another problem is that available spreaders aren't readily adapted to narrow tree rows or harsh forest conditions. And then there are regulatory guidelines for applying biosolids to land, which vary widely from state to state.
Future research will look at mixing pulp mills with poultry manure. Early data show dramatic increases in productivity when primary sludge, which is least useful alone, is mixed with animal manure. Such mixing has the potential to tum even wastes of marginal benefit into valuable products.
Helen Fosgate Communications Coordinator VGA Warnell School ofForest Resources

people
1n the news
DON FREYER, State Fire Planner and head of the Commission's Rural Fire Defense Department, retired May 31. A native of New York and a graduate of the School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Freyer, served four years in the U. S. Army after graduation and came with the Commission in 1960 as an aircraft

Freyer

Griggs

pilot. He was soon named assistant district forester (fire control) in the Milledgeville District and transferred to Macon headquarters in 1976 to supervise the expanding statewide RFD. Freyer and his wife, Sandra, live in Warner Robins and they have two married sons, Chris and Craig. The couple attends All Saints Episcopal Church...WARNIE GRIGGS, secretary to the Rural Fire Defense Department, retired May 31 after 20 years of service in the Commission. A native of Ellaville, Griggs attended Southwestern College in Americus and later studied in Atlanta at the school now known as Georgia State University. She came with the Commission in 1977 in accounts receivable and was soon promoted to the RFD secretarial post. The retired secretary and her husband, John, have three sons, Dan, Larry and Tim. Griggs and her husband live in Macon and are active in Vineville United Methodist Church...WALTER JARCK has joined the University of Georgia's Warnell

School of Forest Resources as a parttime lecturer. He retired last year as Corporate Director of Forest Resources at Georgia Pacific Corp., and is teaching and co-teaching courses in industrial forestry, wood procurement and forest business. Jarck worked for Georgia Pacific Corp. for 14 years as corporate director, general manager of forestry and assistant vice-president of timber and timberlands. He developed corporate and land management policy and headed the company's forestry and resource planning efforts. He also served on an international task force .. .JOHN ROHDE, storekeeper at the central warehouse since coming with the Commission in 1983, was promoted earlier this year to accounting clerk in the Macon Office. Rohde was
born in Florida, but has been a resident of Macon since early childhood. He graduated from Lanier High School in Macon and attended Andrew College, later transferring to West Georgia College. The clerk and his wife, Gail, have a daughter, Jamie, and the family is active in Martha Bowman United Methodist Church in Macon...RICK HATTEN, management forester in the Athens District, was recently promoted to silviculturist in the Forest Management Department at the Commission's Macon headquarters. Hatten, a native of Macon who later lived in Warner Robins, where he

graduated from Warner Robins High School, worked in private industry for several years after graduation from the School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia. He came with the Commission in 1987 as chief ranger/ forester in the Barrow-Jackson County Unit and transferred to the Athens office five years later. Hatten and his

Hatten

Odom

wife, Karen, have two daughters, Jessica and Pamela. Both are students at the University of Georgia. The family is active in the Lutheran Church... KASSIE ODOM, who came with the Commission in payroll in November of 1995, was recently promoted to secretary of the Rural Fire Defense Department to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Warnie Griggs. Odom, a native of Gray, is a graduate of Jones County High School and attended Macon College for three years. She worked five years for an insurance company prior to coming with the Commission and was working in accounting prior to the recent promotion. Odom and her husband, Wayne, attend East Macon United Methodist Church.

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Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997123

Are you a forest landowner interested in:

* learning how to better manage all of
your forest resources while pursuing your particular interests?
* receiving a comprehensive Forest
Stewardship Plan developed by natural resource professionals who blend their expertise into a simple set of recommendations?
* leaving a better forest than you found
to the generations which will follow?
* being recognized as one of Georgia's
Outstanding Forest Stewards?
* being eligible to receive financial
assistance to carry out guidelines of the Forest Stewardship Plan?
If you're interested, contact the nearest office of the Georgia Forestry Commission for details on the many benefits and rewards of Georgia's Forest Stewardship Program.

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PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT DRY BRANCH GEORGIA AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES
Approximate Cost of Press Time and Paper Only COST: 3606 QTY: SM

""""" FORESTRY

USPS No. 217120 SUMMER, 1997 No.2

Vol.SO

STAFF
Howard E. Bennett, Editor William S. Edwards, Assoc. Editor Jackie N. Mitchell, Graphic Artist
Bob Lazenby, Technical Advisor
Zell Miller, Governor David L. Westmoreland, Director
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Jim L. Gillis, Jr., Chairman, Soperton C. M. Eunice, Jr., Blackshear J. G. Fendig, Savannah Larry S. Walker, Oglethorpe P. W. Bryan, Jr., Thomasville
DISTRICT OFFICES
District One 3086 Martha Berry Hwy.NE /Rome, GA 30165
District Two 3005 Atlanta Hwy./Gainesville, GA 30507
District Three 1055 E. Whitehall Rd./Athens, GA 30605
District Four 187 Corinth Rd./Newnan, GA 30263
District Five 119 Hwy. 49 West/Milledgeville, GA 31061
District Six 1465 Tignall Rd./Washington, GA 30673
District Seven 243 U.S. Hwy. 19 N./Americus, GA 31709
District Eight 2395 U.S. Hwy. 41 N/Tifton, GA 31794
District Nine P. 0. Box 345/Camilla, GA 31730
District Ten 18899 U.S. Hwy. 301 N.
Statesboro, GA 30458
District Eleven Route I, Box 67/Helena, GA 31037
District Twelve 5003 Jacksonville Hwy. N./Waycross, GA 31503
Georgia Forestry is published quarterly by the Georgia Forestry Commission, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, Georgia 31020. Second class postage paid at Macon, GA POSTMASTER: Send address change to Georgia Forestry Commission, 5645 Riggins Mill Road, Dry Branch, Georgia 31020.

2/Georgia Forestry/Summer,1997

This Macon resident and retired forester stands in his front lawn to show how he prefers trees to grass. Although his neighbors take pride in their manicured lawns ofgrass, shrubs andflowers, Chuck Place allowed a natural seedfall from existing pines to flourish, and now the thicket even obscures the front ofhis home from the street. Neighbors have learned to tolerate this "Tree Man:'
ON THE COVER: This bird in a pine seemed to have been waiting patiently for Commission photographer Billy Godfrey to come by and make the picture.

Hiw,. it.fa/one, Gt'ot\<. tl.l s 'frf<' hnmer o fthe Yem~ shown with f-?my;sler Gnwg Jameson, wlw nominawd him.for the honor, and District Forester Harry Oraham.
MALONE TREE F RMER FTHEYEAR

Roy Malone has been selected Georgia\ 1997 Tr<.~e Farmer <Jf the Year. M<tlone's current 900--acn:.~ Lamens C<)unty Tree Fann - known <ii> Goose Hollow began in the 1940::; with tlH~ purcht1se of 60 acres of forming land and the hdp of three share<.'.mppers. He srnt payments from <)Verseas \vhik he served as a pilot during W<wld War 11.
Mulone\ inlere1't in the !<md and forestry go had: muth further than his initial 60 acr<~'"' "My dad was 1.1 <:onservationist from way bitck," he remembers. "Me loved tlw f<)rest, enjoydl hunting and fishing. and inMlHed those characteristics in me. Even as a tittle kid, he tiJ<)k me camping and we spent a lot of time togetlwr in the forest"
\Vhen l\folone b<)ught that first 60 acres, he remembt~1-;,; his fother telling him to plant some ::;eedHngs on two sandai.:res that would not grnw

anything. 'Tie told me that if we had a
ww spring, l might be surprised at how
they would grow:' Maltinesaid. '~A.holll 27 years lat:c1~ those tl\~s averaged <)vcr a i..~ord per <I.ere." Goose HoUow IW\V lrns appmxinuttely 325 acres <.ll' pines.
Located tw<) rnHts east of Dexter, Goo~,,<~ Hollow is so narned heci.mse it \V<li-> once a major flyway for geese. The birds would swoop down hy the hundreds to feed on acnms along the cn.~ek banks.
(HlJECTIVES
A emmnunity forestry lei1der for many yearn, Malone has implemented the multipk use concept <.m his Goose Hollow farm for rnore than 50 y('.<ll'S. He began advantageous timber management hy prnperly swcking the farm with pin<.'\ in the 1950s in conjunction with tht~ old soilbank programs. AH harvesting ar~d

reforestatfon activitks trnve bC('.i1 carried Nil in accordm1ce with t!w Commission's BMPs (Best Managemem Pnwtkes). Harvested areas are reforeste(l immediatdy after site preparation. Hardwood stands are maintained almlg cret~k banks to provide wildlifo- habitat and protect water HlmHty,
Wildlife is ;1 primary objective of the Mah.me tree farm. Goose Hollow wa:-> the first lncati<)Jl in f.,mm~ns County where wi Id turkeys were released during tht.~ Department of Natural Resources. Georgia Wild Turkey Restmati<)r1 Project. In the e1irly I %Os. Mafone organiled the first sportsman dub required to have whitetail deer released and rdntroduced into Laurcns County. The 1995-96 National C<)on Hunter Association Triuh were hdd on the farm. followed by the Southeast Squirrel Dog Trials in 1997.
(continued on page 9)

MEASUREMENT OF WOOD PRODUCTS
By Paul Butts

T rees, like people, are not uniform. They vary in size, weight, shape, defects, and even usefulness.
The concern in measuring trees or other raw wood products, therefore, is to develop some method of grading or of grouping together pieces with similar characteristics, so that an estimated product yield and value can be assigned.
Weight is a widely used measure of forest products today, and it is composed of wood substance, water, and bark. An accurate ratio of weight to cords, board feet, or other measure is essential to forest industries, timber growers, and others dealing in trees and products.
The density of any material, including bone dry wood, is most accurately described by specific gravity. This is the dry weight as compared to weight of an equal volume of water. A specific gravity of . 5 means the material in question weighs one half as much as water.
WEIGHT COMPARISON
Specific gravity is close to being an absolute value or standard. Dry oak is
4/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

heavier than dry poplar--simply because there is more wood material in a given volume of oak. On a pound-forpound comparison, however, dry poplar, oak, and even wheat straw have about the same heat content or heating value.
The specific gravity of southern pine is around. 5, depending on whether it is longleaf or loblolly, fast or slow grown, etc. Since water weighs 62.4 pounds per cubic foot, it follows that southern pine weighs about 31.2

pounds per bone dry cubic foot. Green southern pine is about one half water by weight, so it also follows that drying a cubic foot of this species can release up to 31 pounds of water vapor, or 3.7 gallons.
MOISTURE CONTENT
All substances have a moisture content. Even wheat flour and dry cement have two or three percent of total weight in moisture. Wood furniture inside a heated residence has around five percent.
Buyers of materials that are measured by weight can lose large sums of money if they buy at a high moisture content and sell at a lower one. Moisture that has dried out cannot usually be replaced without degrading the product.
Live oak has a specific gravity of .81, which means a cubic foot of bone dry wood weighs 51 pounds. Since the moisture content of this species when green is 50% plus, green wood will weigh about 77 pounds per cubic foot. As water weighs 62 pounds, the live oak weighs more than water, and it will not float. Some tropical species have a specific gravity of more than

one, and so will not float even when dry.
The weight of a particular hardwood species is about the same in the northern part of the state as in the southern. Of course, some hardwoods, such as live oak, do not grow throughout the entire state.
Generally speaking, heavier species are stronger than lighter ones. As wood is a very strong material, the lighter species, such as ash, are usually more than strong enough for furniture and other products.
CORD MEASURE
Some states have a legal definition ofthe cord, but Georgia does not. Measurements similar to the standard cord include the unit (168 cubic feet), the cunit (100 cubic feet), and the face cord (a stack of firewood 4 feet high and 8 feet long).
And then there is also the pickup truck load of firewood, which is only indirectly related to the cord. When the pulpwood industry first started in Georgia, pieces were stacked and measured by the pen, which actually looked like some sort of animal pen.
A rough standard cord is generally accepted to be a stack of wood, bark, and air space, 4' high, 4' wide, and 8'
;~ - i long, or the equivalent. 8 I I
Until 30 or 35 years ago, most pulpwood was bought by the stick measured cord, where a measuring stick was used to get average dimensions of a truck load or other quantity of wood.
Measuring with a stick is labor expensive, and it has a good amount of room ,for error. Also, it is difficult to account for the differences in wood substance

Many years ago it was decided that some simple and reliable method was needed to estimate the board feet of square edged lumber that could be sawed from a round log. In time, many different types of log rules or scales have been developed for predicting lumber yield from logs.
per cord between light and heavy wood, large and small wood, straight and crooked, etc.
After weighing and measuring many thousands of cords, paper companies arrived at weights per cord for different areas. A weight factor of 5,600 pounds per cord will have 12% to 14% of bark. For simplicity, say 600 pounds of bark and 5,000 pounds of green wood.
As mentioned earlier, southern pine is about one half water, so this means 2,500 pounds each of water and wood material. If a groundwood or newsprint process is used to make paper, and the yield is 90%, 2,250 pounds of dry cellulose will result from pulping this one cord.
Some sawmills buy sawtimber by the cord, which is easy to do if loads are weighed. This can be confusing to the seller, when he does not know how many cords equal a thousand board feet. This is most likely between two

and three cords--depending on the log rule and timber size.
Loads of tree length sawtimber, cut to pulpwood sized tops, may have 1,000 pounds of pulpwood tops per MBF log scale of sawtimber. Ifthe mill does not take this into account, sawtimber prices can be paid for these pulpwood tops. If loads of mixed pulpwood and sawtimber sized stems are bought, sawtimber prices can easily be paid for a lot of pulpwood.
WEIGHT FACTORS
Some states have a legally defined cord wood weight. Georgia law says that the weight must be disclosed when timber is bought or sold on a weight basis. From this, the seller can determine his price per ton. Legally defined weight factors may seem to be a help to the landowner, but they are difficult to enforce. The Georgia Law was recommended by a Georgia Forestry Association Committee, after hearings were held over a period of several years. It is a workable compromise to all the various means that were discussed.
In the early 1960's, several companies developed machines to chip slab two or four sides of a log at one pass, and to send the resulting cant on through an in-line gang saw. The process made lumber from small logs and large pulpwood at a high rate of speed, resulting in a minimum labor force, and an acceptable process cost and lumber recovery for the time.
CHIP-N-SAW
The Chip-N-Saw sawmill became the name for the size and quality of timber that many of these machines were designed to process. Chip-n-saw specifications vary between timber buyers, but generally require at least one straight and defect free seventeen-foot log of the specified diameter per tree. This product is usually bought on a cord basis, but at a price between that of pulpwood and sawtimber.
Georgia Forestry/Summer, 199715

The board foot is used to describe the size and volume of lumber, and is a piece one foot square and one inch thick. A board that is twelve inches wide, ten feet long, and one inch thick, contains ten board feet. If the board is six inches wide, it contains five board feet. Log rules estimate the number of board feet that a log will yield when sawed into lumber.
Southern pine construction lumber is dried, dressed, and sold at less than full inches of size, even though it is measured as if in full inch dimensions. The size reduction comes from drying shrinkage and material removed during dressing to a smooth finish and uniform size. This uniform size is also standard throughout the nation.
A piece of dimension or construction pine that is bought as two inches thick is actually 1 1/2 inches thick.
Hardwood factory lumber, sold rough, is actually one full inch thick

after drying. Much or most of the hardwood lumber is sold random widths, since it is used to glue up panels for chair seats, table tops, etc. Random width lumber is measured to the nearest board foot, while dimension pine lumber is measured to the exact board foot and fraction.
Many years ago it was decided that some simple and reliable method was needed to estimate the board feet of square edged lumber that could be

sawed from a round log. In time, many different types of log rules or scales have been developed for predicting lumber yield from logs. These range from drawing the ends of boards in a circle (Scribner), to mathematical formulas (Doyle and International). In Georgia, these three rules or their variations are the most commonly used.
With the advent of weight scaling, mills have developed weight factors to approximate the weight of a thousand board feet of log rule volume. Two sawmills will seldom get the same lumber yield from a given log rule volume because of processing differences.
Much of the world uses the metric system, and lumber exported to foreign countries may be specified on the basis of metric sizes. This requires buyers and sellers of forest products to become proficient in the art of converting and comparing these sizes to board feet and cords.

Paul Butts, a retiredforester who lives in Gray, served 32 years with the Commission.

6/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

MORE PLANTERS TURNING TO RUST-RESISTANT SEEDLINGS
By Russ Pohl Commission Geneticist

M any private landowners and forest fanners are now using rust-resistant seedlings for their plantings rather than the standard loblolly and slash pines. Although rust resistant seedlings have been available from Georgia Forestry Commission nurseries for nearly ten years, some landowners may not know where these seedlings should be used and why they are superior.
Fusiform rust is a fungus that spends part of its life cycle on oak leaves and part of it in the woody tissue of pines, primarily slash and loblolly. While the disease is inconsequential to the oaks, it can be devastating to pines. It results in more lost value than any other disease of the southern pines. The fungus causes the formation of spindle shaped galls on the branches and main stem of young trees.
As the trees mature, these galls develop into sunken cankers that can result in mortality, product degrade, breakage, and reduced growth. The fungus first appears in the spring when temperatures are relatively cool and humidity is high. The disease moves from the recently flushed oak leaves to the tender new shoots and needles of the pines. When the developmental stages of the oaks, the pines, and the fungus are synchronized with the appropriate weather conditions,

Georgia Forestry/Summer, 199717

infections occur quickly and with startling frequency.
Weather conditions and host development can vary from year to year, and from stand to stand. Still, Georgia's forests seem to be tailor made for the fungus. It is estimated that more than half of all the high rust hazard sites in the southeast are located in Georgia. A belt of severe rust hazard crosses the central part of the state about 75 miles on either side of the line from Columbus to Augusta. The southeast comer of the state also seems particularly susceptible. However, rust problems are not limited to these parts of Georgia, nor are all stands in these areas destined to suffer severe infection. An on-the-ground inspection for signs of rust and the presence of oaks should be done to evaluate a site's potential rust problem.
With so much of the state susceptible to the disease, the Commission has put more emphasis on rust resistance than many other organizations. A rigorous breeding program was put into effect in the early 1970s using a somewhat unusual approach. Standard seed production orchards aimed at increasing growth typically consist of clones that have proven their superiority on the basis of years of field testing. This process works superbly well, but is relatively slow. Rust resistance, on the other hand, can be tested in the laboratory on seedlings less than one year old. The Georgia Forestry Commission takes advantage of this opportunity by augmenting its clonal orchards with seedling seed orchards.
Seedling seed orchards are essentially test plantations that have been modified and managed to produce seed. In the case of rust resistance, the process goes something like this: Individual seedlings from selected families are exposed to rust inoculum in the controlled conditions of a

Windbreaks, Sound Barriers, and Visual Screens
The Georgia Forestry Commission offers several conifer species which can be used for windbreaks, sound buffers, and visual screens. They are best used in combinations since each has its own unique growth characteristics.
Virginia Pine: This is the species commonly used for Christmas trees. It is more tolerant of shade than most other pines and will retain its lower limbs much longer. Virginia pine will grow reasonably well, especially with fertilization and supplemental watering. It is not, however, a very straight tree, and with most of Georgia south of its natural range, its form is generally poor. None the less it can be very effective as a screen or windbreak.
Redcedar: This species makes an excellent row tree. It retains its limbs and foliage almost indefinitely. The shape of its crown varies from columnar to pyramidal. Its natural range includes all of Georgia, and it is adapted to most any site. Redcedar's only drawback is its relatively slow growth for the first few years after planting.
Loblolly and Slash Pines: These two pines are very common across the state. Loblolly can be found in virtually all parts of Georgia, while slash pine is confined to the lower half. Both are fast growing, but intolerant of shade. As such, upper limbs eventually shade the lower limbs giving these species an open crown which limits their effectiveness as screens.
Multiple rows are more effective than single rows. Plant the trees 5-10 feet apart. Use the closer spacing if only one row is established. Offset rows to quickly form a solid screen. Consider varying the species between rows and even within a row to improve both effectiveness and aesthetics. Rows should be far enough apart to allow access to lawnmowers, edgers, etc.
Planting schemes vary with purpose and available space. One option is to plant one row of pine and one row of cedar. The pines will develop quickly and form a closed row in only a few years. As they grow taller and the crowns open, the redcedars will be well established and fill in the lower spaces nicely.
Another option is to plant two or more rows of Virginia pines. The trees should be offset so that gaps in the first row will be filled by trees in the second row.
Wind breaks of loblolly or slash only will require multiple rows and may lose their effectiveness as the trees mature.
-Russ Pohl

greenhouse. (This is called progeny testing because the performance of the offspring, or progeny, is used to evaluate the genetic potential of the

parent tree.) The trees whose progeny resist infection are grafted into a clonal orchard. The individual test seedlings without disease symptoms are planted

8/Georgia Forestry/Summer, 1997

in an adjacent seedling seed orchard. As they grow larger, those that
exhibit undesirable traits like poor form or slow growth are removed to improve spacing and upgrade genetic potential. When they begin to produce seeds, they too will be progeny tested. Based on this test, they either become a permanent part of the orchard or are eliminated completely. Their uninfected progeny are planted in the seedling orchard and the process repeats. Because of the emphasis on greenhouse testing instead of the longer field tests, more trees can be evaluated in a shorter time. This means faster breeding cycles and faster progress. Many of the trees in Commission rust resistant orchards are second and third generation selections. This accelerated process has allowed the Commission to develop highly resistant sources of both slash and loblolly pines.
50% LESS DISEASE
In both field trials and greenhouse tests, rust resistant seedlings from Commission nurseries have developed 50% less rust than unimproved sources. No reduction in growth has been associated with resistance. In fact, in most tests, rust resistant sources grew faster than unimproved sources. Additional tests are in the ground that will conclusively estimate the level of growth improvement of these selections and verify the greenhouse results. A new clonal orchard comprised of the very best rust resistant families discovered through this process has been established. It will take 5 to 10 years before substantial amounts of seed are available, but this new orchard should reduce rust infection rate to 25 % of unimproved material.
Total immunity to fusiform rust is not known to exist in any slash or loblolly pine families, and exactly why some trees are able to resist infection is not completely understood. The

short life cycle of the fungus allows many opportunities for genetic mutation and recombination during the time it takes pine trees to complete a single generation. Therefore, the process of breeding for fusiform rust resistance is ongoing. The rust may always be one step ahead of breeding programs, but the impact of the disease is being mitigated through tree improvement and the Commission is at the forefront.
TREE FARMER OF YEAR
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In addition to hunting activities, Malone and his children recently constructed a 20-foot wildlife observation tower for viewing nature under a shelterwood stand of pines. Trees and shrubs to enhance wildlife feeding have been planted in the vicinity. No hunting is allowed in the observation area.
Aesthetics and recreation are also part of the Goose Hollow plan, with two campsites maintained on the farm. One camp has a picnic pavilion used for cookouts, FFA Field Days, and similar events hosted each year. Horseback riding, hiking, and fishing are among other activities shared by Goose Hollow with family and friends.
More than sufficient SMZs (Streamside Management Zones) maintain water quality and prevent soil erosion. Culverts on access roads have been established for soil and water protection. An "AdoptA Stream" levelone training program for Malone, his family, and the Commission was recently conducted at Goose Hollow.
EDUCATION
Education and sharing, especially for youth groups, have always been a priority of Goose Hollow. In the early 70s, Malone and his wife, Sarah, hosted 50 foreign students from Spain,

Argentina, and Ecuador; activities included a hayride and picnic. Malone recalls one of the students telling him that the experience would not need to be written in a diary because they would always remember their enjoyable stay in detail.
The Future Farmers of America repeatedly use Goose Hollow for class activities and natural resource competition, while the Boy Scout Pine Forest District has held their camporee on the farm for many years. Also, the 4H Club has used the tree farm for club and gunnery practice during county competition. Area school classes sometimes conduct outdoor classrooms on the property, and Malone teaches classes on species identification and ecosystem interaction.
AWARDS AND MEDIA
Malone emphasizes that he, his wife, children, and grandchildren have built and enjoyed their lives around the tree farm. He says that Goose Hollow has always been a family coordinated farm and it is intended to remain such. He continues to instill the characteristics of forest appreciation in his family, just as his father did with him.
Commission District Forester Harry Graham and Forester Gregg Jameson, who have both worked closely with Malone in various aspects of the tree farm program, are equally impressed with Goose Hollow accomplishments.
"It's not only Roy Malone's commitment to stewardship," Graham said, "but the total family commitment to objectives. This is a family effort, and I think this is the most important ingredient of the operation."
Jameson has similar views. "As a professional forester," he said, "I feel Roy Malone was an excellent choice for Tree Farmer of the Year. He has a jewel of a tree farm and is always willing to share it with family, friends, and the community.

Georgia Forestry/Summer, 199719