GROWING 12 , 500,000 CORDS OF TIMBER CAN GROW 25 ,000 , 000 CORDS OF TIMBER GEORGIA FORESTRY Editorial The Public And Forest Fires (From the Rome Tribune) In Sweden, a person caught setting a forest fire goes to lightning, are responsible for only about five per cent of all jail not for weeks, but for forest fires. years. When there is a fire, everybody turns out to fight Georgia's forestry products it--not just paid foresters, but everybody. are val ted at about one billion dollars a year. In many parts ofGeorgia, there is a public apathy which is actually costing millions of dollars in devastating forest fires. In a talk recently in Savannah, G. W. E. Nicholson, executive vice president of the Union Bag and Paper Company, put the blame for forest fires directly on the public. More than 80 per cent of Georgia forest fires are set by incendiaries, he said. ~bst of the rest are caused by carelessness. Natural causes, such as That could be doubled or tripled, Mr. Nicholson said, "but not unless you do something about the fires." Northwest Georgia has an excellent record of fire protection and fire fighting. State, county, and private organizations work close! y together to protect our valuable woodlands. But, all of the money spent for woodlands protection, for conservation, and for investment in plants to use wood can be wiped out by a carelessly tossed match, or by a farmer unthinkingly burning weeds or brush. Vol. 8 GEORGIA FORESTRY July, 1955 Published Monthly by the GEORGIA FORESTRY COMMISSION, State Capitol, Atlanta, Georgia Guyton DeLoach, Director No.7 Fire Precautions (From the Augusta Chronic! e) The continued dry weather is not only causing concern for garden~ and farm crops, it is also creating new uneasiness about forest fires due to care- lessness of human beings who forget the dangers of a tossed cigarette or an unquenched camp fire. \\ith summer practically here jaunts to outdoor pleasure places will become more and more frequent and -- as usual -- this is going to mean an increase in forest fires, despite vigilant efforts to protect the state's valuable timber resources. In preventing these fires the authorities must rely primarily upon cooperation from the public. Tl1is makes it doubly necessary for the traveling public and outdoor party groups to set a careful watch upon their own conduct. The carelessly tossed match frequently does not go out but, fiendishly, finds dry grass or trash in which to start a blaze. The cigarette butt also, flung thoughtlessly from a speeding car, often does the same. Camp fires in which the last red spark is not quenched are often fanned to the danger point by sudden winds or a slow gathering of force. Members, Board of Commissioners: K. S. Varn, Chairman_______________________________________________ ______ __Waycross Sam H. Morgan__________ Savannah C. M. Jordan, Jr.________Alamo John M. McElrath.____________Macon H. 0. Cummings______Donalsonville Georgia Forestry is entered as second class matter at the Post Office under the Act of August 24, 1912. Member of the Georgia Press Association. EDITOR __ _ __ _______ _____ * * * __* ___________________ Richard E. Davis ASSOCIATE EDITORS__________________Robert Rutherford, Catherine Dismuke * * * DISTRICT OFFICES, GEORGIA FORESTRY COM.l\IISSION: DISTRICT !-Route 2, Statesboro DISTRICT VI-P. 0. Box 505, Milledgeville DISTRICT II-P. 0. Box 26, Camilla DISTRICT VII-Route 1, Rome DISTRICT III-P. 0. Box 169, Americus DISTRICT VIII-P. 0. Box 811, Waycross DISTRICT IV-P. 0. Box 333, Newnan DISTRICT IX-P. 0. Box 416, Gainesville DISTRICT V-P. 0 . Box 328, McRae DISTRICT X-P. 0. Box 302, Washington Make a point of ob e yin g the rule for outdoor campin g which says "cover that fire." Georgia's forest potential presents "Opportunities Unlimited"-- a beckoning challenge. This challenge can be met thrrugh research and education. Research provides the "know-how." Public education makes possible the knowledge, acceptance and use of improved forest practices. The result can be a doubled forest production in Georgia. JULY, 1955 2 Five Counties Establish New Forestry Units Five additional counties con- . taln1ng nearly 600,000 I acres of forestland, joined forces July 1 with the organized protection system of the Georgia Fo restry Corrmission. The counties are Miller, Echols, Dawson, Forsyth and Oconee. Bringing of these forestlands under protection brings to a total of 143 the number of Geor- gia counties under organized protection of the Georgia Forestry Commission. The only Georgia counties not now under protection are Baker Quitman, Randolph, Webster, Fay: ette, JeffDavis, Johnson, Peach, Glascock, Lanier, Union, Towns White, Hart, Talliaferro, and Rockdale. District Forester Hugh P. A1 1en , o f Cam i 1 1 a , r e po r t e d Miller County has 86,300 acres of forestland. A ranger and a patrol man will compose permanent personnel, and a towerman will be employed six mon ths out of ev~ry year. Mechanized suppress1on equipment will consist of a small plow and tractor. District Forester G. W. Lavinder, of Waycross, reported Echols County contains 254,700 acres of forestland. A ranger patrolman, and a towerman-dispatcher will consist of a large plow and tractor and a half ton pickup. Ihstrict Forester 0. C. Burtz, of Gainesville, reported Dawson County contains 107,000 acres of forestland and Forsyth County's wooded area totals 96,900 acres. Dawson County's permanent personnel will consist of a ranger, a patrolman and a towerman. An assistant patrolman will be on duty four months each year. Mechanized equipment will con- (Continued on Page 10) Georgia Leads Again In Seedling Production Georgia once again has scored a record-breaking forest tree seedling production season, with an all-time output of 117,210,007 seedlings during the 1954-55 season. This production of more than 117 million seedlings again placed Georgia in the 1ead of all 48 states in seedling production. Burke County, with 3,396,740 seedlings, ledthe planting list. Runner-up counties and the seedlings planted in them were Jenkins, 3, 193,660; Charlton, 3,034,660; Dodge, 2,774,650; Lowndes, 2,280,000; Camden, 2, 181,778; Decatur, 1,833,600; Laurens, 1,807,400; Crawford, 1, 717,500, and Telfair, 1, 694,854 seedlings. Davisboro Nursery produced 36,089,000, Horseshoe Bend Nursery produced 31, 979,508 seed- lings. Herty Nursery produced 25,389 ,058 seedlings and Hightower Nursery produced 22,321, 510. Seedlings shipped to Georgia's 159 counties, by forestry dis- tricts, were as follows: District 1 Bryan, 466,150; Bulloch, 815, 600; Burke, 3, 396, 740; Candler, 469,500; Chatham, 730,800; Effingham, 339,500, Emanuel, 1,561,000; Evans, 255, 000; Jenkins, 3, 193,660; Liberty, 186,316; Long, 1,443,800; Mcintosh, 886,635; Screven, 540,400; and Ta ttnall, 177,000. District 2 -- Baker, 471,000; (Continued on Page 10) =Counties Linder P.rlh.ection SinceJuly 1, 1955 Protected COunties 1\0nprotected 0>unt1es 3 GEORG I A FORESTRY Cone Collection Plans Call For 66,000 Bushels For Reforestation Program Plans for the greatest and most intensive pine cone collection in the history of the state were announced this month by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Current plans call for collection of nearly 66,000 Lushels of cones. Seeds from the cones wi 11 be used in the Conmission' s vast reforestation program. Guyton DeLoach, Commission Dir~ctor, reminded Georgians CASH CROP--Worker gathers cones, anuther woodlands' fall cash crop. that the success of fu t u re Georgia reforestation p r ograms will hinge directly upon results of the 1955 cone co'llection. "A large percentage of the seed used for planting in the Conrnission' s four nurseries," he explained, "comes from the cones gathered in these annual collections. Georgia's farmers and landowners in recent years hav~ shown they need and can uBe more than 1,000,000 seedlings each season. If enough cones are not gathered, we will have to reduce substantially our nursery production goals--a reduction which will Le feltbyall persons planning on planting and growing trees as a crop during coming seasons. " San ford Darby, Commission Hefosestation Chief, pointed out that pine cones are today' s "forgot ten crap" on many Georgi a farms. "\\e are paying to persons picking pine cones," he said, "prices ranging from 50 cents to $2 a bushel. rvany farmllrs still fail to realize, however, that a crop worth this amount of money actually will be hanging on their trees this fall, waiting only to be picked. " t o l, Atl anta. The Hange r s a l so wil l not i f y both pickers and de al ers when to begin pi cking the various species. The reforestation official emphasized, however, that cones of any species picked before Sept~mber 5 will not be accepteg by by the Commission. He said the State of Florida and private organizations making cone collections had set t hat same rule this season and explained that few seeds will germinate f~om cones p i c ked p r i or to September 5. The 1955 cone collect~on f]Uota is 35 per cent greater than the 1954 collection. Current plans call for collection of 15,000 bushels of loblolly, 50,000 bushels of slash, 700 bushels of longleaf, and as much white pine as will be possible to obtain. Quotas of bushels for Commission districts are as follows: Statesboro district, 15, 150; Camilla, 5,200; Americus, 7, 150; Newnan, 5,000; McRae, 12,600; Milledgeville, 3, 000; Borne, 575; Waycross, 13, 100; Gainesville, 1, 100 , and Washington, 3,000. The reforestation chief said the Commission will pay 50 cents a bushel for longleaf pine and 90 centsabushel for slash pine. Payment to pickers for lo~lolly pine cones is $1.25 per bushel and payment for white pine cones is $2 per bushel. Mr. Darby said the Commission also is seeking additional dealers this year to set up cone collection stations. Persons wishing to serve as dealers and to obtain prices paid to dealers are asked to contact their County Forest Ranger or the Georgia Forestry Commission, State Capi- Mr. DeLoach urged all Georgia citizens participating in cone collection activities this year to sell t heir cones to Georgia collection groups rather than to other states. "Cones sold to the Conmission, " he explained, "will be utilized in Georgia and seeds from the cones will be planted in Georgia forest tree nurseries for distribution to Georgians. Selling of cones to other states will be of little benefit to the Georgia farmer and landowner, for the majority of seeds from these cones will be planted in other states." 4 JULY, 1955 Everybody Helped Winning first place in the annual Georgia Forestry Association Keep Green contest is no one-man task. That's the concensus of the Crisp County Keep Green Committee--the group which spearheaded the activities resulting in that comty's capture of the coveted $1,000 first place award. "Credit in the contest," explained Crisp Ranger William Tvedt, "goes to the entire community rather than to any single individual. Day- in, day-out concentration on forest fire prevention by a large and representative segment of our population was what 'brought home the bacon' for our county in this '55 contest." Crisp County, with ?R,OOO of its 190,000 acres in woodland, showed less than two thirds of a fire per 2,000 wooded acres. The county's Keep Green efforts ranged from building emergency fire tool sheds to conducting radio quiz contests m forestry for schoolchildren. Woodland tours and "show me' ' trips on which gopd forestry practices were cited were combbined with demonstrations. Business establishments throughout the county payed the cost of constructing and erecting special fire prevention signs, and two large billboard~ carried out the theme, "Keep Crisp County Green." All county telephone subscribers received "Report Forest Fire tickets bearing the number of the Crisp County Forestry Unit number. Forestry was given special emphasis in two sp ecial editionsofthe Cordele Dispatch, which also carried regular weekly reports and features on many phases of forestry. (Continued on Page 10) r ~( / .... VICTORY CELEBRATION--Keep Crisp County Green council ~mbers hold a special banquet to celebrate winning first place in the contest. WINNERS' SMILES AND HOME SIGN--Announcement at the Georgia Forestry Association annual meeting of Crisp County as winner of the 1955 Keep Georgia Green contest winner, top photo , e vokes happy smiles from Crisp County Ranger William Tvedt, (ce nte r), and Dan Turner, the county's Keep Green chairman. Kirk Sutlive, left, makes apnouncement. Billboard signs, photo below , helped Crisp attain us first place standing. pouurf . KEEP CRISP COUNTY GREEN COUNCIL Georgia's ann wl FFA Boys Forestry Camp this year attracted more than 100 Future Farmers of America as the boys gathered last month at Laura C. Walker State Park near Waycross to attend the annual session of onthe-ground forestry instruction. Sponsored by member mills of the Southern Pulpwo a:l Conservation Association, the annual camp is directed by the Georgia Forestry Commission. Sponsoring mills are the Macon Kraft Co., Brunswick Pulp and Paper Co., Union Bag and Paper Corp., Gair Woodlands Inc., and St. Mary's Kraft Cocp. For six full days skilled foresters from the state and industrial organizations instructed t he boys in such phases of wood land knowledge as reforestation, tree identification, forest fire prevention and suppression, contr o 1 of insect and disease attacks, thinning, harvesting and measuring marketing forest products, naval stores, hardwood control. Recreati on activities included softbal l, swimming, horseshoes and a trip to nearby Okefenokee Swamp Park. The camp staff included E. D. Martin, Gair Woodlands Corp., Savannah; J. F. Spiers, Southern, Pulpwood Conservation Association, Statesboro; C. Mathewson, and James Waters, St. Mary's Kraft Corp., St. Mary's; James H. Col son, Macon Kraft Co., W.J. Schultz, linion Bag and Paper Corp., Waycross; C. Dorsey Oyer, Georgia Agricultural Extension Service, Athens, and Robert Harrison, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Macon. Georgia Forestry Commission camp staff members were J. C. Turner, Macon; R. E. Davis, Atlanta; James Reid, McRae; Troy Simmons, Americus; Robert Randall, Washington; B. R. Murray, Statesboro; Sam Martin, Gainesville; Wayne Manning, Newnan; Carlis McLeod, Camilla; and T. B. Hankinson, Waycross. Vocational agriculture teachers attending were W. J. Moore, Hoboken; L. G. Calhoun, Tarrytown; W. M. Giddens, Chauncey; E. L. Grinstead, Reidsville; Tom ~hit field Jr., Harlem; G.C. Garrison , Dearing; L. H. Akins, Statesboro; E. J. Stinson, ~bntezuma; A. P. Lewis, Statenville; M. J. Lane, Valdosta; T. E. Wheeler, Bainbridge; E. R. Rigsby, Camilla; B. H. Strickland, Climax, and J. R. Odum, Pinehurst. 1. Fire control demonstration shows boys how wildfires are fought with tractors. ll. R. Murray, Assistant District Forester, Georgia Forestry Commission, gives instructions. 2. Registration marks official opening of can.p. 3. T. B. Hankinson, Commission Management Forester, tests students of thinning with on-the-ground practice. 4. J. C. Spiers, Area Forester, Southern Pulpwood Conservation Association, demonstrates use of dibble. 5. Fire Patrol plane demonstrated for campers. 6. Robert Randall, Assistant District Forester, Georgia Forestry Commission, uses viusal teaching aid in marketing class. 7. Carlis McLeod, Assistant District Forester, Georgia Forestry Commission, shows camp''mascot" orphan fox raised from infancy. 8. E. D. Martin, Forester, Gair Woodlands, shows mensuration class how pulpwood is measured. 9. Square dancing calls for old time country music, plenty of energy, GEORGIA FORESTRY 7 \ 1 TREE IDENTIFICATION LESSON--Forester Dorsey Dyer, of the University of Georgia Agricultural Extension Service, helps South Georgia forestry campers with their tree identification project. The 4-H boys, left to right, are: Ray Dukes, Treutlen County, and Paul .l>hnson, Jeff Davis, kneeling; Travis Cowart, Long; and Stanley James, Annual 4-H Club Vrisp. (left ~t~oto) CLASS FOR FIRE FIGHTERS--Forester W. N. Haynes, of Union Bag and Paper Corporation, explains fire control operation to South Georgia forestry campers, left to right: Damon Tillman, Appling County; Proctor Jones, Emanuel; Gene Cauley, Colquitt, and John Hardwick, Taylor. (right photo) Forestry Camp Held At Laura WaIleer State Parle In the heart of the vast woodland area of Laura S. Walker State Park near Waycross, 85 4-H Club boys of the southern half of Georgia last month learned many secrets of the torest and some of the skills of forestry. In charge of this instruction was Dorsey Dyer, forester for the University of Georgia Agricultural Extension Service, which conducted the 11th Annual South Georgia 4-H Club Fores~ry Camp in cooperation with its spons or, Union Bag and Paper Corpo r ation. The forestry campers also visited the Savannah plant of lnion Bag and Paper Corporation. Special speakers for the camp included J, W. Bridges, Jr., Manager, Woodlands Division, Union Bag and PaperCorporation; L. I. Skinner, Assistant Associate Director, Agricultural Extension Service; George Bazemore, Piesident, First National Bank, Waycross; and Guyton De- Loach, Director, Georgia Forestry Commission. Santoro, Forester, Savannah , Unio n Bag and Paper; T. E. Arnette, Forester, Swainsboro, Union Bag and Paper; J. E. Collier, County Agent, Ben Hill County; J. F. Spiers, Area Forester, Statesboro, So uth er n Pulpwood Conservation Association; Larry Torrance, County Agent, Coffee County; Nelson Brightwell, Assistant Extension Forester, Tifton; J. 11. Wall, Assistant District Forester, Camilla, Georgia Forestry Commission; R. C. Hill, Assistant District Forester, Waycross, Georgia Forestry Commission. Fire co ntrol was dramatically demonstra ted by fire control units of Union Bag and the Georgia Forestry Co mmission as the forest fire fighte rs brough t all their equipment to bear upon a simulated forest f ir e which "burned" in ful] view of the 4-H forestry campers. Serving as instructors in addition to Mr. Dyer were: George W. Lavinder, District Forester, Waycross, Georgia Forestry Commission. J. D. Zimmerman, Forester, Helena, Union Bag and Paper Corporation: R. E. Lee, Ill, Forester, Union Bag and Paper Corporation; J. C. R. J. Richardson, State 4-H Club Leader, was in charge of camp administration. Assisting him were 4-H Council officers Joe Harrison, Boys Vice President of DeKalb County, .and Bruce Bliss, Repo rter of Glynn County. 8 JULY, 1955 , ... Tribu'te to the Bleckley County Forestry Unit, organized less t han a year ago, was contained in a recent issue of the COchran Journai, The newspaper reported that during seven months of operation the Unit, under leadership ..... cf Ranger Hall Jones, had saved the landowners of the county approximately $100,000 to $120, 000 in timberland. "The Unit," according to the article, "has suppressed fires which would have ravaged approximately 10,000 to 12,000 acres of landonwhich timber is valued at approximately $10 per acre ... Since January l, 1955, the Unit has suppressed 40 fires which were raging out of control . " Another recipient of countywide appreciation for wildfire prevention and suppression was Bleckley County Ranger Hall Jones. The Cochran Bleckley Jaycees recently presented him a certificate of appreciation for h is work in the statewide Keep Georgia Green contest. Lamar County Ranger Davi d Smith recently received a gift from landowners for his outstanding work in the county. He has had fewer fires this season than at any time he has been with the Unit. The Lamar Unit also was cited by citizens of the county for its activities as a part of the Ground Observation Corps. Recent figures showed the Lamar Ground Obs erv ation Post spotted 97 per cent of its planes. SMOKEY READY TO ROLL- -Smokey the Bear, (alias Putnam OHm ty Ran ger Gerald Ridley), gives children attending the annual Daio Festival in his county a treat as he looks over the Unit's fire suppression jeep. The Smokey Bear costume proved one of the outstanding attractions of the festival, Ranger Ridley reported. Anothr tribute from the press to a c~1nty Forestry Unit was co~tained recen~ly on the editorial pages of the Nashville Herald. Out 1ining the dollars and cents cost of operating and maintaining the Unit, the article stated, "It was during the second year of operation that the worst drouth in the state ' s history withered all green vegetation in the county's forests, leaving the tinder-dry forests easy prey for wildfires. During the continuing drou~h, the fire unit has fought hundreds_of woods fire s in every section of the county, man y days fighting around the clock. Losses from the fires have been held to a m1n1mum. "It is frigh'tening to think," the Herald editorial writer concluded, "of the ap railing damages that would have come to Berrien County forests had it not been for the Forestry Unit. Most ~f the 26,000 acres co ul d we 11 have been wiped out. "The small cost to timberland owners of the county for maintaining the unit in relation to the great good it is doing makes it the biggest bargain we ever have known." Berrien County came under protection July 1, 1952. GEORGIA FO RESTR Y 9 Clubwomen Win National Honor A w a rds The work and interest of Georgia's clubwomen in emphasizing and promoting forest conservation recently attained national recognition with the Georgia Federation of Women ' s Clubs. Competing with 47 other states, Georgia's Clubwomen left the Philadelphia convention site with first place ranking in the natural resources field. In addition, the junior department of the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs rated third place nationwide for its work in conservation education. Other fields of conservation in which the Georgia women took nationwide honors were water and soils division, first place, and minerals and wildlife division, first place. The nationwide natural resources first place award, according to Miss Elizabeth Mason, of Atlanta, U. S. Forest Service, who works c losely with women's groups throughout the entire s outheast in emphasizing forest conservation activities, was awarded on the basis of the Federation's establishing for ests in North and South Georgia andat the Tallulah Falls School. The North Georgia forest, on Highway 123 between Toccoa and Clarkesville, is planted with 20,000 white pine seedlings pur- chased by the Federation ar.d planted by the U. S. Forest Service on Forest Service land. Another forest planting and demonstration site was started 1ast year near Waycross on lJ.- S. Highway l. Factors responsible for the award to the junior section include the distribution of seedlings for planting at Tallulah Falls school. R~ P~~t "BWUut 'k/Ok ,(JnJ ~ill4 s in the Empire State may some day be growing their crops of pine timber unmolested ?Y th~ problem of poor hardwood 1nvas1on. 149,500; Walker, 277,512; and Whitfield, 626,538. District 8 --Appling, 720, 578; Atkinson, 152,000; Bacon, 223, 164, Brantley, 581,657; Berrien, 135,000; Camden, 2, 181,778; Charlton, 3,034,900; Clinch, 745, 678; Coffee, 539, 500; Echols, 334,000; Glynn, 398,300; Lanier, 233,420; Lowndes, 2,280,000; Pierce, 2, 280, 000; Ware, 469, 000; and Wayne, 836,670. District 9 -- Banks, 113,650; Barrow, 90,500; Dawson, 291,600; Dekalb, 67,200; Fannin, 11,500; Forsyth, 15, 500; Frankl in, 143, 650; Gwinnett, 309,600; Habersham, 229,500; Hall, 260,200; Jackson, 217,800; Lumpkin, 190, 600; Rabun, 15,000; Stephens, 1,235,500; Towns, 22,000, Union, 15,000; and White 26,500. sist of a light tractor and plow and a half ton pickup. Forsyth County's permanent personnel will consist of a ranger and two assistant patrolmen. A towerman will be employed six months each year. Mechanized equipment will consist of a light tractor and plow and a half ton pickup. Oconee County, according to District Forester H. G. Collier, contains 53,900 forestland acres. e'"~'~ P~-- (Continue d from Page q) Radio Station WMJM devoted muchpublic serwice time to forestry features, including a series of 15-minute radio discussions featuring a technical forester and groups of high school students. Many business firms sponsored special forestry programs. One of the major accomplishments achieved during the centes t period was the fire warden setup. The county has been gridded into 21 numbered segments. Within each segment there is at least one key individual with a telephone. This individual, usually chosen for his leadership in that community, reports fires, investigates smokes on request, often attacks wildfires pending arrival of the Forestry Unit, furnishes power equipment or labor, and often aids on mop up work, thus freeing the Ranger earlier for suppression on other fires. District 10 -- Clarke, 115, 750; Columbia, 91,000; Elbert, 585,000; Greene, 516, 750; Hart, 120,700; Lincoln, 150,000; McDuffie, 122,900; Madison, 195, 500; Morgan, 35,000; Ocone e, 48,500; Oglethorpe, 1,483,900; Richmond, 1,115,956; Taliaferro, 53,000; Walton, 491,000; Warren, 52,500, and Wilke s, 191,500. Activities such as this, combined with st rong emphasis on such routine information and education work as literature distribution, placing of posters, fair exhibits, forestry movie showings and Tree Farm certi fications helped make the "KePp Green" theme a familiar on e throughout Crisp County. Georgia Forestry- July, 1955 ~~ ~ .r Entered as second class matter at the Post Office. Atlanta. Georgia r~.1,t1>.,r.:n-~:ry- tv of Gorgia ,eorqia