Forestry-geological review [Apr. 1932]

DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND GEOLOGICAL DEVELOPM

Vol, 2

ATLANTA, GA., APRIL, 1932

No. 4

DROUTH'S EFFECT ON

N. L. WILLET, FOREST

WOODS BURNING ILLEGAL

PINE GUM PRODUCTION

PIONEER OF GEORGIA EXCEPT JANUA~Y-FEBRUARY

Federal Experts Issue Statement Indi N. L. Willet, Augusta, Ga., agriculturist, Law Does Not Give One Legal Right

cating Critical Tree Condition After Long Drouth in Turpentine Belt

seedsman, writer and philosopher, was writing articles on forestry fifteen years ago in his daily contributions in the Augusta Chron-

to Burn Off His Own Woods Except for Two Months in the Year.

-Light Working and Cessation icle, under the caption, "Daily Plant Hints,"

Advised.

and is today syndicating articles that occa- Burning off woods land is regarded as

bad practice any time of the year. The law-

At a meeting of naval stores factors,

makers of 1910 and 1927 apparently

held at Brunswick, an opinion was sought

thought that it was right to allow naval

from federal naval stores research men, as

stores operators to practice what was term-

to the effect of the severe drouth of 1931

ed "protective burning," which doubtless

on gum production of 1932 and for advice

accounts for a two months' firing privilege

as to how trees should be handled to pro-

each year.

mote future yields.

In the South, the greatest number of

A joint statement was issued by the fol-

forest fires occur in the spring, and after

lowing federal naval stores authorities: Dr.

March 1, contrary to the provisions of the

Au~tin Cary, Lenthal Wyman, and V. L.

law.

Harper, of the United States Forest Service,

The chief reason for fire outbreaks in

and F. C. Craighead, of the United States

March and April is the burning off of fields

Bureau of Entomology. The statement fol-

preparatory to land preparation for crops.

lows:

Debris around the borders of fields is piled

"It is well known that through much of

up and also burned. Fires thus started are

the eastern section of the turpentine belt a

not watched closely and soon get into the

very unusual drouth has prevailed since

forests. At such times farmers think they

last spring. Effects have already been felt

are too busy to,fight fires and let them

by the naval stores industry and the ques-

alone to burn out. The fields from which

tion has arisen among its leaders as to what may be expected should the drouth con-

fires spread to the forests, of course, are not fenced. If there were fences the farmer

tinue and what course is perhaps indicated

would feel that he must protect his fence

for the industry to pursue.

from fire. Many of them value their fences

"Weather bureau records rate 1931 as

more than their forests, at least they seem

the driest year for many years, and the

to think the loss of a fence is greater than

first two months of 1932 have been of

the damage of fire to the forest.

much the ing dried

same character. out very deeply

The and

gtrhoouronud~hlbye,-

N. L. WILLET, AUGUSTA,

Not only is the forest fire law being widely disregarded as to time for legal

generous rains will be required to bring it

PIONEER IN PROMOTING FORESTRY

burning, but it is violated by a failure of a

to normal condition. Only a small yield of

landowner to give the adjoining landown-

gum is to be expected while the soil is in sionally treat of forestry. Mr. Willet de- ers a day's notice, as required by law, of

this condition: Faces will dry in unusual veloped Fulghum oats, promoted the use of his intention to fire his fields or woods.

numbers; timber may die in some quantity, vetches, Abruzzi rye, Biloxi soy beans, etc., The ideal way to deal with the forest fire

the latter being helped by insects. We and those familiar with his work credit him problem is never to start forest fires pur-

have recently observed all these phenomena. with contributing millions of dollars to the posely, and when, by accident, a fire is

"Unfamiliar to most, the part being wealth of the South.

started, neighbors should cooperate to put

play~~ by insects, as seen thus far , may be In 1920 and '21, when the farmer turned them out quickly. Neighbors should also

specifically mentioned. A small beetle bor- to the woods for succor, Mr. Willet in his seek to prevent "bootleg" firing of the

ing through the bark, where the grubs gir- effort to perpetuate the forests, urged woods, that is, unlawful burning of the for-

d.le the trees, has been causing the destruc- farmers not to allow trees under 14 inches ests out of season.

tion. It is an insect not to be feared too to be cut. He insisted that cutting smaller

much, since it is normally in the woods and trees brought loss both to the sawmill oper- burning for pasturage, he says, only per-

only attacks living trees when they are seri- ator and to the farmer. He spoke of cut- petuates the unsatisfactory wire and sedge

ously weakened.

ting small stuff as a Herod-like effort grasses.

"Of the causes contributing to the weak- against baby trees.

It is with pleasure that Mr. Willet is listed

ness of the timber and things that are .im- Mr. Wi)let has written often in his in- among the Georgia pioneers in forestry and

portant in themselves drouth is the pri- imitable, common-sense and pungent style, is given this small recognition for his val-

(Continued on Page 2, Col. 1)

against burning off the forests. Forest- iant efforts.

2

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

Forestry-Geological Review GENEROSITY .AND

COOPERA-

ver screen and chest for either ground wood o_r s1:1lphite pulp, centrifugal pump

Published Monthly by the DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND

TION MADE PULP PLANT POSSIBLE

for dehvermg pulp to pulp screen, six-

plate pulp screen, pulp thickener or one sulphite and one ground wood

sdteocrkaegr~

GEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT

chest, each 7 feet in diameter, 7 feet 6

State Capitol, Atlanta

inches high, complete with agitator equip-
Names of Those Who Have Contrib- ment; post type plunger pump for deliver-

C. A. WHITTLE, Editor Bonnell Stone, Oxford, Development Agent

uted

Time,

Experience,

Machinery

ing pulp to beaters, one 300-pound beater with bleaching and washing equipment, one

and Good Will Are Given in Grate- 50-poun? b~ater, post type plunger pump

Forestry Division
B. M. Lufburrow, State Forester......Atlanta E. B...S,_t_o,_n__e__,___J_r__._,___D___i_s__t_r_i__c.t..F...o..r.e..s..t.e. Gr,ainesville

ful Recognition.

for dehvermg beaten stock to machine chests, two machine stock chests, each 7

feet in diameter, 7 feet 6 inches high, com-

In a recent issue of "Super-Calender," plete with agitator equipment; post type

H. M. Sebring, District Forester......Macon C. B. Beale, District Forester......Waycross W. D. Young, District Forester..........Rome Jack Thurmond, District Forester,
..............------------ ..------Savannah C. N. Elliott, District Forester......Augusta H. D. Story, Jr., District Forester....Albany W. G. Wallace, District Forester.. Columbus Mrs. Nellie Nix Edwards, Clerk......Atlanta Mrs. R. S. Thompson, Stenographer Atlanta
Geological Division

issued by the Pusey and Jones Incorporated, Wilmington, Del., an article entitled "Georgia's Research Pulp and Paper Plant," appears with illustrations. A complete history of the undertaking is given, with the facts of which the readers of the Review are familiar.
There also appears a description of the machinery and a list of manufacturing concerns that are donating and cooperating in

single plunger pump for delivering stock to Jordan, one motor-driven Jordan engine with regulating box, six-plate machine
screen.
"The paper machine is of Puseyjones standard type to produce a sheet 26-inch maximum width, arranged with fourdrinier
part having wire 31 inches wide by 33 feet long, press part with two sets of main presses, dry part with 9-24-inch diameter drying cylinders, calender stack containing five rolls, two-drum upright reel, slitter
and single shaft winder, driving arrange-

S. W. McCallie, State GeologisL..Atlanta the project. It is with pleasure that the ment with enclosed worm-gear drive unit

R. W. Smith, Asst. State Geologist,

names of these concerns are given in grate- for each section, connected by means of

.................................................... Atlanta G. W. Crickmay, Asst. State Geologist,
.................................................... Atlanta

ful recognition of the spirit of helpfulness manifested as well as for the material con-

belts on cone pulleys to overhead lineshaft located parallel with the machine, machine speed 15 to 150 feet per minute through a

Mrs. Blanche Ransom, Clerk ..........Atlanta tributions that have made the research lab- Reeves change-speed device; a combination

oratory possible. While the splendid dona- suction and white water pump with sep-

Research Division, Savannah
Charles H. Herty..............Research Chemist George C. McNaughton........Asst. Research

tions are a tribute to Dr. Charles H. Herty, who directs the research plant, they are al-

arator tank for the flat fourdrinier boxes and a centrifugal pump for handling the white water from the fourdrinier saveall.

Bruce Suttle..........................Plant Engineer so manifestations of interest in Georgia's "A number of the machinery units will

W. T. Allen........................................Chemist contributions to research that merit the be driven by direct-connected motors and

J. B. Osborne........................Plant Assistant

state's gratitude. The following is an extract from the ar-

the others belted from countershafting, in turn driven by motors. An oil-fired steam boiler of 30 h. p. capacity will supply nec-

DROUTH'S EFFECT ON PINE GUM PRODUCTION

ticle:
"The layout of the plant was of utmost importance, not only to provide the latest

essary steam for digesting and drying. "The laboratory section will be equipped
complete with the latest instruments for

and best type of equipment, but to parallel making and testing pulp and paper on a

(Continued from Page 1, Col. 1)

as closely as possible the technical and small scale, and compiling tests and records mechanical processes of commercial plants of semi-commercial operations.

mary and by far the most important. To and, at the same time, keep the cost within

Donors to Laboratory

the best of our knowledge with early gen- the funds available. This was only made First in importance is the Pusey and

erous rains the other troubles should soon disappear. It should be noted further that some localities are more susceptible to the

possible by the splendid cooperation of contributing manufacturers, the majority of whom supplied the equipment at cost or
less.

Jones Corporation, Wilmington, Del., whose engineers designed the plant and whose aid has been of greatest value to the

weakening influences than others. Pure "After considering offers from eight undertaking. Others who contributed time,

sand, impenetrable clay or solid hardpan subsoil are such unfavorable conditions.
"Fire is another source of weakness to timber. Defoliated trees can only produce small amounts of gum and they are further weakened and their life endangered by

cities in the state, Savannah was finally selected and a warehouse building with adjoining dock and railroad siding, on the site
of the Savannah Electric and Power Company, was made available by the Industrial Committee of Savannah through the co-
operation of the Power Company, who are also supplying power and light, and other-

experience and good will in furthering the
success of this project are the following:
Wood chipper and wood grinder, Carthage Machine Co., Carthage, N. Y.
Grinder roller bearings, S. J. K. F. Industries, New York City.
Grinder stone, Lombard & Co., Boston,

working. Working for turpentine is itself wise rendering assistance.

Mass.

a drain on the vitality of timber as evidenced in shrinkage of their rate of growth

"The Central of Georgia Railway coope~ated by expediting the delivery of eqmpment, lending the assistance of their

Grinder regulator, Meyer Governor Co., Minneapolis, Minn.
Grinder pressure pump and acid pump,

and the greater susceptibility timber to other trouble.

of

worked

staff of construction engineers, and donating supplies for the foundation work.

Frederick Iron & Steel Co., Frederick, Md. Grinder gear speed change, Philadelphia

"All these facts considered it is our opinion that the present time, lacking early and generous rains, may be a critical time for timber.
"We think the working of severely burned trees liable to lead to much loss.
"There are critical localities where it appears to us to be safer and advantageous not to work the timber at all until the

"Acclaimed by all who have seen the plans as the most modern and complete plant of its kind, a brief mention of the machinery equipment at this time will, no doubt, be of interest. It is the intention to illustrate and describe this machinery more
fully in a future issue of The Super-Calen-
der. "The semi-commercial section, planned to
handle up to about two tons of paper per day of 24 hours, comprises: Circular saw

Gear Works, Philadelphia, Pa. Pulp screen, beaters, jordan, machine
screen, laboratory equipment, Valley Iron
Works Co., Appleton, Wis. Digester, Blaw-Knox Co., Pittsburgh, Pa. Blow-pit tile, Winslow Co., Inc., Port-
land, Me. Pulp thickener, Improved Paper Machin
ery Corp., Nashua, N.H. Acid-circulating system, Chemi Pulp Pro-
cess Co., Watertown, N. Y.

drouth is definitely broken. "We feel that if it is worked,

timber

for cutting pulpwood to length, 47-inch wood chipper, oscillating chip screen, sulphite digester of 60 cubic feet capacity

Chrome steel valves and fittings, Alloy
Steel Products Co., Boston, Mass. Stuff chest agitators, the Moore & White

should be carefully watched. Abnormally made of acid-resisting stainless steel, di- Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

low yield is the first sign that men are liable gester circulating pump and acid system, Machine suction pump, Nash Engineering

to notice. A tendency to dry face and any sign of work by destructive beetles would

three-pocket w-<~od grinder with 42-inch diameter stone for 18-inch wood, water pressure pump and regulator for grinder,

Co., South Norwalk, Conn. Stock chests, G. Woolford
Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

Wood

Tank

be a still more forcible warning."

three-speed gear reduction for grinder, sil-

(Continued on Next Page)

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

3

Drive flexible couplings, Bartlett-Hay-
ward Co., Baltimore, Md. Machine deckle straps, U. S. Rubber Co.,
Passaic, N. J. Couch jacket and press felt, Albany

to get out of the reach of tree roots. MOUNTAIN TREE NURSERY
4. Fires do not improve the pasturage of
forest lands. Carpet grass which will LOCATED IN UNION COUNTY
furnish winter grazing is seriously re-

Felt Co., Albany, N. Y.

Fourdrinier wire, Cheney Bigelow Wire

Works, Springfield, Mass.

Dryer felts, Fitchburg Duck Mills, Fitch-

burg, Mass.

Rubber-covered press rolls, American

Wringer Co., Woonsocket, R. I.

Motors and electrical equipment, West-

inghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., Pittsburgh,

Pa.

t

Belting and hose, B. F. Goodrich Co., At-

lanta, Ga.

Chlorine and chemicals, Hooker Electro-

Chemical Co., Ni<>gara Falls, N. Y.

Lime products, Keystone Lime Works,

Inc., Keystone, Ala.

Fuel oil, Gulf Refining Co., Savannah,

Ga.

WHAT SPRING FIRES HAVE DONE TO GEORGIA FORESTS

Part of Public Ignorant of Damage-
Informed People Must Spread the Message as an Economic Duty.

Forest fires have left their searing mark on millions of Georgia's forested acres this season. The blackened areas of fire invasion represent the loss of millions of dollars. Seedlings and young trees have been killed outright, all the y~ars of growth they represented are wasted. Reforestation must start over again. Large trees have been

tarded. Lespedeza, a wild legume of Trees Adapted to Mountains and

superior grazing value, is eradicated. Only tuft grasses, wire-grass and sedgegrass, that provide inferior short-season

Upper Part of State to Be Propagated at Mountain Branch of Geor-

grazing, are left.

gia Experiment Station.

5. Forest fires do not kill boll weevils nor

cattle ticks nor many other harmful in- After locating a site for a tree nursery

sects that do not winter on the forest at Albany for growing planting stock of

floor; they do not kill rattlesnakes, but trees native to south Georgia, the tree

they weaken trees so that tree insects nursery committee of the Commission of

do greater damage.

the Department of Forestry and Geological

6. Forest fires do not kill palmetto, gall- Development selected a second state nurs-

berry and wire-grass, but increase them ery site on the land of the Mountain

because other competing growth is Branch of the Georgia Experiment Station,

killed, giving these undesirable plants located on the Appalachian Scenic High-

the right of way.

way in Union county.

7. Fires do not prevent raked trees from At this nursery certain species of trees

dry facing. In actual practice, fires native to the mountains, such as white pine,

burn many turpentine faces where the spruce, hemlock, black locust and pines will

forest litter is raked from around the be grown. In an experimental way, Japan-

trees, and dry faces are increased.

ese chestnuts and northern species of other

8. An unburned mulch on the forest floor trees will be tried out.

checks erosion, reduces the surface run- An excellent site with a convenient water

off of rainfall and maintains a greater supply has been leased. Seeds are being

constant flow of springs, wells and planted and planting stock is expected to

streams, thereby conserving waterpow- be ready for distribution by the end of the

er; but where the mulch with its rain- present growing season.

'Rbsorbing power is destroyed by fire, The two state nurseries, one at Albany

erosion and surface run-off are hasten- and the other in the mountains, are expect-

ed and damaging floods result.

ed to take care of the immediate demand,

9. Forest fires destroy food and shelter of at least, for all trees required by the state

wild life; they actually burn many for planting purposes.

young, and destroy coverage so as to

checked in growth, some have been so

leave the survivors an easy prey to

weakened that they have become easy prey

natural enemies. No better way can be Forest Fires From Broken Glass

of insects and diseases. In every place

found for driving out the quail than

where fire has visited the forest, the owner,

by burning off the forest.

Picnic parties and transients that leave

the community and the state are poorer. 10. Forest fires with their pall of smoke broken bottles or broken glass in the woods

In spite of educational effort to control

make highway travel unsafe; they develop a cause of forest fires. Curved

forest fires, efforts that in one form or an-

blacken and make the landscape un- pieces of glass intensify the rays of the

other have reached every community and a

sightly to travelers; they are a reflec- sun shining on it to the point where fire

great part of the individuals of the state,

tion on any community.

will be generated in the dry leaves, beneath.

forest fires still occur. Not so many fires,

In southern France, investigations of

it is true, and more effort is being put forth to fight fire than ever before, but

ASK FOR SOUTH GEORGIA

forest fires of unknown origin revealed broken glass was found to be an important

still fires that do widespread damage. This

TIMBER SURVEY factor. Probably a number of Georgia

means that the whole public is not yet edu-

fires have been started in the same way. A

cated to the necessity of fire control. It The Naval Stores section of the Savan- good rule to follow is never to leave broken means that those who do know what forest nah Board of Trade has passed resolutions glass in the woods, and when one finds fires mean must carry the message to those asking the United States Forest Service to glass in the woods, remove it to a place who are ignorant. Public sentiment must make a survey of the timber resources of where there will be nothing combustible unbe created as an economic measure. The South Georgia, in line with the provisions der it.

development of many communities of Geor- of the McSweeney-McNary Act of Con-

-gia will depend largely on how well the gress. In the March issue of the Review,

forest lands are protected.

mention was made that Captain I. F. Eld-

Virgin Timber Sold

. What forest fires do and what they do redge, Fargo, Ga., had been appointed to One of the few remaining tracts of vir-

not do are summarized briefly in the fol- have charge of the survey in the South. gin pine in Georgia, known as the "Thomas

lowing statements:

Captain Eldredge took up his duties March Timber," near Camilla, is to be cut off, the

1. Forest fires prevent nature from re- 15 and is now making his headquarters in timber having been sold to the Tyson Com-

foresting the land by burning seed and New Orleans with the Southern Forest Ex- pany, sawmill operators. It is estimated

killing young trees.

periment Station.

that the tract will yield 2,000,000 board

2. Forest fires stunt growth and weaken

feet of lumber. The timber is longleaf

larger trees so that they become more The cotton boll-weevil spends the winter pine.

susceptible to damage by insects and under the bark of trees, in knotholes and Practically the only virgin pine timber to

diseases.

crevices, and not on the ground, and is ig- remain in southwest Georgia is located on

3. Fires destroy humus and nitrogen plant norant of the fact that some people believe tracts of large estates owned principally by

food and make the soil leachy, thus al- they are destroying him when they burn northern people as winter homes and game

lowing needed moisture and plant food off the forest floor.

preserves.

4

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

FORESTRY
QUESTION BOX

It will probably never be practical to DROUTH INCREASED FIRE

plant Japanese chestnuts in the mountains to replace the native chestnut. All seed

LOSS, HEAVY DAMAGE, 1931

must come from the Orient and several

How far can a pine tree scatter its seed? years will be required to produce a supply State as Whole Suffered 32 Per Cent

On the average, one-quarter to one-half of seed in this country. The most that can Burning of Forest Area-Protected

of a mile, depending on the velocity of the be expected is that the Japanese chestnut Land Only .02 Per Cent-Land-

wind in the fall when seed are released may find a place in the farm woodlot of from the cones. Good stands cannot be this country.

owners Fight Fires.

obtained beyond 200 yards.

What is meant by "second-growth" trees? The term is intended to refer to growth The drouth of 1931 increased the annual

Is the slash pine better adapted to damp following the removal of the original or vir- fire losses of Georgia, according to statis-

than dry land? .

gin growth. It is evidently being applied tics compiled by the Division of Forestry.

The opinion of foresters is now that loosely to third-growth or new growth in Nearly a third of the forested area, or 32

slash pine has succeeded best in moist lands general. "New growth" is probably better per cent of the state, was burned over in

only because while young it is easily killed than "second-growth" in many instances 1931, compared to 20 per cent for 1930.

by fires and has had a better chance to es- and the time will come when "second- The area burned over in 1931 amounted to

cape fire in wetter areas. Planted on dry growth" should have no place in forestry 6,281,012 acres; in 1930, 4,605,193 acres.

lands, it does well when protected from the parlance.

The records of the State Forester show

fires; grows more rapidly than longleaf and

that South Georgia sustained the highest

produces more and better gum, according to conclusions reached by the United States

FORESTRY

ASSOCIATION

loss, as usual, due to the greater fire hazard of that section, a hazard that was in-

Forest Service.

PROGRAM IN PREPARATION creased greatly by the drouth last year.

What species of pines are most widely dis-
tributed in Georgia? Shortleaf and loblolly are the most widely distributed. Both are found throughout the state, but shortleaf exists in mountain regions that the loblolly has not invaded. What is the "old! field" pine? Different species are called "old field" pine. Shortleaf and loblolly are species usually given this title. Grown in open fields, both form more limbs, develop wider crowns and have less height than when growing in the woods. It would be better to discard the term "old field."
What is kraft paper that is now made from

A meeting of the program committee of the Georgia Forestry Association was held at Rome on March 10, at which time a tentative program was arranged. The place of meeting will be at the General Forrest Hotel at Rome and the time, June 22 and 23.
A program was outlined covering a wide range of subjects touching utilization of forest resources, land utilization, reforestation, mineral development, education and recreation. A number of prominent speakers for the program are being sought.
Exhibits are to be featured in which utilization, forestry activities, mineral resources and recreation will have a part.

The financial loss caused by the fires is estimated at $6,923,119 in 1931. This is the heaviest damage for Georgia for which there is any record.
While this heavy loss was sustained for the state as a whole, on lands under organized protection and belonging to the timber protective organizations, the loss was .02 per cent, evidencing how well the forests can be protected if proper measures are taken. The protected area is 1,909,000 acres. The number of fires on protected areas was 506 and for the state as a whole, 22,690.
According to the State Forester the percentage of burned land would be much less

pines.?

Bonnell Stone, secretary of the Associa- if turpentine operators did not burn over

Kraft paper is brown wrapping paper, or tion, Oxford, is chairman of the program their land after raking around the trees,

brown paper board. Pine is the chief committee. Others attending the program and if such fires were kept from spreading

source of fiber used and great progress has committee meeting were President T. G. beyond the turpentine operators' property'

been made in the South in manufacturing Woolford, C. B. Harman, chairman of the or leases.

these products. The long, strong fiber of Executive Committee, of Atlanta; J. M. The State Forester says that the Division

pine makes a tough, strong paper and Mallory, Savannah; Wyatt Foster, Secre- of Forestry was able to make a fuller

board.

tary of the Chamber of Commerce, Rome; survey of the state in 1931 than previously

The wood pulp laboratory established by and W. D. Young, District Forester, Rome. which he considers may account for some of

the Department of Forestry and Geological

the increase in total area burned as com-

Development of Georgia, the Chemical In- GROWING CIGAR BOX

pared to previous years. He also states that

stitute Incorporated of New York, the City

TIMBER IN PORTO RICO the area burned during the drouth -last fall

of Savannah and others, at Savannah, is de-

would undoubtedly have been much greater

signed to work out the commercial prob- More than 40,000 Spanish cedar trees, than it was had landowners not cooperated

lems of using pines for making white paper, known also as cedro, were distributed for with the forestry force in fighting the nu-

an end already achieved on a laboratory planting last fall by the Forest Service of merous outbreaks. A growing disposition

scale.

the United States Department of Agricul- of property owners to fight fires, it is

To what uses are blight-killed chestnuts ture from its principal nursery in Porto Ri- stated, was an encouraging feature of the

put?

co to coffee planters of the island.

year.

The invasion of chestnut blight has re- The Spanish cedar is one of the most sulted in the death of a great part of the highly esteemed lumber trees of the West

Tool for Poisoning Trees

chestnut trees of the mountains and is ex- Indies. Its most important commercial use A machine weighing about 16 pounds,

pected eventually to exterminate the spe- is for the manufacture of cigar boxes. holding three quarts of liquid poison,

cies. On account of the abundance of chest- Planted as a protection on the coffee trails, originally designed by Joshua A. Cope and

nut in the mountains, the dead trees are of it grows rapidly but not so large as to com- J. Nelson Spaeth of Cornell University, and

commercial importance. They are being re- pletely shade out the coffee plants.

improved by A. L. MacKinney of the United

moved for poles, cross-ties, fencing, lumber,

States Forest Service, has been used suc-

pulpwood and tannic acid. Manufacturers

Enemy Insects of Trees

cessfully in Georgia. It can be operated by

distill the tannic acid from the wood and It has been found that 400 insects attack one man, and three quarts of poison will

utilize the fiber for making paper boxes. oaks, 170 attack hickories, 100 attack ma- treat approximately 125 trees. About a tea-

Can the blight-resistant Japanese chestnut ples, 105 attack birches, 186 attack willows, spoonful of poison is inserted with each in-

be used to replace the American chest- 165 attack pines, 40 attack locust. Birds cision. This instrument is useful for killing

nut?

are the chief enemies of insects.

undesirable trees in the forest stand.

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

s

FIRST DISTRICT

of brush-burning activities, and by caution- Boswell, Jr., of Siloam, is instrumental in ing the owner, it is believed that many fires "rounding up" the landowners and inter-

W. D. Young, District Forester were prevented.

esting them in placing their land under sys-

Rome

For one short period during the month, temized fire control. the fire hazard was very high, owing to the

Fire Control Measures Effective
C. S. Fowler, patrolman in a section around LaFayette, reports that he is having good cooperation in fire suppression and that most of the landowners do not want their forest land burned over. Several fires have occurred, but most of them were of small size and were readily suppressed. He reports that on several occasions landowners were already on the fire lines when he

extreme dryness and high winds, and one of the patrolmen reported that it was so dry in his district that he considered it dangerous to have a fire in the fireplace.
SECOND DISTRICT E. B. Stone, Jr., District Forester
Gainesville

Students Plant Trees
T. E. Fleming, Vocational Teacher of Bio Consolidated School, planted 1,000 loblolly pine seedlings on the land of Mrs. Bobo, who lives in Bio community. This pro-. ject was under the supervision of Mr. Westbrook, County Agent of Hart county. The seedlings were secured from the Forest School at the College of Agriculture.

reached them. On the largest fire so far, Yellow Poplar Brings High Return
twenty men were fighting at one time and The forests of North Georgia are made

Office Secured in'Augusta

stayed until the fire was out, which was 2 up of some of the most valuable trees to be The District Forester wishes to extend

o'clock in the morning.

found anywhere in the United States. This thanks through this column for the co-

Mr. Fowler finds that water pumps are fact was very strongly brought out in a operation of W. A. Lufburrow, editor of

successful in combating fires, if there are recent sale of poplar made by the Pfister the Augusta Herald, and J. Marvin Wolf, of two or more men on the fire line, and if and Vogel Land Company from their hold- Augusta, in securing a well lighted private

water can be found not over an eighth of ings in Towns county. This sale included office on the third floor of the court house.

a mile away. In mountain country water several trees, all of which contained curly

can be found within this distance, a dry season occurs.
Bauer Located at Jasper

unless

lumber, which is very highly prized for furniture manufacture.
One of these trees was 69 inches in diameter at 4% feet from the ground and scaled

Got It From the Review
From a letter of March 15, 1932, from Mr. William H. Carr, Assistant Curator of American Museum of Natural History, New

Mr. E. Bauer was appointed the first of March to take the place of W. A. Johnson.

10,149 board feet, being one of the largest, if not the largest, tree ever cut in Georgia.

York City: "I always enjoy receiving the Forestry and Geology bulletins and am al-

Mr. Bauer's headquarters are at Jasper The price per thousand on the stump was ways interested to read what is going on in

and he will patrol the same section Mr. $30.00, giving this tree a value in the woods your section. The last issue was particular-

Johnson patroled, county and parts Murray counties.

which includes Pickens of Gilmer, Gordon and

on the stump of more than $300.00. Yellow poplar forms a considerable per-
centage of the trees forming the forests

ly informative; I learned that St. Luke's Hospital, here in New York, was built of stone from Georgia, and when I passed it in

throughout the mountainous part of the a cab with a friend the other night, I could

All

Vocational Schools
vocational schools have been

visited

state, and with the increased efficiency in fire protection it will occupy a still greater portion of the stand in the future.

point to it and say, 'I know where the stone came from that you used in this building'."

in District One, with the exception of two, Many of the old fields in the country to

and these will be visited some time in the north of the Blue Ridge have restocked March. Several of the students are work- with poplar, and some of these stands will ing hard in an effort to win a scholarship produce a very large amount of timber per

FOURTH DISTRICT W. G. Wallace, District Forester

for attending summer camp.

acre and have a very high money value.

Columbus

Poplar reaches its best development in

Berry Schools Plant Pines

this region, and we are fortunate in having Butler High School to Study Uses of

The Berry Schools will plant 4,000 loblolly pine this spring. On account of poor

such a valuable tree as one of our principal timber producers.

Sand Ridges
Students studying vocational agriculture

germination of seed last spring the number

at Butler High School have accepted the re-

to plant will fall far short of the number expected.
Seed will be planted this spring with

THIRD DISTRICT C. N. Elliott, District Forester

sponsibility of doing pioneer research work in forestry in Taylor county. There are extensive areas of sandy-ridge type country

hopes of having some 15,000 seedlings to

Augusta

in Taylor county that at present are prov-

plant next spring.

ing to be a liability to the county. This

Dry weather has kept Patrolman Steph- particular type of soil is well adapted to

Notes on Forest Fires
Forest fires were sufficiently numerous during the dry days in March to keep the two fire patrolmen rather busy. One of the things brought out by the investigations made by the patrolmen is that a large number of the smokes which appear to be forest fires from a distance are caused by brush burning or the burning off of sage fields, which, in most cases, are not communicated to the forest.

enson busy during the last few weeks. Many farmers are "clearing up" bottoms and other lands, and he finds it quite a job to investigate every smoke. On one occasion he tells of investigating a smoke and after riding a mile down a secondary road to a farm house, found the smoke across the river. It was necessary to use the farmer's boat to cross the river and put out the fire, which evidently started from fishermen.

the growing of the dual-purpose longleaf pine tree, but is largely covered with a mixed growth of practically worthless scrub oak.
The object of this research as carried on by Mr. W. M. Cowart and his pupils is to ascertain whether or not it is necessary to clear the scrub oak in planting longleaf pine.
Considerable progress in forest fire prevention has been made in Taylor county

The brush-burning activity is very widespread at this time and, of course, is one of

T. P. 0. in Greene County

through the concerted efforts of the Taylor-Talbot Timber Protective Organization

the main causes of forest fires. The pa- Plans are under way for the organiza- now cooperating with the Division of For-

trolmen have investigated a large number tion of a new T.P.O. in Greene county. E. T. estry, and the Taylor County Forestry

6

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

I Committee

of

which

Mr. J. S. Green is

was

used,

which

consists

of

a

furrow

plow-

1 .-------------------.

chairman. This forward step of fire pre- ed with a 4-inch "scooter plow" and two

SEVENTH DISTRICT

vention is a most important movement. A furrows thrown to this with a turning plow. C. Bernard Beale, District Forester

movement equal in importance is the re- The advantages of this method of planting

Savannah

forestation of the large areas incapable of are a water furrow to help conserve the

natural reforestation. Mr. Cowart and his moisture during dry periods, furrows that

pupils have undertaken to secure data un- will give some protection from fire and al-

der existing conditions that will show the low the small trees to get started before

most practical and economical way of re- other faster-growing vegetation can choke

foresting these large areas incapable of them out. To date, 95 per cent have sur-

naturally reverting to longleaf pine.

vived.

Fourth Forest Patrolman Assigned
T. E. Herndon, experienced firefighter and towerman, formerly employed on Suwanee Forest, was assigned the fourth patrol area in this district. Mr. Herndon makes his headquarters at Statenville and

is covering western Echols, southern and

Reforestation of Newnan Town Forest Effect of Drouth on Young Timber eastern Lowndes, southern Lanier and east-
ern Clinch counties. The city of Newnan, Ga., recently plant- W. I. Stafford, patrolman for Liberty

ed a total of 27,200 seedlings, reforesting county T. P. 0., writes: "Liberty and ada total of forty-eight acres at an average of joining counties have lost severely from

~~crow's Nest" Lookout Erected

$3.62 per acre. This planting consisted of woods fires during the past fall, winter and

on Suwanee

22,000 longleaf pines, 2,200 black locust, this spring. The loss to the inheritance of Mounted on a pine pole, 80 feet in the

and 2,000 black walnut seedlings. The boys and girls of Liberty county is from air, a small platform "crow's nest" lookout

pines were spaced in rows 7 x 8 feet; the a quarter to a half million dollars in the has been erected at Fargo by Capt. I. F.

walnuts were planted in rows 20 x 20 feet. destruction of young pine and cypress Eldredge, forest manager.

An interesting phase of this year's plant- timber alone, besides the damage to older The pole is about 14 inches at the base

ing is the substitution of a black locust trees that are now being worked for tur- and is anchored between two squared 14-

seedling for every fifth longleaf pine plant- pentine. The weather has been very dry inch by 14-inch supporting timbers. Four

ed. The primary object of this experiment throughout the season, and the ponds, steel guys make the contraption rigid. The

is to obtain a crop of black locust posts before the slow-growing longleaf pine attains any appreciable size.

branches and bays have burned also. The drouth and high winds have been the chief reasons why fires were so difficult to suppress, and why they spread over such wide

pole is climbed by means of steel spikes driven in the pole. A home-made rangefinder is mounted atop and gives satisfactorily accurate readings on fires.

SIXTH DISTRICT Jack Thurmond, District Forester
Savannah

areas.

The lookout supplements three steel tow-

"If one will observe the 'fat' stumps now ers on Suwanee Forest and is proving of

standing in the woods and picture these as great value in helping to locate fires in

trees, he may see in his mind's eye how this territory "dead" to the other towers.

country looked 50 years ago. Now one can

see plenty of areas from 10 to 20 acres in
Fire Break Maintenance Cost Low size with not a green tree standing. Tracts
Mr. J. B. O'Connor, President of Oconee of land that were denuded like this 20 years

Hats Off to South Georgia Fire Fighters

T. P. 0., started plowing solid fire breaks ago and have been burned over every year Few people realize the terrific fight put

in 1930 which were 10 feet wide. This cost or two, have not been able to start a new up by timberland owners, and the vast

on an average per mile was $6.00, includ- growth. However, every year or so one force of turpentine workers, towermen, pa-

ing the wages of two men who cleaned out may observe a good stand of longleaf and trolmen and farmers during the past six

fallen logs and other obstacles while the slash peeping their heads up through the months in south Georgia. In many in-

plowing was being done. Breaks of this wiregrass, only to be burned over and kill- stances, due to the absence of any water in

type were constructed by using two-horse ed again. How much longer can, or will, the woods, it has often been necessary to

turning plows equipped with terrace-wings. the landowners stand for this sort of prac- "fight it out" with the fire right on the

In 1931 these breaks were used intact tice and continue to pay taxes on land that fire line.

with the exception of adding two furrows only produces wiregrass, gallberries and Working under terrible heat and smoke,

on each side to make them a little wider and palmettos?

long, long, weary hours, day and night,

to cover up the small amount of litter "Visitors from the northern part of our south Georgia firefighting crews have met

which had accumulated in each outside fur- country, and also foreigners, are struck these crucial tests with resolute courage

row. This year these firebreaks were with the value and beauty of our southern and commendable loyalty. Even in thickest

freshened by making one round on each pine forests and are amazed that we are so roughs, fires, whipped into fiendish fury

break with a disc-harrow pulled by two careless with fire. Many of these people by high winds, have been "manhandled"

mules at a cost of $1.50 per mile, which is know that fires should never burn through with the aid of knapsack pumps and pine

very cheap maintenance cost on land in our pine forests, while we who live here tops. It has been mostly a case of "get in

Southeast Georgia where permanent plowed and get most of our living from timber and there and beat it out," dead on the line,

breaks are used.

its products look upon woods-burning in with no chance to backfire.

the spring as a matter of course and pay After the fires were temporarily check-

Ehrlich Bros. Plant Slash Pine

little attention to it.

ed, there followed the weary, painstaking

"All landowners should join timber pro- work of "mopping up." Infinite care had

The Ehrlich brothers, new members of tective organizations, plow firebreaks, pur- to be exercised to see that every snag was

the Emanuel T. P. 0., planted 8,000 slash chase fire-fighting equipment and get to- felled near the line, every down log across

pine seedlings on wornout farm land. The gether and say, and mean it, too, that this the line chopped, and every tiny wisp of

plantation has been put under fence and is woods-burning must stop, and stop it smoke "outened," often over many miles of

to be used as pasture land as well asfor tim- through cooperation. It is our patriotic fire line.

ber growing. The plantings were completed duty, and is much less expensive."

The woods have been like a powder mag-

the last week in February. Two thousand

azine for the past six months, and men

seedlings from the State Nursery were No one feels like writing an ode to have had to work like demons on fires of

used along with 6,000 wild or woods-grown spring when the tang of burning forest is only a few square feet to prevent them

stock one to two years old. The most ap- in one's nostrils and the atmosphere is from instantly becoming unmanageable.

proved method of planting slash seedlings dense with smoke.

While large areas have been burned, the

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

7

losses great, and the situation at times al- fiiii"i'i'i.--;iiiiii;;-;R:;;:;:-::; most hopelessly disheartening, yet it is due to the great valor of these men in the

OVERESTIMATING AREA OF FIRE DAMAGE

woods, toiling day and night, that many thousands of acres of turpentine lands have been kept free from fire.
To them, the commonwealth should be forever grateful, and to them we should say with one accord, "Hats off!"

The tendency of most people is to overestimate rather than underestimate the area burned over by fire. An area one mile square, especially in rough country, appears to be much larger than it is. When the area is stretched out in a strip the de-

Sparks-Adel to Show Forestry

ception is likely to be even greater. If the burned strip averages only half a mile

C. R. Hazen, vocational teacher at

wide, it must be two miles long to be a

Sparks-Adel High School, advises that a

square mile, or 640 acres.

portable motion picture projector has been

Irregularly burned areas are likely to oe

obtained for showing educational films. The project is sponsored by the Sparks-

measured by their greatest width rather than by their average width.

Adel chapter of the Future Farmers of America.
Mr. Hazen states that films on different phases of agriculture and forestry will be

JOHN CROSBY, BOY TIMBER FARMER, SALE CITY, GROWS PINES FOR FUTURE

Careful estimates are likely to reduce the size of the casual estimate and the record for fire damage will usually be less as a result rather than greater;

shown from time to time in the county mind of the farmer the value of farm

schools. It is Mr. Hazen's plan to empha- woodlot protection.

Southern Forest Tax Laws

size fire protection, particularly in connec-

"Only four southern states- Virginia,

tion with the school's forestry project.

Student Home Projects

Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana-have

Much interest is being taken in home pro- forest tax laws of any kind. The Virginia

Film Shown in Camden County

ject work among the vocational school boys law, which was passed in 1930, provides for

Through the courtesy of Dupre Barrett, extension forester, three motion picture shows were given recently at Woodbine and Kingsland. The shows were sponsored by the Camden County Timber Protective Organization and were arranged by Karl Meschke, forester for the Georgia Forest Products Company.
The pictures shown were "Friend of Man" and "How Forests Serve." Many people from all over the southern part of the county saw the pictures. Plans are being completed for giving two more shows

of the Eighth District, and in many cases the boys have prevailed on their fathers to put in firebreaks to protect their timberland.
One boy timber farmer, John Crosby, Sale City, has established firebreaks around his five-acre tract, is making improvement cuttings under the direction of the Division of Forestry and is keeping accurate figures on his cost of management and the income from his tract.
A seed-bed was established, but it was found that as a result of fire protection,

a deferred tax on forest tracts. Up to July 1, 1931, however, no lands in the state came under the operation of this law. The Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana laws provide for exemption of forest trees from taxation and a yield tax on timber when cut. On July 1, 1931, in Louisiana, 2.1 per centof privatelyowned forest land had been taxed under the special law, while in Alabama only two-tenths of 1 per cent, and in Mississippi none of the land was so taxed." -Carl Williams, member Federal Farm Board.

at Waverly and White Oak the latter part of March.

one seedling for every two square feet had come in naturally on this five-acre tract,

How

Does

Wood

Compare

in

Fuel

which will necessitate a thinning.

Value With Coal?

The seedlings grown in the seed-bed will Generally speaking, two pounds of dry

EIGHTH DISTRICT H. D. Story, District Forester
Albany

be used in planting about sixty acres of wood equal one pound of coal. One cord

protected land of this boy's father.

of heavier woods, such as maple, hickory

and cherry, is equal in heat value to one

Everglade National Park

ton of coal. Lighter woods, such as cotton-

Through persistent and well-directed ef- wood, yellow poplar and basswood, have

Patrolmen Finish Work

fort of Foridians, the Everglade National heat values in two cords equal to that in

The three special patrolmen for the Eighth District, Grady Welch of Decatur county, George Sutton of Tift county and W. A. Shepherd of Randolph county, are striving in the last two weeks of their work

Park, located on the southern tip of Florida, has been authorized. In many respects this new park differs from any hitherto established. It will preserv'e subtropic vegetation and wild life, and open to visitors a

one ton of coal. Pines carrying considerable rosin have
relatively higher heat values, being considerably above hickory but varying with the rosin content.

to reach every landowner that has not been region of unique and entrancing scenic

reached and to interest him either in fire wonders.

Growth of Old Planting of Shortleaf

protection or suppression.

Pine Measured

These men have overlooked no opportu-

Roofers Elect Officers

On the Windsor-Spring property, near

nity to work with the timberland owner, The Roofer Manufacturer's Club, at its Augusta, Ga., plantings of shortleaf pine

and, in many instances, report very gratify- annual meeting, held at Columbus, Ga., were made about 66 years ago. Recently

ing results. The colored landowner and elected the following officers for the year measurements were made by Eitel Bauer

tenants have come in for their share of at- 1932: J. G. Reynolds, Brantley, Ala., and Charles Nuite, foresters. Their records

tention and have been contacted individual- President, and W. R. Melton, Cuthbert, Ga., show that the trees averaged 73 feet in ly on the farm and collectively at their Secretary. B. T. Slade and C. L. Lunsford height and 14 1h inches in diameter at 4lh

churches, where the patrolmen have gone to were elected Vice-presidents for Alabama, feet from the ground.

carry lessons of protection and conserva- and Hugh Thurston and Gerald Saunders The shortleaf is one of the slower grow-

I tion.

Vice-presidents for Georgia.

All patrolmen report bush burning around

ing pines and, according to these measurements, increased their diameter a little less

cult~vated fields as the source of many of A fire in hand is better than one in the than a quarter of an inch a year on this

the fires and are trying to instill into the brush. Put out the burning match!

site.

8

FORESTRY-GEOLOGICAL REVIEW

blocks of a great variety of very beautiful

MINERALS OF GEORGIA

Georgia granites, many of which take a high polish.

Brief Accounts of Occurrences and Developments of the State's Leading Minerals

Perhaps the most observed and noted granite structure in Atlanta is the monument to Henry W. GraQ.y on Marietta

Reported by THE DIVISION OF GEOLOGY

street, made from granite from the Constitution quarry, south of Atlanta. Another

is the Georgia monument to a Confederate

GRANITES OF GEORGIA

granite, a material that takes a high polish soldier in Chickamauga Park, made of

and is in great demand for monuments and granite from Lexington quarries.

Article No. 2.

building materials.

Many of the buildings of Atlanta have

Granite constitutes one of the great nat- Another distinct belt of commercial granite for foundations and for. trimmings.

ural resources of Georgia. Its development granite lies south of that just mentioned Several are made entirely of granite, among

has grown steadily until the income has and extends from Madison and Eatonton them churches. Since DeKalb county is the

reached annually about $2,000,000. The northeastward through Greensboro to greatest producer of granite, it is, of

supply is inexhaustible and the quality of Washington in Wilkes county. Compar- course, natural that the DeKalb county

much of it is of high grade.

atively few quarries have been opened on courthouse should be made of granite.

History: Records show that some granite this deposit.

Many southern cities have used Georgia

was quarried at Stone Mountain as early as Still another belt lies further south along granite, and even in the north, where gran-

ite is quarried extensively, Georgia gran-

ite has found a place, such as the coping

for Riverside Drive in New York City, and

walls for Weidner's sunken gardens in Phil-

adelphia.

Granite of Baldwin county, used in the

old state capitol at Milledgeville over one

hundred years ago, shows no sign of de-

terioration.

The most widely known display of gran-

ite is Stone Mountain, a great domelike ele-

vation, with a sheer escarpment of over

600 feet on its eastern frontage, on which

the greatest carving ever undertaken is pro-

jected-the monument to Confederate sol-

diers in Georgia's everlasting granite.

The uses of granite are varied. Before

concrete came into general use for streets,

GRANITE QUARRY ON SLOPE OF STONE MOUNTAIN

Belgium blocks or cobblestones flowed in steady carloads in the 80s and 90s from

1845. The first systematic quarrying there, the fall line between the Coastal Plain and Georgia quarries. Curbing material was also

however, was begun in 1869, when the Piedmont Plateau, extending from Mill- in great demand. Now granite blocks for

Stone Mountain Granite and Railway Com- edgeville through Sparta, Warrenton, Thom- paving have given way to crushed granite

pl).ny was formed by John T. Glenn, S. M. son and Appling to a point near Augusta. for concrete streets and roadways. No

Inman and J. A. Alexander of Atlanta, and Considerable commercial development has better material for this purpose can be

quarries were opened on the side of Stone been made of this deposit.

found anywhere. Georgia granite for this

Mountain.

The greatest area in the state in which purpose is, however, not as broadly dis-

In 1882, Venable Brothers of Atlanta, commercial development has occurred tributed as it was for street paving.

purchased the holdings of the above-men- spreads from Lawrenceville and Covington, To the extent that granite is demanded

tioned company and began operations on a on the east, through Conyers, Lithonia and in the future, Georgia is in position to com-

much more extensive scale. Annual ship- Stone Mountain, south of Atlanta, to Fair- pete with any other state in the Union.

ments grew rapidly, attaining to 20,000 burn, Newnan, Franklin, LaGrange, curving

carloads a year. Under the leadership of from its western extremity eastward to DOLOMITIC LIMESTONE

Venable Brothers, Georgia took high rank Greenville, Zebulon and Griffin. Quarries

among the granite-producing states. At have been operated not only in the Stone

IN COTTON FERTILIZERS

one time this state even surpassed Vermont, Mountain territory mentioned but in Camp-

known as the "Granite State," in its output bell, Coweta, Heard, Troup, Meriwether, Experiments conducted by the Georgia

of granite.

Pike and Spalding counties.

Experiment Station show that the use of

Production grew rapidly in the Stone While these belts mentioned are the chief dolomitic limestone in cotton fertilizers

Mountain vicinity and spread to Lithonia, sources of commercial stone, granite and containing sulphate of ammonia, is a profit-

Conyers, Snellville and Lawrenceville. As granite gneiss compose the foundation of able investment in the Piedmont section of

many as 52 quarries have operated in De- much of the Piedmont Plateau of Georgia. the state.

Kalb, Rockdale, Gwinnett, Newton and Uses: Georgia granites have been used From 100 to 200 pounds increase per acre

Walton counties. The greatest production, for buildings, street paving and curbing, of seed cotton is reported by putting as

however, of this area has been between monuments, as materials for concrete ag- much dolomitic limestone in the fertilizer

Stone Mountain and Conyers.

gregate, and ballast for railroads.

as there is sulphate of ammonia. This

In 1891, granite development began in Because of the closeness of its grains, treatment of fertilizers is comparatively in-

Elbert county, with the opening of Coggins hardness, strength and structure, granite is expensive.

quarry near Oglesby. Other developments unsurpassed for construction purposes. The Knox dolomite is a limestone carrying

occurred near Elberton, also at Lexington color and texture of many Georgia granites about 16 per cent magnesia (mgo). Surface

in Oglethorpe, and at Athens in Clarke. is unexcelled, if equaled. A visit to the outcroppings are found in the northwest-

This region became famous for its blue Museum at the State Capitol will reveal ern part of the state.