Profitable forestry in Georgia

BULLETIN 10 - - -- - -- - - -- - -

MAY, 1930 - -- - -

Georgia F oresf Ser,rice

B. M. LUFBURROW. State Forester

Profitable Forestry In Georgia

I
-~J FEB 43 1952 .:._
~~Vtld I I t)f Gft ~

Introduction
This bulletin has been prepared primarily to report the progress that some timber owners of Georgia are making, and to give in their own words, what results they have obtained, how they have obtained them and what they hope to accomplish. Only a few of the many reports that could have been obtained , are given herein, but from time to time it is expected that others will be secured and published.
It is believed that everyone who reads the experiences of these timber growers will be thoroughly convinced that it pays to prevent forest fires and, we believe, they will become enthused over the possibilities of growing trees in Georgia.
Experiences are given in this bulletin from the small 30-acre timber grower to the large 200,000-acre commercial forestry project; from the pine belt and hardwood belt; from women managers as well as men; from school forests and town forests ; from timber located at tidewater and on mountain crests; from lands operated under trained foresters and from novices beginning to deal with their forest problems for the first time. The whole reveals an awakening that promises well for the future of forestry in Georgia.
B. M. LUFBURROW,
State Forester.

Profitable ForestrB In Georgia
C. A. WHITTLE
Will it pay to grow trees in Georgia? The object of this bulletin is to give evidence for our emphatic answer, "Yes". Any commodity for which there is a demand has a value. What is the outlook for the demand for wood? This country is consuming wood faster than it is growing it, as evidenced by the fact that we are importing more than fifty per cent of our wood pulp material and some lumber is coming from abroad. The demand today in this country for wood is, in fact, greater in proportion to the supply than ever before. When a supply decreases and the demand does not decrease, the consequence is higher prices. Because of the growing scarcity of wood, the general price level is quite a bit higher than it was 25, 30 and 50 years ago. This too in spite of the increasing use of wood substitutes such as cement, brick and iron. Nothing can completely displace wood for building purposes. The more people there are the more wood there must be to house them, and to use for stores, warehouses, factories and for transportation facilities. The population of this country is far from the saturation point; therefore, the certainty of a continued demand for wood.
NEW AND OLD USES FOR WOOD
Furthermore, new uses for wood are arising. The inventive chemist has turned his attention to wood fiber or wood cells, and lo! we have produced from wood artificial silk, non-breakable glass. non-combustible films, transparent paper, photographic films, sausage casings, vulcanized or composition board for maling trunks; hat boxes, electric insulation, buckets, waste baskets ; cellulose as a base for gun cotton, dynamite, smoke-

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

less powder ; cellulose paints that can be sprayed on automobiles and other wood surfaces; surfacing material for cloth to make imitation leather; washable wall paper; imitation ivories of many colors, artificial pearls, brooches, necklaces, buttons, fountain pens, knife handles, and on and on. The possibilities seem unlimited.
Then too, the chemists are finding new uses for naval stores , adding to the hundred or more already found for rosin and turpentine extracted from the slash and longleaf pines.
Just as the textile mills moved southward where cotton is grown, the paper mills are moving southward where wood fiber is growing faster, cheaper and in greater abundance than anywhere else in the United States. Chemical genius has already learned how to economically convert southern pines into white paper as it had already learned to use many hardwoods in which the south abounds. And the demand for paper is increasing enormously
. Venee~ manufacture is a comparatively new industry. It is making rapid progress in Georgia where red gum, white oak, cherry, tupelo, magnolia, yellow poplar, black gum, walnut, maple, bay, sycamore and other species are providing material for interior finishing, furniture, baskets, boxes, crates, etc. An increasing demand for veneer materials is certain, and other species of wood will doubtless be brought into use for this purpose.
The demand made upon Georgia forests for telephone, telegraph, electric power poles and for crossties, is certainly showing no sign of decreasing but rather to the contrary. Except for seasonal variations the demands for saw timber show no decrease and the output of lumber, shingles, plywood, staves and headings keeps up and is providing a local source of wealth and employment that has meant much to the financial welfare of the State.
All in all, there is abundant evidence that the demand for forest products is not a matter about which the timber land owners need to worry, but the evidence is that there should be great concern about preparing to supply the wood demand of the future .

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It is too sadly evident that many timber owners in Georgia do not have a vision of the future possibilities of forest products, else there would not be so many forest fires nor would they show so little interest in forest management.

FoREST BURNING MUST BE STOPPED

Every year many millions of dollars of potential forest wealth go up in smoke in Georgia. The future tree crops are cut off and the established trees are injured, starved and retarded in growth, if not killed outright. So. great is the damage of fire to forest growth that one can say positively that little or no profit is to be obtained from growing timber if the woods are allowed to bum over annually.
Many turpentine operators practice protective burning; raking around trees and burning the litter of the forest floor. But tests have shown that modern fire breaks and patrol will provide protection at less cost and with greater production of gum.
Many farmers burn off their woods to kill boll weevils, unaware that boll weevils do not hibernate in the forest floor material that is burned, but spend the winter under the bark, in knot holes, in dead standing trees, and other places where the fire does not reach.
Some burn to green up the pasture and in doing so, destroy the only good native pasture grasses-lespedeza and carpet grass -leaving principally wire grass and sedge grass for grazing.
Some burn to get a better view of quail and other game but in doing so they only drive out the game because their coverage and food are destroyed.
No good reason, as a matter of fact, can be given for burning off the woods. Unquestionably, the net results of forest fires is the destruction of actual and potential wealth.
The Georgia Forest Service is combatting forest fires by forming Timber Protective Organizations among timber owners, by publicity in the form of pamphlets and fire posters; by moving pictures displayed in rural schools; by cooperating with 150

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

consolidated rural high schools in establishing and operating school forests; by highway demonstration plots with signs showing how natural reproduction will take place if fires are kept out; by encouraging the construction of fire breaks and the use of fire fighting equipment; by exhibits made at the State Forest Fair and other fairs in the State; by syndicated newspaper articles; addresses before civic organizations; by urging the officers of the law to enforce the fire laws; by appointing fire wardens and -by holding conferences with individual timber owqers.
Fire protection through education of the public is a great undertaking. Unless leaders in every community will rally to the cause and lend their assistance, progress will be retarded and every winter and spring will continue to witness wealth ascending as smoke in every community in the state for many years to come.

HOW FAST WILL FORESTS PRODUCE WEALTH

It has been stated that wood can be grown faster in the South than elsewhere in the country. Sunshine, moisture, long growing season and rapid growing species are the chief contributing factors. Slash, loblolly and longleaf pines, yellow poplar and cottonwood are among the leading commercial species of trees with ability to grow very rapidly, but all species of trees show more rapid growth in the South than they do in the north and northwest because of the longer growing season.
In a word-the rapid growth and the species of trees growing in the South constitute the chief reasons why the south must be the important future source of forest products of this country.
Investigations by research workers on the rate of growth of slash, longleaf and loblolly pines in the south show that even
where no effort at forest management is made there are 1Yz to 2Yz cords growth per ac;e annually. Some data indicate that
yellow poplar and cottonwood are practically as rapid in growth as the pines mentioned. .Had these forests of pine been given

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proper management, and the plant food and moisture of the soil been directed into desirable trees rather than into suppressed trees and undesirable species, the growth rate could be reasonably expected to be at least a half cord more per acre annually. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to expect that on average land, well stocked with the more rapid growing species that it is possible to
have an annual increment of growth of 2Yz cords per acre.
How much wood is Georgia growing annually on its more than 23,000,000 acres of forest and semi-forest land? Probably less than half a cord per acre, because of poor stands, fires that keep down reproduction, and lack of proper thinning and improvement cutting. In other words, Georgia is not growing as much as 15 per cent of the wood it is capable of growing on its present forested area. What this loss will amount to can only be guessed, for no one knows how much forest products will be worth in the future. It is certain that the total output could be seven times more than it is and the value increased as much as the future demand and ready markets will bring.
The establishment of paper mills and other cellulose industries in the South, and fuller utilization of forest resources in other ways by other wood-working plants, certainly heighten the prospects of the forest wealth of Georgia.

LAND UTILIZATION

Land too poor to grow agricultural crops profitably can grow trees successfully. Many acres of abandoned farm land not now needed for growing crops and many acres now cultivated at a loss should be allowed to grow trees. Much of this agricultural marginal land will come back under natural reforestation if fires are kept out. Other areas should be planted. It is probable that at least 6 million acres of abandoned farm land and land of low productivity could be added to the 23,000,000 acres now in forest land in Georgia.
Tree growing is one of the safest and surest ways of getting returns from land. The outlay for labor and other expense is

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PRO FITABL E FOREST RY IN G EORGIA

insignificant as compared to farm crops and land on w hich ow n ers are now paying taxes without any returns can be made to develop wealth for the owner.

FOREST HARVESTING AND RoTATION

Because of their quick growth, their adaptabilit y to various soil types, hardiness and their many uses , growing southern

pines is particular! y attractive for investment. Because of their ability to produce gum profitably, slash and longleaf pines have an advantage over other pines in wealth production.

Under natural reforestation pines come up to a thick stand. Economic management as a rule recommends that these pines be

allowed to grow thickly until they are large enough to produce fence posts and firewood before the first thinning. A second thinning can usually be made after the trees have gained nine

inches or more in diameter. Before the trees are removed they may be turpentined, and then marketed as pulpwood, poles, crossties, etc.

The second thinning reduces the stand to a point where the remaining trees will make rapid growth in reaching saw timber size. Before being harvested, they too can be turpentined. After

being cut into logs the tops and larger limbs can be marketed

as wood for paper manufacture.



Reforestation will have begun after the last thinning so that a new crop of trees will be well on their way by the time the saw timber is cut. Thus a crop rotation will be in progress.

It will be observed that in the course of one generation of

slash or longleaf pine, it is possible to get four crops; first, fire

wood and fence posts; second, gum and pulpwood or poles;

third, gum, and fourth, saw logs and pulpwood. The cropping

program for loblolly and shortleaf pines will be similar except

for the gum.

While a number of hardwoods will yield larger returns per board feet as saw timber or veneer than pine, they grow more slowly and will not give as large return per acre over a number

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o f years as pine. Perhaps yellow poplar, black locust and a few other quick-growing valuable trees will approach pines rather clo~ely for per acre returns, but as a rule the quick-growing hardwoods can be grown successfully only on limited areas.
The conclusion is that Georgia should emphasize pines as their state-wide forest money crop. Pines can be grown successfully in all parts of the state, on poor as well as rich soils, and , as a rule, find a local market ready to absorb their output.

FOREST-MINDED GEORGIANS

This publication is issued primarily as a recognition of the services rendered forestry by Georgians who have a vision of what forest production means, Georgians who are protecting their trees from fire, promoting reforestation and practicing good forest management, including wise utilization. Their example, it is hoped, may be an incentive to others to do likewise.
By no means has the field been covered. From time to time, it is our purpose to record in publications similar to this, the outstanding examples of progress in restoring to Georgia its ancient glory of forests and forest products.

WHAT SOME GEORGIANS ARE DOING TO DEVELOP THEIR FOREST RESOURCES
Members of the staff of the Georgia Forest Service have obtained the following statements from timber owners as to what they are doing to develop their forests, their observations and conclusions. It will be noted that these timber growers are strongly of the opinion that trees must be protected from fire to do well; that land undesirable for farm crops produce trees successfully; that trees grow more rapidly when properly thinned.

PIONEER IN FOREST PROTECTION
W . J. Mullis, Waycross, Route 4, owning 223 acres of pine
land, began the care of his forest 22 years ago. The land is well

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stocked, due to fire protection. Mr. Mullis says: "Having been born here in South Georgia, I have had the
opportunity of seeing this country from its virgin state with its billion dollars of wealth in the stately yellow and slash pine, and also have seen this pine ruthlessly wasted by fires, saw mills, turpentine, crossties, etc.
"I saw years ago the necessity of trying to preserve the forests that the next generation might have a little of what my generation had much of. So, thirty odd years ago, I went to preaching and trying to practice conservation against all seeming odds, and by using roads and plowing breaks have succeeded in a limited way. But could I have had the Forest Service aid thirty years ago that we now have in educating the people in conservation

W. J. Mullis, Waycross, Route 4, Pioneer in Fire Protection-View of Some of His Forest Land
of the forests, I feel that we could have had a country, now in its childhood, coming to the high standard of wealth that it enjoyed sixty years ago.
"I expect to preach and practice forest preservation in my humble way, and aid in any way I can in educating the people

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up to a higher standard, that our country may have a little of what God's laws of nature have in store for us."

POOR PROSPECT BECOMES BRIGHT WITH PINES AND CARPET GRASS

C. L. Williams, Vienna, Ga., with 400 acres of slash pme, began protection of the forest in 1910. Read his interesting statement of what he has accomplished:
"When I came to this place 20 years ago I began protecting my land from fire. At that time the turpentine men thought the timber wasn't worth looking at, but n()w they want to cup all of it-all because I protected it from fire.
"My timberland is mostly in the low, moist places, and is now covered with a good stand of carpet grass. I first noticed

C. L. Williams, Vienna, Estimates 4 to 5 Per Cent Returns on Investment in Pines
the carpet grass on an old sawmill site, where the cattle kept it grazed down. Since then , it has spread all over my woods and makes an excellent pasture, except after a heavy freeze, when I

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

cannot use it for 3 or 4 months. Some years the pasture stays green all winter, and I can pasture my sheep all of the year. I also notice that where the grazing is heavy, the carpet grass is killing out the gall-berry.
"I find the best way to keep down the fire is to graze my pasture to the maximum. This will prevent the grass from getting rank and will reduce the fire hazard. Wherever I can keep out fire the young slash pines come in thick, grow fast, and have a much healthier color and appearance than saplings that are burned. I have some land that I have not protected from fire, and here there are very few saplings coming in.
"I think protection from woods fires is a paying proposition, and estimate that the growing trees on my woodlands are paying taxes and yielding 4 to 5 per cent on the investment."

RESTORING CUT-OVER PINE LAND

Albert Harper, Osierfield, Ga., with 2200 acres of slash and longleaf pineland, decided in 19 20 to utilize cut-over pineland and concluded that the best way was to grow pines. He has planted and protected from fire with. fire-breaks. Here is his statement:
"After the timber nad been turpentined and saw milled, I saw that the only way to make my land pay was to protect it from fire and let the pine trees grow. At the present return on farm land it will not pay to clear the cut-over land and raise farm crops. We do not have a fence law and cannot make any money in cattle. So the only way the cut-over lands will pay taxes and give an income is to raise pine trees.
"I began in I 920 to try to keep out the fires, and had fairly good results where I could watch it closely. Four years ago I began plowing fire breaks and find these are a great help in keeping out the fire. I plow strips about I 5 feet wide, but I think they should be at least 20 feet wide.
"I have noticed that where my land is protected the pine trees come in very thickly, grow fast in height, and grow from one-

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Albert Harper, Osierfield, Finds Fire Protection Brings Pine in Thickly and that They Grow Rapidly
fourth to one-half inch a year in diameter. "I do not expect to harvest much of the second-growth timber
on my land, but young thrifty trees increase the value of the land, and my boys will be able to make some money out of it.
"Growing timber on land that isn't profitable for farm crops is a good thing for the community. It gives the laboring man a job, the railroads business, the wood-using industries a source of raw material. taxable wealth for the county, and a profit for the owner."
LEADING PLANTATION OF SLASH AND LONGLEAF PINE
On account of its location on a much traveled highway, the plantings of slash and longleaf pine north of Cordele is probably the best known pine plantation in Georgia. F. E. Fenn started this plantation which is being enlarged by his daughter, Miss Alene Fenn. As a combination pine and pasture proposition, this project promises to be very intersting. Miss Fenn's statement follows :

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

" In the spring of 1926, my father, F. E. Fenn, had some low, waste lands that were not producing anything to pay taxes or interest. From a natural love of the pine tree and a desire to make waste land pay an income, he conceived the idea of planting this land to pines. Being a turpentine operator, he naturally viewed the enterprise from a business standpoint, and considered that the planting of trees would yield a good return at a future date. He was the first man in this section of Georgia to plant slash pine trees, and stated he wanted to be the first man to cup trees that had been planted.

Fenn Plantation of Slash Pines Near Cordele Growing RapidlyAttact Attention on Leading Highway
"My father planted 40 acres to slash pine in 1926 and planned to perpetuate his turpentine business by doing some planting work every spring and working his timber conservatively. The seedlings were pulled up in the marshy places, put in

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a barrel of water, and then set out in rows 8x8 feet and 1Ox 10 feet. The roots were kept moist all of the time, and the trees were carefully planted; resulting in 90 % establishment.
"My father did some planting every spring since 1926, and since his death, we are carrying on the work. At present we have approximately 15 0 acres of waste land planted to trees. The trees planted in 19 2 6 now average 10 to 12 feet in height, and will probably be 9 inches in diameter in from 12 to 15 years after planting. The trees are making excellent diameter and h~ight growth, and we expect to be able to work them in 1940; or as soon as they reach a 9-inch diameter. In our turpentine business we have established 9-inch as the minimum diameter for cupping.
"A 75-acre tract, along state highway Number 7, three miles north of Cordele, that my father first planted is being created into a memorial to him. It is being deeded to all of the heirs and cannot be sold or divided as long as any of the heirs are living, and as long as the Georgia laws will permit. Carpet grass and lespedeza have been planted among the pines on this 75-acre tract, and we are now grazing 40 head of dairy cows on it.
"We consider growing pine timber and grazing cattle to be a profitable business."

PINE PLANTING INCREASED LAND VALUE 100 PER CENT

A. K. Rountree, Summit, Ga., began in 1926 to plant slash pine, also to protect from fire, thin and prune established forests. His planting experience is significant. The statement of Mr. Rountree is as follows:
"I started setting out pines in 8 ft. checks in the spring of 1926. I gathered these pines from old fields and along streams, planting 35,000 seedlings on approximately 40 acres, 25 per cent of which lived. Replanted the same fall and 75 per cent lived.
Each year now I have been getting seedlings from the State Nursery at Athens, and find that I get much better results for

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

more of them live. We planted 15,000 in January , 1930 and the district forester at Swainsboro states that 9 5 per cent of them are living.
"I notice that my trees grow more rapidly after the third year, and I believe that 10 x 10 feet spacing is ideal for this section of Georgia. That has been my experience. This land was idle until it was planted in slash pine and the value of the land alone has increased 100 per cent as compared to 1926. To date, I have received no actual money returns, but the land is building up instead of depreciating, and I expect to lease this for turpentine in 8 more years, which will net me more than I could hope to make by farming it."

TURPENTINE OPERATOR A LEADING TREE PLANTER
The work of James Fowler, Soperton, Ga., in planting and care of pines has attracted wide attention. His plantation has attracted many visitors, including federal and state foresters. The success attending his efforts has provided the basis of magazine and newspaper articles, and Mr. Fowler is quite in demand as a speaker at forestry conventions. The following statement of Mr. Fowler is of special interest:
"In 1926 I planted about 10 acres in slash pine, of which around 85 per cent lived and grew off fine. So in February, 19 2 7, I planted 13 0 acres of slash seedlings that were one and two years old. These seedlings were obtained from old fields and along the heads of streams and were planted in rows checked 10 x 10 feet, which I have found to be the best spacing in my section. Today I have 1,000 acres planted in slash pine and of the last 640 acres planted, I received a 9 9 per cent. stand. There has been no fire on any of this land.
"In November, 1928, I saw a demonstration in fire break construction, and as fire was my greatest enemy, I determined to build fire breaks on all my timber land and protect my young timber, for I found that fire kills these little slash pines. Today I have fire breaks on all my land-5,200 acres-and have had

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James Fowler, Soperton, Has Planted 1,000 Acres in Slash Pine with Excellent Results-Note in Picture Protected Trees on Left and Burned-Over Area on Right
only two small fires which were put out very easily because the breaks gave us an advantage by holding it down until the crew arrived.
"I have also done considerable pruning and thinning; removing undesirable, dead and diseased trees, and pruning up the balance to help reduce my fire hazard. Planting pines and protecting them certainly pays, for today I have a supply of turpentine timber that is second to none; while in 1925 it was just idle farm land that was a burden and didn't produce enough to pay the taxes. My land has increased in value 100 per cent and in 8 years I intend to turpentine my planted orchard. With the help of the Georgia Forest Service, I intend to keep growing timber which will insure me of a continual supply for my turpentine business.''
FIRE BREAKS LET YOUNG PINES GET A START
James Peterson, Soperton, Ga., with I ,400 acres of land, decided to build fire breaks to keep his land from burning over

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every year. He wants to grow longleaf and slash pines and red gum. He is practicing fire protection , thinning and pruning. His statement follows:
"I have lived in a turpentine country practically all my life and have seen the developments in forest management and especially in fire protection.
"In February, the Oconee Timber Protective Organization was formed in Montgomery and Treutlen counties, by the Georgia Forest Service. I listed my land and started immediately to build fire breaks like the ones I saw on Mr. Jim Gillis' timberland. Now I have about 10 miles of breaks and have not had a single fire this year. Every year except this one, the area had been burned over, killing and destroying my little trees, but last year was a good seed year and no fires on my land this spring resulted in a good stand of Iitle pines that are now just poking up through the wire grass.
"It certainly pays to protect your timber and especially the young trees, for that is the timber of tomorrow. My land has increased in value 75 per cent over last year, and also affords grazing for more cattle than it did when it was burned every year."

FIRE PROTECTION AND THINNING INCREASED GROWTH RATE
100 PER CENT
John J. Gillis, Soperton, Ga., with 12,000 acres, is protecting his timber with fire breaks , thinning, planting, pruning, using improved turpentine methods, and is an outstanding leader in this region. He finds that care of his forests increased tree growth 100 per cent. His statement follows:
"In 1927 I began protecting my timber by plowing fire breaks on about 5,000 acres, which at that time was supporting a stand of young slash pine. I knew that this was to be my fu ture timber for obtaining my gum and that fire would kill it, so I decided then to have my land listed in the Treutlen Timber Protective Organization, and to build breaks on all of it. Today I have fire breaks on 12,000 acres and have had no fires to date.

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T<mber Protective Organization Methods Bring Large Returns According to John J. Gillis, Soperton
"I have planted 400 acres in slash pine in the last two years and have thinned and pruned over 4,000 acres, which has helped reduce my fire hazard and accelerated growth on the area worked over 75 per cent. I now have a good, even stand of young timber that is growing very fast, and by keeping fires out, this land has increased in value I 00 per cent. I intend to begin working some of my young timber in 6 years.
"When I began work in 1927, my land was worth about $I 5 per acre. Now. I would not sell for $30 per acre. It certainly pays to keep out fires and grow timber. It is a good investment that will pay big returns, for when I get ready to sell my timher I can get my own price for it."
WOMAN LEADER PRACTICES FORESTRY ON PINE AND HARDWOOD AREA OF NORTH GEORGIA
Mrs. M. E. Judd, Dalton, Ga., landscape artist, woman's club leader, member of the State Board of Forestry, began in 1905 to improve 150 acres of woodland. She has established fire breaks, thinned and carried on improvement cutting. Her success indicates how many Georgia women can devote themselves to increasing the forest wealth of Georgia.
Mrs. Judd's interesting statement follows: "Twenty-five years ago I acquired the home place at Dalton,

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

Georgia, on which I am living at present. " When I first came here a stunted growth of pine and hard-
wood covered most of the place. I saw the necessity of taking care of my woodland if I was ever to have any trees that I might use for building purposes and for fuel. Every year the adjoining lands are burned over, but in spite of that, I have en-

Mrs. M. E. Judd, Dalton, Practices Forestry with Good ResultsView of Fire Break
de.avored to keep fire out of my woods, having had only one of any importance in twenty-five years.
" The result of this protection is very apparent. Tree growth has increased at an enormous rate, soil has improved because of forest litter, and the beauty of my place has increased a hundred-fold.
"Trees once stunted and small have reached a size ready to be

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cut and young ones are coming in to take the places of those I will use from time to time.
"From suggestions made by the Georgia Forest Service I am endeavoring to work out a form of management of my woodland whereby I can get the greatest amount of forest growth by eliminating the inferior trees and allowing the best ones to grow. Fire lines have been constructed on all sides to better protect it from fire which may originate on adjoining land.
"I believe in protection of woodland and will continue to give my woods the best protection that is possible."

MORE GU:\1 AND LESS DRY FACES WHERE FIRE BREAKS ARE MAINTAINED

J. M. Dyal, Baxley, Ga., a prominent turpentine operator, owning 19,000 acres, began forest fire protection in 192 7 and is also planting trees. More gum, less dry faces and fewer dead trees are the results of his fire protection. He says:
"I have been trying to practice fire control on 19,000 acres of land in Appling county for the past four years. While it has

J. M. Dyal, Baxley, Gets More Gum From Protected Trees.

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

been expensive, I only wish I had started the work earlier as it is the only way for owners of cut-over lands to get a return on their investment. I have a complete fire break around the entire outside lines of my lands, and also inside fire breaks cutting this into smaller tracts, taking advantage of streams and roads wherever practical.
"I am working eighteen crops of turpentine timber on this tract, and find that it produces more gum with less dry faces and fewer dead trees than if burned over each year. I expected to have a good deal of trouble getting my labor to work on rough woods on account of th<;._danger from snakes, but as most of the men are working on a basis of so much per barrel of crude gum they are now anxious to keep the fire out of their crops on account of the greater yield "

WoNDERFUL GRoWTH FoLLows FIRE PRoTECTION

A. V. Kennedy, Waycross, Ga., began fire protection on 7,500 acres in 1927, and is practicing thinning. He notes wonderful growth and in two years he estimates that keeping out

A. V. Kennedy, Waycross, Finds Wonderful Increase in Growth of Young Pines When Protected from Fire

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fire has increased the value $2 per acre. Mr. Kennedy advocates using the United States Army for fire patrol. He says :
"I have been protecting this land for three years and have had very little of it burned over during this period. I have a wonderful growth of young slash pine now. I would not have it burned over today for $2.00 per acre."

STAND OF TIMBER INCREASED 60 TO 90 PER CENT WITH
FIRE PROTECTION
Marsh Brothers and Wilson, Stockton, Ga., with 15,000 acres of slash and longleaf pine are protecting, thinning, planting and using improved methods of turpentining, and are greatly pleased with results. Their statement is as follows:
"We began this project during the winter of 1925 and 1926. At that time the stand of timber was about 60 per cent, where now we have a stand of small timber of at least 90 per cent of the tract. Our main problem now is thinning the saplings out to a stand of about 15 x 15 feet.

Marsh and Wilson, Stockton, Increased Stand of Timber From 60 to 90 Per Cent With Fire Protection

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PROFITABLE FOREST RY IN GEORGIA

"We h ave had no fires during 1928 , 1929 and so far in 1930 . Wit h fire protection , the growth of the young timber is wonde rful. We figure that we are growing about 75 per cent of yellow slash pine. "

COLLE GE PRACTICES FORESTRY O N I TS 15 ,000 ACRES

T he famous Martha Berry School near Rome has 15 ,000 acres of hardwood and pine forest. A stone fire tower has been erected on the mountain, fire breaks are used, thinning and improvement cutting and planting are practiced. The hundreds of students are getting a vision of forest production as a result. A statement by the school is as follows:

Martha Berry School, Near Rome, Teaches and Practices ForestryViews of Fire Tower and Forest
"Forest protection has been carried on at Berry Schools for fif teen years. In 1928 Berry Schools cooperated with the Geor-

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gia Forest Service in establishing a timber protective unit , thereby working out a better system of protection. A lookout tower has been erected on a high point within the school property which overlooks the entire area. Telephones connect it with all buildings. When a fire starts it is soon put out because every boy on the campus is subject to call if necessary.
"As a result of protection, much new growth has been started, the older timber has grown to a better advantage, reproduction is coming in as under-forest to older timber.
" The results of protection are apparent, and this is a fine example to hundreds of boys and girls who are students at Berry.
" Through cooperation with the Georgia Forest Service, we hope to make Berry Schools' forest an outstanding example of what timber protection will really do in the coming years."

EVERY TENANT A FIRE FIGHTER

J. Henry Gaskins, Nashville, has 6,500 acres in slash and longleaf pine, mostly slash. He is one of the pioneers in fire protection in South Georgia, beginning about six years ago. He is not only using fire breaks but is thinning and carrying on improvement cutting. Mr. Gaskins says:
"I have about 90 miles of fire lines averaging about 8 feet in width. These will stop fire some of the time and can a! ways be depended on for backfiring. Every farmer I have is a fire fighter, and it takes organized help to stop fire.
" I have practically a full stand of slash timber on all my land from small ones in the grass to 20 feet high, and where there has been no burning (as most of mine has been protected) timber grows much better and is not stunted by fire. You can not have first-class young timber and burn the woods. Fire and timber don't go good together.
" I am unable to give returns as none of my reforestationtrees are large enough to use, but it will give good returns in a few years. Woods can be kept rough with pr~per care."

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

LARGE COMMERCIAL INTERESTS PRACTICE FORESTRY

The Superior Pine Products Company, Fargo, has 200,000 acres of land growing slash pine, longleaf pine and cypress. An exp~rt forester was placed in charge in 19 26 at which time fire protection was begun. The Company practices improvement cutting, planting and improved methods of turpentining. A statement from this organization is as follows:
"This company maintains three look-out towers and from four to seven mounted patrolmen. In addition, during the seasons of high fire hazard, a special crew of five men equipped with truck, water pumps and other fire fighting tools, is maintained for the purpose of quickly going to fires as they are discovered and reported by the tower men or patrolmen. Each fall and winter prior to the main spring fire season from 15 0 to 300 miles of fire line are constructed or maintained.
"The total cost of fire protection amounted to 5.7 cents per acre per annum for the last calendar year.
"In 1926, before we were well organized, we had burned about 8 per cent of our area. In 1927, a very dry year, the burned area covered about 6 per cent. In 1928, the area burned was 0. 7 per cent. and in 1929 the area burned was 0. 6 per cent. The last two years have been wet seasons and very favorable for fire protection. If we can average over a period of ten years an annual loss of not to exceed 5 per cent of the area, we will consider our work very satisfactory. As a result of four years of fire protection, we have restocked with slash pine over 70,000 acres of cut-over land that previously was less than 25 per cent stocked with longleaf pine.
"Since our naval stores and wood products operations are all conducted on a basis of a continuous supply of timber, it is essential that we restock our land to fast growing slash pine just as ftst as we cut it over. It is also necessary that there be no idle acres of land; every acre must bear as nearly 100 per cent of its tree-growing capacity as it can be made to do by good management and fire protection."

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DALTON HAS A TOWN FOREST

One of the few cities owning a forest is Dalton . A forest of 30 acres consisting of hardwood and pine, typical of North Georgia, is being operated as a demonstration forest. The mayor of Dalton makes the following statement:
"Through the efforts of several of Dalton's leading citizens cooperating with the Georgia Forest Service, the Town Forest of Dalton, Ga., was created. Some thirty acres of the city property was set aside for a town forest in 19 2 9. This thirty acres is covered with a I 00 per cent s!and of 8 to 12 year old shortleaf and loblolly pine.

Dalton Has Demonstration Forest
"This forest was established more for a demonstration of forest possibilities to the people of Dalton and Whitfield county than for its commercial possibilities.
"Efforts are being made to establish fire breaks and adequate protection from fire. A fire line on one side of the tract is being established the first year.
"Thinnings and improvements will be carried on in the fu-

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

ture so as to get the maximum growth per acre. It is planned to add additional open land of the city adjoining this tract which will be planted to pine.
"It is hoped that this forest will prove to be an inspiration to the people of Whitfield county, thereby creating a "forestry consciousness" which will materially benefit everyone in the county by advancing the cause of forest protection and growing of timber."

RESULTS ON GROWTH AND RETURNS ON CHIPPING SMALL TREES

The estate of C. S. Hodges, Cyrene, is making observations on rate of growth and gum yield of trees of different sizes. Charles S. Hodges reports:
"We have under observation two different tracts of approximately the same number of trees in each tract. One tract is cupped down as low as seven inches and another tract cupped down not lower than nine inches. From the seven-inch tract we got eight barrels of crude gum from three streaks, and from the nine-inch tract we got twelve barrels from three streaks.
"Judging from this, we feel safe in saying that it does not pay to cup lower than nine inches. Also, from borings that we have taken lately, we are convinced that the injury in growth to trees is 50 per cent greater when cupped small than when cupped nine and ten inches. By this, we mean to say that the growth per year over a period of from twenty to twenty-five years on trees cupped at seven inches would be not over a fourth of an inch a year, where on trees cupped over nine inches would be a third of an inch a year."

WORN-OUT FIELDS SET TO PINES
Berry Rigdon, Tifton, has 1,700 acres and is converting worn-out land to pine plantations. He is protecting from fire, planting, thinning and pruning, Mr. Rigdon says:
"I had some old, worn-out fields that would not pay to farm,

GEORGIA FOREST SERVICE

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so thought I would set them out to pine trees. In 1928 I dug some slash pines out of the woods and planted them in some of my old fields. They were two year old seedlings and 90 per ce nt of them lived and are making wonderful growth. I have experimented with different spacings-using 6 x 12, 6 x 16 and 8 x 30 spacings. Some of the trees I expect to turpentine when they are 10 years old from planting. My minimum diameter for working will be 9 inches.

Berry Rigdon, Tifton, Plants Pines on Unprofitable Farm Land Fire Protection Good Investment
"Two years ago I began protecting my land from fire by plowing and burning fire breaks. With two mules I plow two furrows about 40 feet apart and burn out the strip in between the furrows. I plow around the outside boundaries and cross break it so as to get it into 20 to 40 acre blocks.
"Protecting land from fire is a good investment because thousands of young trees get a start that would otherwise be killed by the annual fires. The trees grow a lot faster, are healthier and will produce more gum.
"I have thinned and pruned 50 acres of slash pine that came

30

PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

up in an old broom sedge field. These trees were about 5 years old and 10 to 12 feet high when I pruned them. The thinning to about 25 0 trees per acre will increase the growth of the trees, and the pruning will make the body of the tree free of knots.
"I believe all timber owners will find it profitable to pfant to pines all fields that will not pay as farm land."

PIONEER IN PINE PLANTING

After winning fame as a tackle on the University of Georgia team, W. 0. Wingate tackled farming and is among the first to begin pine tree planting in Georgia, turning his attention to this on his farm near Ocill_a in 1924. He uses fire breaks. plants, thins and prunes. Mr. Wingate says:
"In 1924 I found that a large portion of my farm land was too poor to produce profitable farm crops. Having noticed in some small corners where fire had not burned for a few years.

W. 0. Wingate, Ocilla, Pioneer Pine Planter Well Pleased With Progress
that pine timber if given protection would reproduce rapidly, and that it is the crop nature intended for this type of land, I

GEORGIA FoREST SERVICE

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set out to learn how to raise pine trees as a crop. "After digging and pulling some saplings out of the branches
and setting them in the open spaces I found that it was too expensive, and that it was much cheaper to either sow the seed in beds or get the seedlings from the Forest Service.
"I also found that if there are as many as two seed trees per acre over the woodland it is not necessary to plant-but just keep out the fire. I protect my land from fire by plowing fire breaks 12 feet wide, and locating them about 200 yards apart.
"In 12 to 15 years after setting I am expecting to work my trees for turpentine. By working conservatively I can turpentine them for at least 20 to 24 years.
"I have received much valuable information and assistance from the Extension Forester and from the Georgia Forest Service; and I would advise any landowner wanting to reforest to get in touch with these departments. He will find them always ready to render assistance."

FIRE BREAKS VERSUS CONTROL BURNINGS IN TURPENTINE OPERATIONS

Baldwin-Lewis-Pace Company, Jacksonville, Florida, operating 15,000 acres near Stockton, Georgia, make a statement through H. M. Wilson, Vice-President, showing how this company finds it pays to use modern fire protective methods instead of raking and burning around the trees. The statement is as follows:
"In the fall of 1926, after looking over several tracts of flat woods land that had been protected from fire for from two to four years, I became convinced that all that was needed to establish a second growth of slash timber on our place near Stockton, Ga., was protection from fire. After consulting with my associates we decided to place our tract of approximately 15,000 acres under fire protection.
"We immediately began construction of fire lines. and sup-

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

plied ourselves with one-man water tanks, torches , etc., for fire fighting.
"We were working at that time fifteen crops of faces on part of this tract and as we wanted to establish new growth on the land on which these fa~es were being worked, we decided to protect this land also and not rake the boxes at all.
"We have not raked a tree for the past four winters and in that time we have had not more than 50 faces burned out of an average of sixteen crops per year worked on the place. In this connection we acknowledge with sincere appreciation the community cooperation we have enjoyed.
"The average cost of raking being $75. 00 per crop, we saved approximately $4,800.00 during the four years, and the total cost of our reforestation work on the entire 15,000 acres, including tractor and thinning, has not exceeded $5,000.00 to date.
"The problem now facing us for economical solution is how bes~ to thin the heavy growth of slash pine now on practically the entire tract.
"This concern's holdings show slash pine 9 1-2 inches and 10 inches in diameter 4 1-2 feet from the ground, showing 11 and 12-ring growth, with density of stand 14 to 15 feet between trees, or approximately 200 trees per acre."

lCHAWAY TIMBER PROTECTIVE ORGANIZATION'S SUCCESS

The Ichaway Timber Protective Organization in Baker County directs fire control on 22,000 acres. Roy Rogers, secretary of the organization, says:
"With the exception of about 400 acres, our whole area had been burned over every year up till last year when we began fire protection work under the direction of the Georgia Forest SerVIce.
"We patrolled, put in fire breaks and had very little burned. This past season we put forth greater effort and the results have been wonderful. Every acre of land that joins ours has been

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lchaway Timber Protective Organization, Baker County, Surprised at Results of Fire Protection
burned, and up to date we have had less than 200 acres to burn over. It is impossible to estimate this protection work. Our young timber has taken on new growth and looks fine."
TREES GROW FIFTY PERCENT FASTER WITH PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
Turner Turpentine Company, Howell, Ga., has 10,000 acres of cut-over pine land, now undergoing reforestation. Fire protection and thinning are bringing about rapid increase in growth as will be seen from the following statement:
"We commenced protecting our forest about two years ago. At first, about all the work that was done was thinning small saplings that were crowded. This was done on a very small area, and we now have wonderful results from this thinning. In my opinion, this young timber is growing 50 per cent faster than it was before it was thinned. During January, 1929, we put on a patrolman, and also put in considerable fire breaks , and since that time we have been keeping that work up. I can already

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

see wonderful results from this work, as large areas that have been protected from fire are now restored with young yellow pine saplings."

LARGE VIRGIN HARDWOOD FOREST UNDER PROTECTION
Shippen Hardwood Lumber Company, Ellijay, Ga., owns 48,066 acres of mountain hardwood forest on which fire protection has been carried on since May 1928. A statement from this company is as follows:
"This company owns approximately fifty thousand acres of forest land located in Gilmer, Fannin and Murray counties, Georgia. Practically all of this area is virgin forest and most of the timber is hardwood. This tract is one of the largest remaining virgin hardwood tracts left in the United States. The forest contains a fair stand of yellow poplar, white and red oaks, and numerous other hardwoods, together with a considerable amount of white pine.
"The present owners of this tract have this land under organized protection from forest fires in cooperation with the Georgia Forest Service. So far, no active timber operations have been conducted on this holding, the idea being to protect it from fire in order to prevent damage to the mature timber and to enable the young growth to establish itself under the mature stand.
"Like most of the other forest areas of the Southern Appalachian mountain regions, these lands have suffered from periodic burning over a period of many years and the forest has been damaged, especially through the destruction of young growth.
" The owners fully appreciate the value of fire protection and it is their hope that when the mature timber is removed that a second growth will have been established to take the place of the original stand. The fire protection work is under the direct supervision of an employee of the company and a warden system has been developed among the inhabitants of adjoining lands.
"Fire warning posters and personal contact work is done in

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an effort to prevent the occurrence of forest fires as well as the suppressing of fires which do occur."

PFISTER AND VOGEL LAND COMPANY PROTECTS LARGE MOUNTAIN HOLDINGS

The Pfister and Vogel Land Company, Blairsville, Ga., owns 65 ,000 acres of mixed hardwoods, and began active forest management under Bonnell H. Stone, forester, in 1913. Remarkable success has been obtained in fire protection.
A statement issued by a representative of the Company is as follows:
"The Pfister and Vogel Land Company was organized as a Georgia corporation and began buying timber lands in the counties of Union and Towns in 1900, the main object being

Pfister and Vogel Land Company, Blairsvi[)e, has 65,000 Acres of Hardwood-Views of Yellow Poplar and White Oak Stands

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

a reserve supply of extract wood for ta nnin materials. When some 8 5, 000 acres had been acquired , a sale was made to the United States in 1914 of approximate! y 19,000 acres, or all that part of the tract lying on the headwaters of Toccoa River in Union county where this watershed now comprises a part of the Cherokee National Forest. The remaining acreage owned by this company lies on the Notalee river watershed in Union county and on the Hiawassee river watershed in Towns county.
"The company employed a trained forester in 1913 and, following the sale to the United States, a definite policy of protection was established in 1915.
"A report made by timber cruisers had convinced the owners that 65 to 75 per cent of these lands were being burned annually, so the first lookout towers and telephone patrol system of the South were constructed on these lands in 1915-16 , rangers and patrolmen being employed to direct th~ tenantfirewardens. A good tenant system was used instead of paid firefighters, and free range privileges were included in other concessions in order to secure cooperation in the prevention of forest fires. As a result of these methods, the average burned area per year has been less than one-tenth of one percent from 1915 to the present time ( 1930). The owners are satisfied with this work as a paying investment, and are convinced that values in new growth more than off-set the cost of protection and all carrying charges on the property."

COTTON MILL PRACTICES FORESTRY

The Chicopee Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, near Gainesville, owns 4,000 acres of mixed hardwood and pine forest. Work began on the forest in 1928 under the supervision of the Georgia Forest Service. Fire breaks have been established, thinning improvement cutting and planting are being practiced.
A statement concerning this project is as follows: "The Chicopee Manufacturing Corporation purchased a tract of 3 6 52 acres situated in Hall county, Georgia, three miles

GEORGIA FOREST SERVICE

37

southwest of Gainesville. "The tract was acquired by the Chicopee Manufacturing
Corporation to get sites for reservoirs for the water supply of the mill and mill village and to get control of the watershed draining into the reservoirs. The object in undertaking to

Chicopee Manufacturing Company Cotton Mills at Chicopee Has Largest Forest-Planting Crew at Work
practice forestry on the property is to protect the watershed from erosion, to secure a more regular stream flow, to create an attractive setting for the mill and village and to secure a maximum production of forest products.
"The area has been placed under intensive fire protection. A full-time forest and game warden has been employed and devotes his time to patrolling the area, and is responsible for protecting it from fire. A number of tenants and all employees of the corporation are instructed to report forest fires when discovered, and the area has been thoroughly posted with fire warning post ers. A system of old roads throughout the entire area are kept open and maintained as fire breaks, and make the area accessible for fire suppression crews.

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN GEORGIA

" Upon discovery of a forest fire suppression crews arl' promptly organized, equipped with suitable tools and transported to the scene of the fire. While the tract has suffered severe! y from fires in the past, less than 1 per cent of the area has been burned per annum during the two years the tract has been under protection.

"The forest is being improved by thinnings and improve-

ment cuttings in which poorly formed and defective trees are

removed. The material from these operations is used for fuel in

the incinerator and in fire places.

~

"The area of old fields which are not restocking satisfactorily, or where gullies are forming, is being planted. A small nursery is maintained for the purpose of producing seedlings.

"The forest is managed under a plan prepared by the Georgia Forest Service and the forestry operations are conducted under the supervision of an assistant state forester."

PROFITS FROM NORTH GEORGIA UPLAND FOREST
J. M. Lindsey, Armuchee, in northwest Georgia, has found care and proper harvesting of forests pays on ridge land not suited for farming. He tells in the following statement of how he has obtained three crops from his land.
"In the year 1893 I bought two hundred acres of timberland covered with pine and hardwood near Armuchee, Georgia. I have practiced forestry after some fashion ever since I have owned it. The tract cost me $40.00 at that time. I took 150,000 board feet off of the tract, doing my own cutting, during the next three or four years. This was mostly a selection cutting. One instance of such a cutting was the price I was offered for one white oak tree taken off of the tract. I was offered $60.00 for this one tree.
"After ten years I sold the sawmill rights to an operator and made him cut to a diameter limit of 10 inches. The cut ran to 600,000 feet. This represents the second cut. Three years ago I sold the timber rights again and the operator cut 200,000 feet

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39

from the tract. " I have endeavored to keep fire out during my ownership of
the land because I believe in timber protection in every way , and hope that with the cooperation of the Georgia Forest Service I can get better protection for my land in the future."

GROWTH RATE IN ABSENCE OF FIRE

D. H. Bennett, Gardi, has 6,800 acres of longleaf and slash pine which he is protecting from fire; thinning, employing im provement cutting, pruning and using good turpentine methods.

D. H. Bennett, Gardi, Has Protected Pines 20 Years Old Averaging 14 Inches in Diameter
He began protecting in 1917. Twenty-year old slash pine average 14 inches in diameter at 4 1- 2 feet from the ground. He says :
" In reference to fire protection I am sure it will pay from my o wn experience , as I have protected some of my land from fire and some has been burned over regularly. The land that has not been burned over so often has more than twice as good tim -

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PROFITABLE FORESTRY IN G EORGIA

bcr as th at o n the land burned over regular! y ."

S ATISF ACTORY RESULTS FROM COOPERATIVE PROTECTION
Miles and Dunn, Baxley, with 5,000 acres of slash and longleaf pine , joined the Timber Protective Organization and are
well pleased with results. J. R. Dunn says:
"For the last quarter of 1929 we operated our timber lands in cooperation with the State Forester, in cooperation also with the local Timber Protective Organization. Fire breaks have been constructed, patrol work done, etc., in an effort to protect our trees and make conditions better to produce more on the same lands.
"Our experience has been satisfactory. We have not had any fires even though our lands are in an area that has been used to more or less regular burning.
"In this county we have been helped and our requirements kept up with by our county agent, who acts as secretary of the local organization. We hope the county agents here and there will be active in this fine field of service."