Title: Forest leaves, v. 28 Place of Publication: Philadelphia Copyright Date: 1938 Master Negative Storage Number: MNS# PSt SNPaAg064.6 FOREST LEAVES JANUARY 1938 THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION CONTENTS Forestry in the Tennessee Valley George S, Perry f-* ;''i?'',\X*f "■;-''"*:■ ' Editorials The Municipal Forests of Reading Donald Bendy Kurtz States Officially Adopt Trees C. Stewart Peterson Oriental Chestnut Trees May Fill Gap 13 Production of Tree Nuts Increasing 15 Forest Service Reports Increase U> THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION hounded in June, IHH6 Labors to desseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of fore.t culture and preservation, and to secure the enactmem and enforcement of proper forest protective lav^s, both State and National. Annual MemberMp Fee, Throe Dollars One Dollar of which is for subscription to Forkst Leaves Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is imended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should '^end their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 306 Commercial Trust Budding, Phdadelph.a. President W. C,i.¥.\so\ Mxttoon ., ., , c.^„r, 1 SvuiHFY Honorary Vice-President WoMvm S. CoNKLlN Honorary President — ^>AMt el L. ^.mkui.ky mnn, j Vice-Presidents Dk. E. E. WunviAN W. H. McC\i.eh Kkancis R. Cope. Jk. Secretary W. B. XWCaleb Edwaro C. M. Richards EnWKRO WOOI.MAN Treasurer R. A. Wright, C. V. A. FOREST LEAVES PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Entered as second-class matter at the Post-Office at Wayne, Pa., October 22, 1935, under the Act of March 3, 1879 Subscription $1.00 per Year Vol. XXVII— No. 1 Wayne, Pa., January, 1938 Whole Number 288 Forestry in the Tennessee Valley GEO. S. PERRY Senior Forester T HE Tennessee River drains a part of seven states and the Valley has a total area of 26,304,000 acres, approximately the size of Penn- sylvania. Half the Tennessee River Valley is in the State of Tennessee, and the other half is in order of extent in northern Alabama, western North Carolina, southwestern Virginia, northern Georgia, western Kentucky, and northeastern Mississippi. Surveys show 52 per cent, or 13,- 550,000 acres, of the Valley is now in forest, and, in addition, about 3,000,000 acres are in need of reforestation. Probably 1,500,000 acres of present forests will be cleared, so the ultimate forest area will be about 15,000,000 acres. The soils in many localities are easily eroded, and many sites are steep. These conditions, com- bined with the practice of growing cash crops — corn, cotton, or tobacco, have conspired with the heavy average rainfall and mild climate to rob the native fertility from considerable areas and start it toward the Gulf of Mexico. The Tennessee Valley Authority was estab- lished by Congress in 1933, with four very defi- nite and important objectives in addition to a number of accessory ones: (1) A practicable navigation channel, capable of accommodating boats with a nine-foot draft, is to be developed from Paducah, Kentucky, on the Ohio River, to Knoxville, Tennessee — a distance of 650 miles. (2) The integrated development of the Tennessee River system is to control floods along its course and aid in solving this problem on the lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. (3) Power devel- oped is to operate navigation locks, for the na- tional defense, and surplus is to be sold to assure a widespread use of cheap power and to repay to the national treasury the cost of the development. (4) The agricultural and industrial development of the region is to be furthered ; new and cheaper forms of plant food are to be developed and test- ed on a broad scale by practical farmers through state agricultural colleges and the Department of Agriculture. Reforestation is mentioned in the preamble to the Authority Act. Proper uses of marginal lands are to be provided for, with reforestation of suitable lands. Most of the Tennessee Valley soils are clay and very liable to erosion. Con- siderable areas of land have suffered in the past, primarily because economic pressure and lack of planning encouraged unwise lumbering, land- clearing, and cultivation practices. Such lands are the sites most in need of forestry and erosion- control treatment. The CCC forces were prompt- ly put in the field to cope with the problem un- der guidance of trained foresters and engineers. Since long-time viewpoints are always neces- sary in social projects, it is obvious that each of the nine great multi-purpose dams, requisite to harness the river from Knoxville to Paducah and provide navigation, flood control, and incidental electric power, will suffer if destructive erosion continues or accelerates as it has since Civil War days. The slack water lakes behind the dams are naturally shallowest in their upper reaches, and it is just here that debris and sediment are dumped by tributary streams and the settling out of silt will do the most damage. Here is another reason why forestry and wise land uses in general are absolutely essential. If silting up of navigation channels and the live storage space of the reser- voirs can be held to a minimum, the great and continuous advantages the nation will directly or indirectly derive from the Authority project can- not be logically doubted or gainsaid. Forestry and conservative agriculture are insurance the nation is taking on its investment here. m Typical Southern Appalachian Mountain Scene. Heavy original forests covered this country. The responsibility for forestry practices and developments in the Tennessee Valley is divided about as elsewhere in the United States. National Forests are located in the mountainous regions of Virginia, North Carolina, East Tennessee, and North Georgia. The extension of these holdings is very desirable but proceeds slowly. Each state has a State Forester, but the gross area of State Forests is small. This type of public forest is much to be desired, and in some localities areas of tax delinquent land exist which would well serve as State Forest nuclei, but the finances of the several states at present limit purchase ot land -as well as later forest protection and man- agement. Minor civil units cannot be expected to be a factor of considerable importance as to public land ownership and forestry. This leaves private owners, individual and corporate as the great group who must be reached and influenced in some way if good forestry and other land uses are to be promptly realized. "Art is long and time is fleeting." Erosion was attacked directly and indirectly by the Ten- Tivo nessee Valley Authority just as soon as it was organized in 1933. The direct attack by tree planting, revegetation of galled spots or denuded areas, and checking active gullying was supple- mented by a program of: (1) studies, surveys, and research upon the physical and economic problems involved; (2) cooperation with other agencies and the owners of forest or waste land; (3) information for and education of the public on forestry in all its aspects; (4) demonstrations of various phases of forestry on a practical basis. The last two captions, as well as the second, may overlap to some extent, but demonstrations are based especially on the uses which may be niade of the lands the Authority has bought around its reservoirs, even if some forestry examples, such as erosion control work, are often conducted co- operatively on private property. What a man does, preaches far more eloquently than every- thing he says. To supplement practical erosion control activities which are executed as a joint program with the CCC organization, the Author- ity undertakes an educational program in coop- eration with the county agricultural extension Forest Leaves I I agents, schools, and various civic groups, in an effort to make all the people forestry-minded and erosion-conscious. The numerous direct and ac- cessory benefits of forests and good farm woods are emphasized. The sorry results of soil loss in terms of social and individual values are pointed out, and practical steps are outlined to prevent and stop erosion losses. In the Norris Lake locality, the Tennessee Val- ley Authority has about 118,000 acres of land above the normal water level. The topography varies from rough and rugged to rolling hills and slopes. In the main, these lands are essen- tially adapted to forestry and have been devoted to tree planting, general forestry, public recrea- tion, and associated uses. The activities of the Authority require the purchase of widely scat- tered and irregular land tracts of every available soil type and quality from well up in the head- waters of the Tennessee River down almost to the Ohio. Such conditions offer many serious and almost insuperable difficulties to practical for- estry if the attainment of financial returns is the only aim. But if the working out of methods, the development and testing of safe productive uses for steep and inferior lands, the demonstra- tion of the best forestry and multiple land uses, or illustrations of game, fish, fur, and other by- product yields in harmony and conjunction with timber are considered, the Authority has an un- paralleled opportunity for accomplishment, and its counsel will at the same time be available to landowners throughout the Valley to handle their properties to better present and future ad- vantage. The desire of the Authority to keep silt and other erosion debris out of the stream channels will and should dominate the forestry it prac- tices and fosters. Cooperation with and strength- ening all the existing forestry and conservation agencies in the seven Valley states advances the general program of insuring the Authority proj- ect by soil conservation, and also tends to store or conserve great volumes of precipitation on the site where it falls, since it is a proven fact that very little superficial water runoff is ever found on properly managed forest areas. (Continued on Page 10) Near View of Foothill Country Showing Destructive Erosion and Abused Farm Woodland. January, 1938 Three MiiM'-^o FOREST LEAVES Published quarterly by The PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Disseminates information and news on forestry and related subjects. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE E. F. Brouse, Chairman Samuel N. Baxter Dr. Rodney II. True Charles B. Cadwalader Philip A. Livingston The publication of an article in Forest Leaves does not necessarily imply that the views expressed therem are those of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Address all correspondence to Wayne, Penna., or to the Editor, 306 Commercial Trust Building, Philadel- phia, Pa. Kindly notify us of any change in address. JANUARY, 1938 insects and diseases attack shade, ornamental and forest trees. Each street tree and every orna- mental tree has a definite monetary value greater than that of forest trees. For that reason, this research work should include all serious troubles of all classes of trees no matter what their use. H. G. M. Forest Troubles The Pennsylvania Forestry Association has urged Congress to include in its appropriation bill $15,000 to be allotted to the Allegheny For- est Experiment Station for the study of the dis- eases and insects which attack and are taking such a toll of the shade and forest trees in the East. Both in number and virulence they are increasing. Thousands of plane trees have died due to a comparatively new disease. Forest areas in this state have been defoliated and seri- ously depleted of sound trees by canker worms. New troubles are developing in the coniferous plantings. Dr. Lee A. Strong, Chief of the Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine, in speaking before a conference at Portland, Oregon, asked pertinently: "Why worry about sustained yield in forest management if the pests leave you noth- ing to sustain? Do you realize that for a period of five years the destruction by bark beetles alone was more in dollars and cents than was the dam- age by fire. Diseases and insects are going to throw your sustained yield out of the window if you do not take them into consideration." He then urged a twenty-year authorization — a twenty-year program definitely authorized by Congress so that research work may be carried on to find out what these insects and diseases are, what they do and how best to control them. He was speaking before an audience in the far West but the substance of his talk is applicable along the Atlantic seaboard. In many cases the same Four Annual Meeting Due to circumstances beyond the control of the committee, it is not possible to announce in this issue of Forest Leaves the time and place of the Annual Meeting. The committee has been working diligently to secure a speaker of na- tional note and, undoubtedly, its labors will bear fruit within a few days. Announcements of the meeting will be sent to all members as soon as possible. At the Annual Meeting it is hoped also to have a report from a committee recently authorized by the Executive Board to draw up a two-year program of projects upon which the association should work. One of these, of course, has to do with the 10 million dollar bond issue for forest land purchase which was passed by the last ses- sion of the legislature and must be approved by the next legislature before being voted upon by the people. Acquisition of forest lands has lagged in Pennsylvania and the project should be revived. H. G. M. A Chip From the Old Block An embryo forester apparently has solved the forest fire problem. The four-year-old son of one of Pennsylvania foresters exhibited with pride an area that once was covered with a "young forest" upon the return home of the father in the evening. As a part of a small forest "spiel-plotz" the father had placed in transplant rows in a nursery bed five hundred seedlings 4 to 6 inches in height. During the day it seems an imaginary fire occurred in the area and the son with the speed and effective- ness of the best-trained crew completely anni- hilated it — by pulling up all of the trees. National Forests earned $1,200,690.56 during the first quarter of 1937 according to a report issued by the Forest Service. The first quarter receipts— which go into the U. S. Treasury- showed an increase of $227,61 7.48 over the same period the year previous. Forest Leaves The Municipal Forests of the City of Reading DONALD BENTLY KUTZ City Forester 'T^HE City of Reading, laid out by the sons of -^ Penn, is ideally situated to own a municipal forest. In the eastern and southern borders of the city are located Mt. Penn and Neversink Mountains. These two mountains, rising from the valley of the Schuylkill River, form a back- ground that is seldom found close to a city the size of Reading. It is natural of its citizens, being of German ancestry, to love the forests, since Germany has been a leader in forest activi- ties for centuries. The need for owning the "front yard" of this city was found necessary to protect the beauty of the hills when private own- ers had cut the timber from the steep slopes and gouged out the mountain side for sand. The scars marring the beauty of the mountain were a source of negative comment on the part of the citizens but finally aroused them to action. After much discussion and long delay it was decided to buy the lands facing the city on Mt. Penn. In the year of 1932 the first tract was purchased and during succeeding years additional lands were acquired until today practically all of the west slope of Mt. Penn is municipally owned. On the southern boundary of Mt. Penn is located Penns Commons, which was deeded by the Penns to the City for park purposes. Adjoining this park are the lands bordering the old boulevard leading to the Pagoda, a city-owned building of Chinese architecture given to the city by Jona- than Mould. Continuing along the boulevard to the north is the Tower Hotel, a building re- maining from the days when Mt. Penn had a gravity railroad which was known throughout the East for its picturesque ride through the for- est and its fine views from the mountain top. This boulevard ended at the Tower Hotel. Later on, during the years 1933 to 1936, the road was continued and built to McKnight's Gap, where it turned down the mountain to join the north end of the city. This road, started by the city and finally completed by the W.P.A., is known today as the "Skyline Boulevard." It is traversed by tourists from all States in the Union. Spur roads leading to the east and north form a network of forest roads that are of great scenic value and add to the attractiveness of the whole forest picture. January, 1938 The forest lands adjoining these roads are of mixed hardwoods: oaks, birch, and maple being the predominating species. At one time chestnut was the principal tree of these lands. The west slope was particularly hard hit by losing the chestnut and presents a problem for which the forester and engineers are working out a plan to present further damage from erosion. Some work to prevent soil erosion was done during the years 1932 to 1935 when a C.C.C. Camp worked Reading Parks and Parkways. This was inciden- tal to the building of forest roads and trails by the boys. A light forest thinning operation was carried on in conjunction with the building of picnic areas on the west slope. One of the main reasons for maintaining a forest such as Mt. Penn is that it provides all kinds of recreation for its citizens. With its nu- merous picnic groves and fireplaces the forest supplies a place to have all sorts of outings from large church picnics to small family gatherings. Tables and benches, and fireplaces with fuel are provided free to the picnickers. Hiking trails and bridle paths have been built throughout the forest. Play areas are located at convenient places for sports such as quoits, tennis, baseball, and football. Pipe lines have been laid to pro- vide picnickers with pure water for drinking. Due to the danger for all concerned hunting is not allowed on any of the areas but fishing is permitted during certain periods of the year in Antietam Lake. Numerous turn-outs have been built along the Skyline Boulevard for motorists to stop and view the surrounding countryside. City Recreation Specialists The City maintains a recreation bureau which supervises all playgrounds and play fields. It provides and maintains all recreational equip- ment which is used by the people. Supervisors and picnic specialists are available for large gatherings to help promote games and stunts for the enjoyment of the visitors. Regular sport schedules are prepared and supervised by these recreation heads for the enjoyment of the chil- dren. Busses make regular trips to the Tower Hotel and Pagoda during the summer months. They provide transportation to the top of the Five vl . M^'^ if -^ "< A ^ I a: wcm^ Antietam Lake — Older White Pine Planlalion. mountain and are patronized heavily, particular- ly during hot weather. At various times the Tower Hotel has been leased by private citizens for use as a hotel. This provided a great attrac- tion on hot summer evenings. Large crowds would gather to enjoy music and dancing on the cool mountain top. Several areas within the forest are now being developed by men from relief rolls; Drenkel Field, located on top of the mountain along the Skyline Boulevard south of the Tower Hotel, is being graded and will eventually have a large number of tennis courts for the use of local ten- nis enthusiasts. The Sherman tract, a large open field near Angora Road on the eastern slope of Mt. Penn, has been graded and will have a foot- ball field, baseball diamond, and an open-air theatre. Bach Grove, nearby, is to be used by picnickers and hikers for recreation and eating. It has been cleaned by the C.C.C. boys and will be given the finishing touches by a W.P.A. Tree Surgery crew. Fireplaces, tables and benches are conveniently located in this area, which is known as the City picnic ground. Close by Bach Six Grove is Camp Howard, the Boy Scout Camp, used by this organization for over-night hikes. This area with its buildings is leased to the Scouts by the city and is constantly used by all Boy Scout troops in this vicinity. Egelman's Park, primarily maintained under the Bureau of Water but recently given over to the Park Department, is one of the most popular picnic grounds on the mountain, containing ap- proximately 165 acres. The C.C.C. constructed tables and benches and built fireplaces to add to the number of such facilities already located there. A rustic pavilion was erected in the park to provide shelter for the picnickers. Rustic stairs and trails were built for the picnickers in the land adjacent to the park. Mineral Spring Park, located in the valley below Egelman's, is one of the oldest recreational areas in the City. It has long been a picnic ground for the people who enjoy the outdoors. There are many large trees in this area and they were all carefully pruned and treated last year. At the entrance to the park is Mineral Spring Hotel. This hostelry has been in existence for Forest Leaves over a century and is a well-known dining place. There are no athletic fields in this park. It is used primarily for picnicking. The Forest Lands The forest lands adjacent to the reservoirs and dams owned by the City of Reading are under the supervision of the Bureau of Water. The two main tracts under this bureau are the Antietam Lake area and the Maiden Creek Dam area. The Maiden Creek tract is known as Lake Ontelaunee. Both have been planted with coniferous trees of many varieties and are well kept by an adequate force of Water Bureau employees. The Antietam Forest is located in Lower Alsace Township, Berks County, near Stony Creek Mills. It covers much of the watershed of the Antietam Creek and is about 550 acres in extent. Of this acreage nearly one-half has been planted with conifers. The remainder of the area is in mixed hardwoods, oak predominating. Some tulip and ash are growing in the moist places. In the spring of 1915 the first attempt at regu- lar forest planting was made. Thirty thousand 3-year-old white pine were received by the Bu- reau of Water. Ground was prepared to estab- lish a forest tree nursery into which 15,000 seed- lings were lined out to grow a year before trans- planting to their permanent location. At the same time fifteen thousand trees were set out permanently immediately north of Lake Antie- tam. Of this number, five thousand trees were planted by Reading High School girl students. Mr. Emil Neubling, Chief Engineer of the Bu- reau of Water at that time, was in charge of the work. Mr. Solon L. Parkes, then Boy Scout Ex- ecutive for Berks County and a pioneer conserva- tionist, assisted and had the honor of planting the first tree. This tree, which is still standing, was named by Mr. Neubling Pinus Strobus Parkesiana, in honor of Mr. Parkes, and in rec- ognition of his work for the Berks County Con- servation Society. Many of these trees now are nearly forty feet in height. In the year 1916, another fifteen thousand trees were set out adjacent to the previous year's plant- ing. The High School girls again helped with the planting in observance of spring Arbor Day. A Fire Break in the well- forested Antietam Watershed. January, 1938 Seven Mother's Tree — Original Trees planted on shore of Lake Antielani, During the succeeding years up to 1929, the same number of trees were planted yearly on the slopes of Lake Antietam. In 1929 thirty thou- sand trees were set out. This covered practically all of the abandoned fields and open areas on the property, so that the watershed was now cov- ered fully by forest growth. The First Mother s Tree On the shore of Antietam Lake, the first Moth- er's Tree, a white birch, was planted on Sunday, May 13th, 1923, with appropriate exercises. Since that time the custom inaugurated by Mr. Solon Parkes has become well established and hundreds of Mother's Trees have been planted in this country and in many foreign countries. It is a significance the planted forest of Lake Antietam carries proudly. The forest plantings on this area consist of a variety of species of evergreens. White pine, red pine and Scotch pine predominate in the older plantings. Other varieties, such as Japanese and Eight European larch, are found in various plantations. In the younger plantations are found jack pine (the Northern scrub pine), Shortleaf pine, Jap- anese red pine and pitch pine. Most of the ever- greens have done well ; our native red pine, par- ticularly. Japanese red pine thus far has not shown particular promise as a forest tree due to its poor form and limby growth. All told there are more than 3 million planted trees on the Reading City watersheds. In the year 1935 it was determined to axe-treat the Antietam plantings. This included the prun- ing of trees in the plantation to reduce a serious fire hazard, and the building of trails and fire lanes throughout the forest. This made the wood- land accessible to all, especially in case of for- est fires. One hundred and ninety-seven acres of trees were pruned and several miles of lanes and trails constructed. Estimates for the completion of this work have been made and funds asked for. When this work is finished this forest will (Continued on Page 14) Forest Leaves States Officially Adopt Trees C. STEWART PETERSON \ IT^OUR states have adopted official state trees. -■- In 1894 Rhode Island, by popular vote of the public school children, selected the maple as a state tree, thus becoming the first state in the Union to act, although this action was not official. The first state to adopt a tree by legislative act was Illinois, when, on February 21, 1908, the native oak tree was so selected. In the northern states and Canada grow eighty-four of the 371 known species of oak and in Illinois alone grow seventeen of these. The oak grows largest and is of greatest economic importance in the lower Mississippi Valley. There are two main groups, the black and white oak. These are the chief source of hardwood lumber in North America. The second state to provide a state tree by law was Texas. On March 20, 1919, the Texas leg- islature chose the pecan. Eight years later a law was passed providing that "it shall be the duty of the State Board of Control and the State Park Board to give due consideration to the Pecan Tree when planning beautification of State Parks or other public property belonging to the State." The Hicoria Pecan is the largest of the hick- ories, reaching a height of 160 feet and 6 feet in diameter. It flourishes near streams on rich low soil. The wood is excellent for fuel, and also for manufacturing purposes. The chief com- mercial value of the tree, however, is in the deli- cious nut. This tree grows in thirteen of the central States from Iowa southward and in all but one of the Gulf states. Indiana was the third state to adopt a state tree by law. The Indiana legislature passed an act on March 3, 1931, designating as the official tree of that state the tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera). The tulip tree, white-wood, or yellow poplar, grows from the Gulf to Canada and from the Atlantic to the western border of the Mississippi. It has been known to grow 10 feet in diameter and 190 feet in height. The trunk grows in a stately column unexcelled by any tree in eastern America. The leaves are clean-cut and distinct while the flowers are tulip-like. The wood is especially valuable for wooden-ware, cabinet making, and interior finishing. January, 1938 Pennsylvania was the last state to take action in making provisions for an official tree. The legislature made the hemlock the official state tree of Pennsylvania on June 22, 1931. The act states: "Whereas, The hemlock is still today, as it was of old, the tree most typical of the forests of Pennsylvania; and "Whereas, The hemlock yielded to our pio- neers the wood from which they wrought their cabin homes; and "Whereas, The hemlock gave its bark to found a mighty industry; and "Whereas, The hemlock everywhere lends kindly shelter and sure haven to the wild things of forests; and "Whereas, The lighted hemlock at Christmas time dazzles the bright eyes of the child with an unguessed hope, and bears to the aged, in its leaves of evergreen, a sign and symbol of faith in immortality; now therefore, "Be it enacted, etc.. That the hemlock tree ( Tsuga Canadensis Linnaeus ) be adopted as the state tree of Pennsylvania." There is one other hemlock growing in the U. S., Tsuga Caroliniana, which grows along the Appalachians from Georgia through the Caro- linas to Virginia. Pennsylvania's state tree grows from the Gulf to Canada, and from the Atlantic to Minnesota. The hemlock may grow to a height of 100 feet with a trunk 4 feet in diameter. The bark is dark and ridged. In the open this tree grows a pyra- midal top and drooping branches. The under- side of the leaves is whitish and the top surface is dark green. The bark of the hemlock is so valuable for tanning purposes that the result has been an almost complete destruction of this tree. It flourishes on the slopes of ravines and well- drained uplands. The pinkish yellow flowers appear in May. The oblong cones grow %, in. long. The winged seeds attain a length of one- sixteenths inch. The chief commercial value of the light, soft, and brittle wood is for lumber for general building purposes. Although only five states have adopted state trees, about one-half of them have official birds, an equal number have official songs, and all of the states have official flowers. Nine Forestry in the Tennessee Valley (Continued from Page 3) The Tennessee Valley Authority is essentially a great engineering organization. Most of its personnel are wont to compute by mathematical formulae the results or predictable effects that prevail for inert materials as governed by given physical laws. Foresters in the fields of utiliza- tion, construction, and organization are readily intelligible to the engineer, but the dynamics of forestry with constant growth and change, ac- tion, reaction and interaction, biotic and symbi- otic phenomena or cycles, and incommensurable influences of the forest, rarely find a sympathetic ear. To illustrate: (1) It is difficuh to get an engineer to admit that water transpired off into , the atmosphere by a stand of trees can be any- thing but a net loss. It can never help fill a reservoir and run a turbine or promote naviga- tion. A forester will usually argue, on the basis of his observation and figures for the United States on total precipitation compared to total runoff of all our rivers, that the transpired wa- ter, just increases the sum total of summer showers and other precipitation by that much; and, hence, such water will do double or multi- ple duty before going back into the streams and on its way to the ocean. (2) To most engineers soil is only so much earth; and the variations in porosity and ability to absorb water which for- est humus and litter cover are responsible for, or Muddy Flood in foreground drains farm land. Clear stream above enters from wooded hills. Ten the effects of myriad roots in the soil of every forest acre reaching down three to six or more feet into the earth and, in the case of large trees, pulling and straining every time a strong breeze blows, are unappreciated because precise meas- urement is difficult or impossible. In the Tennessee Valley at present, there ex- ists the best opportunity I have ever found for engineers and foresters to work together and come to definite scientific conclusions on many of their common problems and moot questions. The Water Control Planning Department of the Authority is an instance where the engineering approach is being used to study stream flow, run- off and silt burden of streams, and correlate these factors with forest and other soil vegetative cover. The Central States, Appalachian and Southern Forest Experiment Stations of the U. S. Forest Service are responsible for segments of the Tennessee Valley, and each has given valua- ble assistance on one or more forestry problems pertinent to the area. The most elevated portion of the Valley is in Appalachian Station territory, and it is now conducting an extensive series of reforestation plots, vegetation and runoff stud- ies, and other projects with the cooperation of the Authority. The headwaters of the Tennessee River rise in the major region of greatest interior rainfall in North America. Oceanic winds in the Pacific Northwest and for a small region near the Gulf of Mexico give rise to as heavy or even heavier precipitation as also occurs in limited areas near the Great Lakes, but none of these localities has the vast variety of trees that crowd the Southern Appalachian region. Soils are nearly all of limestone, shale, or granitic origin, which in- sures a fair to very good primeval fertility con- dition. Nearly every species of tree and shrub with a general range over the eastern United States reaches its maximum dimensions in this favored region of equable climate, good and deep soils, and long growing seasons. Just this week, the writer was informed of a cypress tree near the lower edge of the Valley which is 22 feet in diameter at base of its bole. The great variety of forest conditions in the Tennessee Valley is accentuated by elevation above sea-level. The high spruce and balsam fir forests of the Great Smoky Mountains and high ridges along the West Virginia line contrast strongly with the loblolly pine, sweet gum, and evergreen magnolia of North-central Alabama; the cypress and tupelo gum swamps and cane- brakes with high balds and scrub-covered sum- mits where trees and shrubs of the Canadian life Forest Leaves Clear water in fish hatchery ponds is from Norris Lake which stores winter flood waters. zone can barely maintain themselves. The high- est mountains are St. Mitchell going up to 6,684 feet, and Clingman's Dome to 6,642 feet above tide. Over against these figures can be cited the highest point in Pennsylvania, Negro Mountain, which is only 3,213 feet in elevation. Logically the contrasts in elevation give rise to great wa- terpower possibilities in the streams tributary to the Tennessee, as well as along the River itself. By the same token, forestry is indicated as the proper and permanently productive use on a vast extent of slopes if the native stores of fertility are to be retained. Lumbering has long since removed the virgin growth from the best and more accessible areas. Only about 250,000 acres of old growth are now estimated to remain, and the best of this is in the boundaries of the Smoky Mountains National Park and portions of Nantahala National Forest, where it is preserved as a sort of museum piece and attraction for tourists and students. The second growth forests are better than the average for the eastern United States. Fires have taken some toll, especially in localities where farm clearing has been under way or mining op- erations are found. Considering the Valley as a whole, and the features of market and utilization, the tulip tree or yellow poplar is probably the best paying species for forestry. Despite being sensitive to fire, a large aggregate area of very good mixed stands, with tulip present in variable percentages, occurs in nearly every county, but the tree is at its best in the mountain foothills which constitute its optimum range. Shortleaf pine is probably the second tree in importance and adaptability to forestry if the numerous oaks are considered separately. Re- sistance to fire, modesty in site requirements, and a straight bole habit combine with relative ra- pidity of growth and ease of reproduction to make this tree almost the forester's ideal. White oak is a quality tree which does well on all better soils. All the other oaks found to the north occur in the Tennessee Valley and have their special features. The southern red oak and willow oak become increasingly important in warmer localities, the former on hot dry slopes and ridges, and the latter on flat and moist sites. January, 1938 Eleven Acorns are of considerable present practical value here and southward as food for hogs and wildlife. The improvement and development of our best kinds of oak, in respect to their annual mast bearing ability, is one of the problems the Department of Forestry Relations of the Tennes- see Valley Authority is working on. The wide variations in the genus Quercus, as to acorn quality and seeding, indicate the existence of good possibilities for results by scientific selec- tion and breeding methods. The American per- simmon is at its best in this region and is re- ceiving even more attention than the oaks in the rather considerable program, which the Author- ity has sponsored for the development of new or better tree crops adapted to steep slopes and poor soils and capable of yielding a good an- nual crop of food for man and beast without general site cultivation. The sweet or red gum is another tree very im- portant to the present and future forests of the Tennessee Valley. The light, wind-scattered seeds of this tree, its straight bole and rapid growth, and the wide variety of uses its wood meets, .> . ,-«^ make it an outstanding contender for forestry consideration among the numerous trees that throng the flat lands, lower slopes, and coves. Forest recreation is a concomitant of the great mediterranean seas that are being created here. The mild climate makes the fields, streams, and forest alluring throughout the year. Of course, in the hot months, probably water and shade are most attractive, but with good forestry both are assured; and at this time when tourist use of the Tennessee Valley is just in its infancy, it is amazing how many out-of-state cars are met on the highways in June, July, and August. The Smoky Mountain National Park often has 80,000 to 100,000 visitors per month, but Norris Lake and its environs almost invariably entertain a greater number of people. Restoration and en- couragement of the game and fish resources of the forests and waters will bring more and more motorists and "trailerites" into the region. The National Forests and other public forest units are all doing everything possible to meet de- mands for inexpensive forest recreation facilities to accommodate the steadily rising tide of vaca- b^ V **:ir« 'i ■i '^5 i -v^;^ . — *■- -•^- i .' ^- 1 1 i 4 i ! f i If § . 1 1 • i i • ■ »- > • ~ • T'^ '^r^^ V^^fb* ^ kl i -?>w*J : .>^«- 0mt. Dense Balsam Firs and Ferns clothe Clingnians Dome on the Tennessee-North Carolina boundary. Twelve Forest Leaves tion and holiday visitors who find rest and health with the trees. Hikers, mountain climb- ers, and lovers of solitude, at one extreme, with the students and admirers of great engineering works at the other, find their hearts' desire here. The wooded coves and ravines of our Southern Highlands hide a thousand waterfalls and spark- ling cascades. Countless vistas of indescribable beauty inspire the traveler who seeks scenery. In the Tennessee Valley, the forest floor is rarely snow covered, which means frequent sea- sons of serious forest fire danger over a long period each year. The hardwood trees that pre- dominate are much more sensitive to fire injury than are the pines of the southern Coastal Plain. The U. S. Forest Service statistics on forest fires show this region to be one of general high haz- ard except for limited localities of heaviest rain- fall or some special condition. In the final analysis, education is the only answer to the fire problem. In Switzerland, the writer once remarked that Germany had the best forestry scientists of the world and was barely able to protect its justly famous spruce or pine forests against an ever growing number of more and more serious ene- mies, while the Swiss forests seemed to have no enemies and were everywhere thrifty and vigor- ous within limits of the climate and site. A for- estry leader from Zurich replied: "We work with nature, give our forests what they want, and they protect themselves and everything else in the country." In the Tennessee Valley this quo- tation is certainly true in a very great measure. Forests are the wide-flung frame of every beau- tiful picture, literal or figurative, which the na- ture lover, engineer, or economist finds here. The region is a transition zone in more things than forests and climate. The people, customs, farm products, politics, and industries vary tre- mendously. With steady power from running water, coal reserves second to none in the East, and an apt, resourceful, and inherently thrifty population, the need for forests as an unfailing source of basic raw materials for future progress is self-evident. Coal, cotton, farms for food, down-grade transportation to markets, forests, power, and people are links in a chain of pros- perity now being forged, that should resist every economic stress. Only forests and the popular equation are unknown quantities when the future is estimated. If the people support forestry, it can assure advantages and economic strength to this Valley which will flow out and accrue as benefits to every American. ORIENTAL CHESTNUT TREES MAY FILL GAP IN FORESTS Chestnut trees of Chinese and Japanese origin, which show promising degrees of resistance to both blight and "ink" disease, may partially fill the gap left in eastern forests when the American chestnut was all but erased by the destructive work of these two diseases. In the last seven years more than 200,000 young trees, grown by the government from im- ported seeds, have been sent out for planting in connection with various Federal, State, and pri- vate projects. Some of these trees are now grow- ing well and give much promise, although plant- ing on poor sites, such as on worn-out, badly eroded farm lands, have resulted in partial or complete failures. On favorable sites plantings are still experimental. To some extent the Asiatic chestnut trees are lacking in hardiness and erectness, as compared with the American chestnut tree. In order to combine the resistance to disease, large size of nut, and certain other desirable characteristics of the Asiatic species with the hardiness and habit of growth of the American, hybrid forms are now being produced by breeders. Since 1925 more than 3,000 hybrid trees have been grown. The earliest have already begun to bear and have been used in making second- and third- generation crosses. The species used include various strains and varieties of American chest- nut, both native tree and shrub chinquapins, the Chinese chestnut, Chinese timber and dwarf chin- quapins, and various wild and cultivated forms of Japanese chestnut. Wasteful Burning Twigs and branches too small for fuel have their own value in the well-managed farm wood- land. They should be left to decay and help feed the coming crop of trees. To pile and burn them is as wasteful as burning the straw from a grain crop. Farmers who are double-cropping the wooded areas — for timber and fuel and also for wild game — may want to pile some of the small branches. Brush piles are favorite refuges for many birds and many varieties of small game. Other waste material, well scattered, will decay and return to the soil as a spongy humus that puts soil into the best condition to absorb rainfall, thus helping prevent erosion and pro- viding needed raw material for thrifty forest growth. January, 1938 Thirteen The Municipal Forests of the City of Reading (Continued from Page 8) * be in excellent shape and should serve as a model for land owners of this vicinity. Maiden Creek Watershed During the year of 1926 it was decided by the Bureau of Water to build a large dam on the Maiden Creek watershed, to insure the city of an adequate supply of good drinking water for pres- ent and future use. The farming lands adjacent to the dam area in Ontelaunee and Maiden Creek Townships were condemned and court proceed- ings started to purchase them. By the year of 1929 the area consisted of 1,688 acres. On this 400,000 trees were planted. The lands close to the water's edge were planted first. The first plantations were made up of 227,000 red pine, 52,000 white pine, 35,000 Scotch pine and 35,000 Norway spruce. In the year 1930 six hundred thousand seed- lings were transplanted on the dam area. Land acquisition brought the total acreage up to 2,223 acres. Red pine again led in the number of trees planted, 247,000 of this species having been pur- chased at this time. The remainder of the trees were made up of 65,000 white pine, 40,000 Scotch pine, 48,000 Norway spruce, 25,000 white spruce and 19,000 other varieties. The succeeding years found the work continu- ing on a large scale. Each year additional lands were purchased and large numbers of trees plant- ed. The sum total of trees planted up to this year is 2,396,500 trees. Land area, acquired through condemnation and purchased by the city, amounts to 3,013 acres. Nearly one hundred thousand trees will be set out this coming spring. Some land remains to be planted in jfuture years and trees will be set out each year until the job is completed. This will add to the value of the plantations due to the fact that not all the trees will mature at the same time and we shall be able to have a yield over a period of years. The last tract purchased by the city was ac- quired by the Water Bureau when the city bought the Angelica Water Company. The prop- erty, located in the 18th Ward of the city and a small tract in Cumru Township, has land and water area amounting to 105 acres. Some of the area is covered with hardwoods, while most of the remainder was planted with conifers during the private owner's control. Fourteen Plans have been submitted to the W.P.A. re- questing an allotment of funds for the work to be done on the area. If approved, the remainder of the open fields will be planted in trees. The undesirable hardwood growth will be removed from the area. Due to its location and the fact that it is no longer necessary as a drinking water supply, the Angelica dam has great recreational value. It can be developed for swimming and fishing while the forest lands will provide areas for picnicking and hiking. Part of the property in years gone by was a famous picnic area known as Old Maids' Woods. This will be restored to its for- mer utility and attractiveness and will add anoth- er picnic area to those already available. Summing up the long list of land acquisitions made by both the Park Department and Bureau of Water, it can be seen that Reading is truly among the leaders in municipal forestry. Fur- thermore, the prospects for the future appear bright. It is confidently predicted that the Read- ing City forests are on the way to be the model and show place of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Much Forest Land Owned liy Farmers Farmers throughout the United States as in Pennsylvania own more than one-third of the commercially productive forest lands reports the Forest Service. Total farm lands in forest ex- ceed the acreage planted to any one crop, and more than 2,500,000 farmers collect an annual supplemental income from the sale of timber for lumber, fuel, and fence posts. Separate Administration a Necessity Prof. H. H. Chapman, Pres. Society of Ameri- can Foresters, states the threatened obliteration of the distinction between National Parks and National Forests must be avoided at all costs, and the fundamental objects of each held clearly before us. This can only be accomplished by a sound classification of lands as Park or Forests and by keeping each class of reservation under separate organization, i. e., a Park Service and a Forest Service, as at present. The public will then not fail to distinguish the purposes and methods employed by these two branches, and will criticize neither the Forest Service for des- troying the standing trees by lumbering and the wild flowers by permitting grazing on National Forests, nor the Park Service for thwarting com- mercial development within National Parks. Forest Leaves Production, Consumption of Tree Nuts Increasing Increased production and consumption of tree nuts were reported today by the Bureau of Agri- cultural Economics in its annual outlook report. The Bureau said it is probable that production of three nuts in the United States will continue at a high level; the basic trend is expected to continue moderately upward. Almond production in 1937 was the highest on record — 16,200 tons. During the five years 1938-42, bearing acreage is expected to increase moderately, and production to average in the neighborhood of 13,000 tons, depending upon weather conditions. The 1937 pecan crop amounted to about 35,- 300 tons — slightly more than the average for the preceding hve years. Over the next few years a small rate of increase in total production is expected, together with an increase in the proportion of improved varieties. The 1937 English walnut production of 59,- 600 tons is the heaviest on record, exceeding the previous record, made in 1935, by 8 per cent and exceeding the 1932-36 average by 32 per cent. Production of filberts in 1937 amounted to approximately 2,230 tons, which is 21 per cent above the 1936 production and about twice the 1932-36 average production. Consumption of tree nuts showed a persistent downward trend during the 1920's and on up to 1934. Short Wave Radios Aid Forest Service Rangers A survival of 81 per cent of the trees planted for shelter belt purposes in the Prairie States Forestry Project was reported up to July, 1937. Nearly 4,000 miles of shelter belt strips and 62,000 acres of farmstead plantings had been completed. According to Jay N. Darling, noted conserva- tion authority, "Thirty-five years from now we will have left just three acres of good tillable land per capita. Three acres of tillable soil is the lowest possible minimum on which Man can maintain a standard of living which we consider ours. After that we head downward toward the level of the Chinese." January, 1938 In 5 years, the number of short-wave radio sets in use in the woods and mountains of the National Forests has increased from 300 to 2,300. First used to maintain communication with fire crews in the Pacific Northwest, the small portable set has now been adopted by every forest region under the supervision of the United States Forest Service. Some of the port- able sending and receiving sets developed by the Service weigh as little as 8 pounds, yet have ranges of 10 to 50 miles. The Forest Service uses the radio for emergency communication to supplement its tens of thousands of miles of tele- phone lines and other means of communication in the National Forests. More than 1,500,000 pounds of tree and shrub seeds and nearly 700,000 pounds of native grass seeds will be collected between now and next July for use in the nation-wide erosion control program reported the Soil Conservation Service. The bulk of the tree and shrub seeds collected will come from middle western states and from the East. From the middle west the Service nurseymen will seek Russian olive, green ash, cedar, black walnut, hickory and pecan tree seeds. From the East they will look for seeds produced by tulip poplars, pines, oaks, elms and plum trees. Canada^s Parks The National Parks system of Canada now in- cludes twenty separate units having a combined area of 12,525 square miles, and is among the most valuable assets of the Dominion, both from an economic and aesthetic viewpoint. Embrac- ing areas of outstanding beauty or interest which have been reserved as a common heritage, the purpose of the parks is four-fold. They con- serve the wild life of Canada, maintain the primi- tive landscape, preserve sites of outstanding his- torical interest, and provide facilities for the en- joyment of outdoor life and recreation. As national playgrounds they are also proving to be one of the chief attractions in the develop- ment of Canada's tourist trade, an industry of increasing economic importance. — Resources Bulletin, Fifteen 'L,. ' *• Forest Service Reports Big Increase in Game Animals Big-game animals in the National Forests have increased 140 per cent in number during the past 12 years, according to game estimates completed by the Forest Service. Next to deer, elk are more prevalent on the National Forests than any other species of big-game animal. A total of 16,000 antelope is reported on the National Forests of 11 of the western states, al- though the principal natural range of the animals is largely outside of the National Forest bound- aries. Black and brown bears showed an increase of 5 per cent over the previous year's figures. Al- though the animals are present in the National Forests in 28 states, more than 22 per cent of the black and brown bears live in the National Forests of California. A total of 5,200 grizzly bears are reported for the Forests in the western states and Alaska, but Montana and Wyoming are the only two states whose Forests have more than 100 head of grizzly bears. The Forest Service comments favorably on the fact that the downward trend in previous figures for moose appears to have been arrested. The estimate of mountain goats represents a figure slightly lower than that in the previous year. The rigorous conditions under which the animal lives, and the toll taken by predatory animals, are important factors in preventing increase in the number of mountain goats. A somewhat similar situation exists in regard to mountain sheep, which showed a reduction from the number reported the previous year. School Children Capture the President National Park and National Forest officials laid all kinds of traps to commit the President for and against the Olympic National Park pro- ject when he should reach Washington on his trip west last Fall, but it was the school children of Port Angeles who landed him. At the reception to him there on his way in, they had a banner nailed to the schoolhouse door carry- ing these words: "Please Mr. President, we need your help. Give us the Olympic National Park." Sixteen "That sign on the schoolhouse," siaid the President in opening his address, "is the appeal- ingest appeal that 1 have seen in all my travels. I am inclined to think it means more to have the children want that park than all the rest of us put together. So, you boys and girls, 1 think you can count on my help in getting that national park. It is not only because we need it for us old people and you young people, but for a whole lot of young people who are going to come along in the next hundred years of America." — Wilderness News. Sir Walter Scott on Planting Trees "On reaching an elevated point near a wild mountain lake, from whence we commanded a view of many different parts of his estate, and saw the progress of his improvements, I re- marked that it must be interesting to engage in planting. 'Interesting!' he cried; 'you can have no idea of the exquisite delight of a planter — he is like a painter laying on his colours — at every moment he sees his effects coming out. There is no art or occupation comparable to this; it is full of past, present, and future en- joyment. 1 look back to the time when there was not a tree here, only bare heath; I look 'round and see thousands of trees growing up, all of which, 1 may say almost each of which, have received my personal attention. I remem- ber five years ago looking forward, with the most delighted expectation, to this very hour, and as each year has passed, the expectation has gone on increasing. I do the same now: I an- ticipate what this plantation and that one will presently be, if only taken care of, and there is not a spot of which I do not watch the progress. Unlike building, or even painting, or indeed any other kind of pursuit, this has no end, and is never interrupted, but goes on from day to day, and from year to year, with a perpetually aug- menting interest. Farming I hate; what have I to do with fattening and killing beasts, or rais- ing corn only to cut it down, and to wrangle with farmers about prices, and to be constantly at the mercy of the seasons? There can be no such disappointments or annoyances in planting trees. Extract from diary kept by Captain Basil Hall during a visit to Abbots ford in 1825. Forest Leaves Our Program 1. The adequate protection of all Pennsylvania forests from Fire, Fungi, and Insects. 2. The personnel of the Department of Forests and Waters to he chosen and retained on a hasis of efficient service only, in order to guarantee permanency of policy aner 20.00 Life member 100.00 Perpetual member 260.00 ♦If paid for five consecutive years the person automatically becomes a life member. Name Address Date State Forest Leaves, the Association's magazine, is sent to mem- bers in all classes. Our program will be found on the inside back cover. I FO REST DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY ''■r V i , )/ w :c I. ►. APRIL 1938 THE PEHHSYLWANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION CONTENTS Robert Fechner to Address Annual Meeting Fain\ Foreslr) in IVnnsylvania's Woods Henry (AepfnT Fdilorials 3 1 RovvMianV Hill Stale Wildllowei Preserve - Wilson W. Heinitsh Ral)Ml Oaniage lo Austrian Pine DoiKihl I). Slt'it'nsiin 1-11 Clubs and Clonserxalion in Pcihisn Ivania AUrn I.. llnLi'i 5 8 Meel Ainerieas LarjiesI Tre<'! ir> Saniiirl \ . Hn\tri rHK PK>NSYIA AMA lORKSTRY ASSOCIATION h'tntndfd in June, IHHft I ahor. to a...e.|„inat. infor.nation ii. regard tu the necessity and niethod. af fure.t culture and pie..rNatinn. and lo .erure il.r eM.a. tn.ri.t and .nfurreinent of propn forest protective lavv., both Slate and National. Annual Membtrtthip tee. Three Dollars One Dollar .d whit h i^ for suhsrription to FoRKst'Leaves Neither the inemher.hip nor the work of this Association i^ intended to he limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring lo become members should ^en Kdwaku WXmoHT, C. V. A. FOREST LEAVES PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Entered as second-class matter at the Post-Office at Wayne, Pa., October 22, 1935, under the Act of March 3, 1879 Subscription $1.00 per Year Vol. XXVIII— No. 2 Wayne, Pa., April, 1938 Whole Number 289 Robert Fechner to Address Annual Meeting The 52nd Annual Meeting of The Penn- sylvania Forestry Association will be held on March 30 in the Museum of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, 33rd and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia. The program which is given below should interest every member of the association. We urge every one to make an effort to be present. Friends and guests are welcome. 2 :30 P. M. — Business Meeting in Lecture Room of the Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, 33rd and Spruce Streets. Reports of Year's Activities. Election of Officers. The Proposed Five- Year Program. Address by : Harris A. Reynolds, Secretary of the Massa- chusetts Forests and Parks Association. 8 P. M. — Address by Robert Fechner, Director of the Civilian Con- servation Corps. Subject : — "The Future of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Place : — Auditorium of the University of Pennsyl- vania Museum. Mr. Fechner is an able and forceful speaker and the topic of his address is one that should be of interest to all. Your attendance at both the afternoon and eve- ning meetings is urged. I'enna. Dept. Forests and Waters Well-managed farm woodland in Cumberland County, carefully thinned of defective trees and young undergrowth protected from livestock. 1/ r*jsii-^'f^ Two Penna. Dept. Forests and Waters Poorly stocked farm woods. Note lack of undergrowth and presence of over-mature trees. Tract has been grazed too much by livestock. Forest Leaves Farm Forestry in Penna's Woods HENRY CLEPPER MOTHER Nature has been kind to Pennsyl- vania. She has given the Keystone State fertile soils, abundant rainfall, an adequate growing season, and native trees of rapid growth and high value. Pennsylvania's agriculture and her industry have been built on a foundation of wood. Recently the U. S. Forest Service made a study of farm woodlands in relation to farm income in Pennsylvania. Those figures reveal many things of interest to farmers. Most important, how- ever, they point the way to greater revenue from farm woods products under simplified forestry practice. Formerly one of the most densely wooded states east of the Mississippi, Pennsylvania's to- tal land area of 28.9 million acres still contains 13 million acres in forests. Unfortunately, de- structive cutting of the timber and injury by fire, insects, and disease have taken a heavy toll of those wooded areas. Acre for acre, however, the farm woodlands, comprising 3,665,500 acres, are generally better than other privately owned timber stands in the state. Economically they are important because they comprise 23 per cent of all land in farms. In Pennsylvania, wood ranks high as a cash income crop among the leading farm products. According to the 1930 census, forest products represented a source of income amounting to S7,700,000. Of the 213,100 farm families in the state, the 1935 census estimated that some 90,500 families were benefited by the harvest- ing and sale of timber. Practically all farm fami- lies, however, use products from the farm woods, whether or not they are sold. Thus, in addition to the products cut from the farm woods and sold, probably a couple of mil- lion dollars worth are cut annually, not for sale, but for the building and repair of honies, barns, and equipment, and for fuel. The importance and value of these products to the agricultural economy of Pennsylvania should not be under- estimated. They are products that otherwise would have to be bought in the open market. One would imagine that any form of land use, capable of providing such important income and savings, would be managed with careful atten- tion to the principles of scientific agriculture that April, 1938 progressive farmers apply as a matter of course to other crops. Unfortunately, such is not the case. Many farmers attempt no system of man- agement whatever of their tree crops. As a matter of fact, too many Pennsylvania farmers are letting their woods run down. More than half the farm woodland area is pastured; some of it so heavily that serious deterioration of the timber growing stock has been caused through continued destruction of the young trees. It is well known that livestock eat and tramp down the young seedling trees that are needed to produce the timber of the future. Sharp hoofs bruise the exposed roots of trees, permit- ting diseases to enter and damage the wood. Fire, fortunately, is usually not a serious evil in Pennsylvania farm woods. The foremost pro- blem is unrestricted grazing. Unless a tract is definitely more valuable for pasture than for timber growing, it should be closed to grazing. This is not to say that timber is more important than pasture. A comparison of principal income sources for Pennsylvania farms shows that live- stock brings in considerably more revenue than forest products; almost as much income, in fact, as field crops. But to obtain the highest sus- tained yield from farm woodlands and the great- est profit from their products, grazing therein should be either eliminated or greatly restricted. Poor cutting methods have also greatly damaged farm woods. Too often farmers cut their very best trees and let inferior specimens stand. Over a period of years, this practice gradually reduces the quality of the timber stand until the best trees are gone and only culls re- main. . The year 1880 was the high point m farm area. At that time some 19,791,000 acres were in farms. Since then there has been a constant fall of over 4,000,000 acres. It is estimated that the cleared abandoned farm land in the state is now in excess of 1,300,000 acres, with about 1,765,000 acres of additional submarginal land expected to be found unpro- fitable for agriculture. The result of this condition is that Pennsyl- vania's farm woodland area is increasing. An increase of 390,745 acres occurred during the five-year period 1930-35. This abandoned crop (Continued on Page 13) Three *>.'v; FOREST LEAVES Published quarterly by The PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Disseminates information and news on forestry and related subjects. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE E. F. Brouse, Chairman Samuel N. Baxter Dr. Rodney II. True Charles B. Cadwalader Philip A. Livingston The publication of an article in Forest Leaves does not necessarily imply that the views expressed therein are those of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Address all correspondence to Wayne, Penna., or to the Editor, 306 Commercial Trust Building, Philadel- phia, Pa. Kindly notify us of any change in address. APRIL, 1938 What Is Conservation At the beginning of the century the cry for conservation was a demand for cessation of un- regulated and uneconomic destruction of the for- est areas of the country. Conservation of trees, of forests, was the thought uppermost in the minds of those farsighted individuals. Later others, sportsmen and game enthusiasts, raised their voices for conservation with thoughts di- rected toward the diminishing supply of game animals and birds. Next the wild flower lovers urged conservation when they saw the arbutus and cypripediums disappearing from their usual haunts. Conservation of water supply also has its proponents. The anglers, not to be outdone, organized the Izaak Walton Leagues, which sought conservation of fish and fishing areas. Though the inspiration for each of these move- ments is commendable, the need is for a broader concept of tlie term. True conservation is greater than any of the movements which use this by- word to foster their particular purpose. The life of the field and forest, both vegetable and ani- mal, is a complex whole. It can not be divided into parts, one to be saved, another to be neg- lected or destroyed. Conservation does not necessarily mean more fish or fowl, more animals or trees. It is the preservation of nature's balances among all forms of fauna and flora. To manage forests for timber alone is no more conservation than to preserve the game animal and destroy the pred- ator. The pure-stand forest has no part in conserva- Four tion if that forest is not indigenous to the local- ity, for it destroys many of nature's creatures. Few native wild flowers thrive under a pure stand of white pine. Certainly, deer find insufTi- cient browse in it. The forests of Germany are efficient timber-producing areas but they are not examples of conservation. The multiple use forest of mixed stand in which the population of all fauna and flora is controlled but in which none is eradicated is true conservation. And this control applies equally to the citizens of the state who seek the peace and relaxation of the forest area as much as it does to other forms of life that dwell within the forest. H. G. M. The Building Program at State College On February 26, 1938, the ancient ceremony of ground-breaking was held at The Pennsylva- nia State College, symbolical of the beginning of a building program which includes the erection of ten new buildings. This is an undertaking of considerable magnitude which should make the physical equipment at State College the equal of that of any state institution. This building program financed under the General State Authority provides a new library, an agricultural engineering building, a building to house agricultural sciences, an adequate edi- fice for chemistry, an educational building, one for electrical engineering, liberal arts, mineral industries, and last but not least as far as we are concerned a new forestry building. To those who are interested in forestry and recognize its place in the economy of Pennsyl- vania it is gratifying to know that at last stu- dents of forestry will have an opportunity to pursue their course with facilities and equip- ment commensurate with the importance of the subject. By many it is hoped that the next step will be the enlargement of the Department of Forestry into a School of Forestry and Conser- vation. H. G. M. * The Annual Meeting It is hoped that every member of The Penn- sylvania Forestry Association will make an eliort to be present at both sessions of the Annual Meeting, the schedule of which will be found on the first page of this issue. The five-year pro- gram which will be proposed for discussion and action at this meeting is of sufficient importance (Continued on Page 16) Forest Leaves Bowman's Hill State Wildflower Preserve WILSON W. HEINITSH THE idea of a wildflower preserve to protect the rarer species of our native flora, which are gradually being pushed out of existence by agricultural needs and the heedless unconcern of our advancing civilization, has long been the dream of many nature lovers. The practical application of this ideal has materialized in Bowman's Hill State Wildflower Preserve. It is located in the northern stretches of Washington Crossing Park, several miles below New Hope, along the Delaware River. It is reached by the "River Road" known as State Highway No. 32. Many factors tend to make this Preserve an increasing source of interest and education from year to year. As part, of a State Park its per- manence and protection is assured. No con- venient transportation from mass centers of population is accessible. The soil, moisture con- ditions and varied exposures make possible the establishment of a wide variety of our native ferns, wildflowers, shrubs and trees. From its inception it has been sponsored by an organiza- tion which heads up state-wide conservation and garden club interests. Much of the original flora, indigenous to the section, still persists because of the rugged char- acter of the hill. About 300 species of ferns, wildflowers, trees and shrubs were found grow- ing naturally in the Preserve area. The hill is about 300 feet high and its base is encircled by two beautiful streams. A hard surfaced road traverses the Preserve, leading to the top of the hill, where a stone memorial tower has been built by the State. Bowman's Hill is described as the outcrop- ping of a sill of diabase and its slopes are strewn with boulders of this "trap rock." The leaching action of the rain has removed bases from the soil to such an extent that high acidity has developed. This is very favorable for most of our native plants. It is much easier to develop areas of neutral soil for plants that need it, than to carry out the reverse operation. Much of the ground is heavily covered with oak woods, mingled with hemlock along the northern slope and occasionally elsewhere. The valley of Pidock Creek, to the north of the hill, enhances the beauty of the setting and a tributary of the creek, a strong brook, traverses a flat area which is spotted with an extensive growth of red cedars, April, 1938 in places forming nearly pure stands and reach- ing forest tree stature. This area forms an open, moist habitat for some of our most beautiful field flowers. In January, 1934, the Washington Crossing Park Commission set aside 100 acres within its area to be developed as Bowman's Hill State Wildflower Preserve. This action was taken at the request of the Council for the Preservation of Natural Beauty in Pennsylvania, who offered to sponsor the project. This Council heads up state-wide interests in conservation and preserv- ing the natural beauty of the State. Cooperat- ing with the Council in the work at Bowman's Hill, through their representatives in the Coun- cil, are the Garden Club of America, The Feder- ated Women's Clubs of Pennsylvania, The State Federation of Garden Clubs, the A.A.A. and Key- stone Automobile Club, the Wildflower Preser- vation Society, The D.A.R., the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, and other organizations, represent- fng a combined interest of some 80,000 mem- bers. The Preserve is recognized by the Depart- ment of Forests and Waters as an educational feature of Washington Crossing Park. This set-up creates a state-wide interest in the Preserve which has developed a public con- sciousness of respect for the efforts, sufficient to restrain serious depredations within the Pre- serve. One instance, which specifically illus- trates this point, is that of a Pink Ladyslipper which bloomed and seeded. This bloom stood prominently at the junction of two of the most traversed trails in the Preserve, deep in the woods. It lasted several weeks. And what is more tempting than a Pink Ladyslipper? Bowman's Hill is a famous old beauty spot. But still more important is its historic romance, for it is the hill that was used as a lookout for the Continental Army on and before the Christ- mas night that Washington crossed the Delaware to win the Battle of Trenton, and turn the tide of the American Revolution. This fact is capi- talized as follows in the Guide to the Trails, published for the use of the public: "Bowman's Hill State Wildflower Pre- • serve is established in this National Shrine to commemorate, in Nature's own way, the valor of the patriots who camped in these Five rm^^^r^0i' hills during the most discouraging period of the American Revolution. Each lovely flower, springing up it its accustomed place, year after year, is a liv- ing memorial to their valor. In this hal- lowed spot it is YOUR patriotic duty to protect the flora. Most of the species growing here are perennials which survive year after year. On these grounds they can claim patriotic ancestry. In order that the entire State may do equal homage, and no species be missed that may have grown here at the time of the famous encampment, species representing the flora of Pennsylvania will be established| here. Into a few miles of nature trails will . be gathered specimens of the abundant flora our forefathers found in Penn's Woods. Many of the plants along these trails have been brought in at great trouble and ex- pense from remote parts of the State. Many are donated as memorials to nature lovers who have passed away. The beauty of these trails must be preserved. If you enjoy tra-j versing them, keep to the trails, treat them so that others may gain equal enjoyment. Accordingly TAKE NOTHING, LEAVE NOTHING.' ". Twelve nature trails totalling nearly three Six miles have been constructed in the Preserve. All of them lead in from the hard surfaced road running up to the Tower. Some of the trails are named for plants which grow along them: thus are the Azalea Trail, the Bluebell Trail, the Marigold Trail, the Gentian Trail and the Trill- ium Trail. One, leading down a beautifully wooded slope, is known as the Mary K. Parry Trail, in honor of Mrs. Parry, president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Pennsylvania, who, with the writer first conceived the idea of this Preserve. Another trail, traversing principal fern colonies of the Preserve is named for Dr. Edgar T. Wherry, Chairman of the Preserve Com- mittee and a well-known authority in Botany and Ecology. This trail of ferns and allied plants is one of the most popular. Banks of Silvery Spleenwort on a wooded hillside lead down to a swampy area, created by diverting water from a brook. Here are drifts of Ostrich, Cinnamon and Sensitive Fern, Crested Shield- fern, Broad Swamp-fern and Grape-ferns. Five of our beautiful Lycopodiums, which like moist areas are also found here. On the hillside are Maidenhairs and Giant Woodfern, Beech-fern and Ebony Spleenwort. In all thirty-three of the sixty-two native to our state are now growing along this trail. An Evergreen trail, winding through a beautiful stand of hemlocks into a deciduous woods, has been built in memory ot Forest Leaves ' Mrs. Horatio Gates Lloyd, one of Philadelphia's foremost horticulturists. As previously stated, about 300 species of ferns, wildflowers, shrubs and trees were found growing naturally in the Preserve area. About 100 of these species have been assembled and grouped along the trails. In addition approxi- mately 150 species, all native to Pennsylvania, have been brought in the past three years and located along the trails. It is intended to have a living collection of the flora of Pennsylvania in the Preserve. Habitats have already been built to meet the special requirements of several important groups. Last year, Mrs. Alan H. Reed sponsored the construction of a Sphagnum Bog. This was buih near the bed of a brook flowing from a spring, which was discovered to be of acid reaction. Orchids, Pitcher Plants, Sundews, Rose Pogonia, Arathusa and many other interesting and beau- tiful plants have been established in this bog. Likewise, a limestone area was constructed through the generosity of Mrs. Charles Day. Walking-ferns and Spleenworts that do not favor the natural acidity of other parts of the Pre- serve are thriving here. On one bank of Pidock Creek a steep slope of loamy acid soil forms an excellent habitat for ericaceous plants. This section is called the Azalea Trail. The entrance to this trail has been banked with Pinxterbloom a*id several Flame Azalea, native to our State in Franklin County. Sixty feet from the entrance to this trail, on the right side, is a small stand of Gay- lussacia brachycera, the famous old plant known as Box Huckleberry. Further down the trail is an Arbutus Bank, sponsored by Mrs. William R. Mercer, as a memorial to her father. Near this have been planted two Sourwood trees, in- teresting for their lily-of-the-valley-like flowers and brilliant color in the Fall. A Bank of Wild- flowers and ferns along the millrace is a beau- tiful setting, planted by the Garden Club of Philadelphia. Interest has been aroused among various or- ganizations to donate these plantings by the enthusiastic effort of members of the Executive Committee, Mrs. A. B. Ross, Mrs. L. R. Holmes and Mrs. C. C. Zantzinger as well as other mem- bers of the General Committee. The Mary K. Parry Trail is an educational trail. Wildlings most commonly found in our woodlands and fields are grouped in rock pockets along it. The common names are painted on adjacent rocks for easy identification. Fifty species, as common to the woods as Bloodroot, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Spring-beauty and Lady-fern have been labelled in this way as permanentally as possible. Members of the Women's Clubs of Bucks County sponsored this trail. Over 300 clumps of Marshmarigold designate (Continued on Page 14) III April, 1938 Seven V* hills during the most discouraging period of the American Revolution. Each lovely flower, springing up it its accustomed place, year after year, is a liv- ing memorial to their valor. In this hal- lowed spot it is YOUR patriotic duty to protect the flora. Most of the species growing here are perennials which survive year after year. On these grounds they can claim patriotic ancestry. In order that the entire State may do equal homage, and no species be missed that may have grown here at the time of the famous encampment, species representing the flora of Pennsylvania will he established here. Into a few miles of nature trails will be gathered specimens of the abundant flora our forefathers found in Penn's Woods. Many of the plants along these trails have been brought in at great trouble and ex- pense from remote parts of the State. Many are donated as memorials to nature lovers who have passed away. The beauty of these trails must be preserved. If you enjoy tra- versing them, keep to the trails, treat them so that others may gain equal enjoyment. Accordingly TAKE NOTHING, LEAVE NOTHING.'" Twelve nature trails totalling nearly three Six miles have been constructed in the Preserve. All of them lead in from the hard surfaced road running up to the Tower. Some of th<' trails are named for plants which grow along them: thus are the Azalea Trail, the Bluebell Trail, the Marigold Trail the Gentian Trail and the 1 rill- ium Trail. One, leading down a beautifully wooded slope, is known as the Mary K. Parry Trail, in honor of Mrs. Parry, president of the Federated Garden Clubs of Pennsylvania, who, with the writer flrst conceived the idea of this Preserve. Another trail, traversing principal fern colonies of the Preserve is named for Dr. Edgar T. Wherry. Chairman of the Preserve Coni- miUec and a well-known authority in Bolanv and Ecology. This trail of ferns and allied ])lants is one of the most popular. Banks ol Silvery Spleenwort on a wooded hillside lead down to a swampy area, created by diverting water from a brook. Here are drifts of Ostrich, Cinnamon and Sensitive Fern, Crested Shield- fern, Broad Swamp-fern and Grai)e-ferns. Five of our beautiful Lycoi)odiums, which like moist areas are also found here. On the hillside are Maidenhairs and Giant Woodfern, Beech-fern and Ebony Spleenwort. In all ihirly-lhrce of the sixty-two native to our state are now growing along this trail. An Evergreen trail, winding through a beautiful stand of hemlocks into a deciduous woods, has been built in memory of FoKKST Leaves Mrs. Horatio Gales Lloyd, one of Philadelphia's foremost horticulturists. As previously stated, about .'^00 species of ferns, wildflowers, shrubs and trees were found growing naturally in the Preserve area. About 100 of these s})ecies have been assembled and grouped along the trails. In addition a|)proxi- malely ISO s|)ecies, all native to Pennsylvania, have been brought in the past three years and located along the trails. It is intended to have a living collection of th(» flora of Pennsylvania in the Preserve. Habitats have already been built to meet the special requirements of several important groups. Last )ear, Mrs. Alan 1 1. Reed sponsored the constru('tion of a Sphagnum Bog. This was buiU near the bed of a brook flowing from a spring, which was discovered to be of acid reaction. Orchids, Pitcher Plants, Sundews, Rose Pogonia, Arathusa and many other interesting and beau- tiful ])lants have been established in this bog. Likewise, a limestone area was constructed through the generosity of Mrs. Charles Day. Walking-ferns and S|)leenw()rls that do not favor the natural acidity of otber parts of the Pre- serve are thriving her(». On one bank of Pidock Cnvk a steep slope of loamy acid soil forms an excellent habitat for ericaceous plants. This section is called the Azalea Trail. The entrance to this trail has been banked with Pinxlerbloom and several Flame Azalea, native to our State in Franklin County. Sixty feet from the entrance to this trail, on the right side, is a small stand of Gay- lussacia brachycera, the famous old })lant known as Box Huckleberry. Further down the trail is an Arbutus Bank, sponsored by Mrs. William R. Mercer, as a memorial to her father. Near this liave been planted two Sourwood trees, in- teresting for their lily-of-the-valley-like flowers and brilliant color in the Fall. A Bank of Wild- flow^ers and ferns along the millrace is a beau- tiful setting, planted by the Garden Club of Philadelphia. Interest has been aroused among various or- ganizations to donate these plantings by the enthusiastic effort of members of the Executive Committee, Mrs. A. B. Ross, Mrs. L. R. Holmes and Mrs. C. C. Zantzinger as well as other mem- bers of the General Committee. The Mary K. Parry Trail is an educational trail. Wildlings most commonly found in our woodlands and fields are grouped in rock pockets along it. The common names are painted on adjacent rocks for easy identification. Fifty species, as common to the woods as Bloodroot, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Spring-beauty and Lady-fern have been labelled in this way as permanentally as possible. Members of the Women's Clubs of Bucks County sponsored this trail. Over 300 clumps of Marshmarigold designate (Continued on Page 14) I I I April, 1031] Seven I INTENTIONAL SRCONn F.YPOST TR R ! Rabbit Damage to Austrian Pine DONALD D. STEVENSON IN the spring of 1936, following a winter of heavy snow, extensive damage to young Austrian pine, Pinus nigra, by rabbits was ob- served on an experimental planting area belong- ing to The Pennsylvania State College m Center County. The plantation had been established on an upland old field with a moderate to steep slope. Older plantations to the north and areas of open, brushy land to the west, with similar aged plantings to the east, afford good natural cover for rabbits. The trees were set out as 2-0 stock in 1929 and planted in furrows. It has frequently been observed that these furrows make natural runways for the rabbits and cause them to congregate in these planted areas. In 1936 the Austrian pines averaged about four feet in height and two inches in diameter at the ground level. Stems of a large number of these young trees had been completely girdled at one or more points above the root collar. During the summer of 1937 a reexamination of the plantation was made and a survival count taken. Many of the trees which had continued growth during the 1936 season in spite of com- plete girdling were failing in 1937. Needles were turning brown and some trees were bent over by wind storms at the point where the stem had been weakened by girdling. Out of a total of 570 trees 43 per cent had been girdled. Of these 32 per cent were dead and the re- maining 11 per cent were failing. All of the trees had been girdled near the base of the stem except for one small one the terminal branch of which had been chewed. Many of the trees were eaten at two distinct points on the stem, one at the root collar and the other four or five inches above. Plate I shows a tree ringed a few inches above the root collar. There are several possible explanations of the double girdling. The two areas on the stem may represent two snow levels, where the point of attack would be dependent on the depth of the snow. Again, the lower area of damage on many of the stems may have been caused by mice. Positive identification of tooth marks on the stems was not possible because of the length of time which had elapsed before the plantation was examined. Some mouse drop- pings were found at the base of girdled trees. Eight Girdling of young Austrian Pine by rabbits The large size of the area eaten on typical stems, however, makes it doubtful that mice could have been the causal agency. It is of interest that jack pine plantations ad- jacent to the Austrian pine were not attacked. A nearby pitch pine planting showed some damage but only to a limited extent. While of the same age, these faster growing trees averaged four inches and three inches in diameter respec- tively at the ground level. Their larger, less succulent stems may not be so palatable to the rabbits, or there may be some element in the tissue of Austrian pine which is more attractive. It is a well-known fact that rabbits show decided food preferences as among species of the same plant group. As evidence that Austrian pine at this age appears to be more desirable to rabbits as food, it was found that similar damage had occurred to another plantation on a low lying? (Continued on Page 12) Forest Leaves ! 4-H Clubs and Conservation in Penna. ALLEN L. BAKER State Club Leader { ■ ^(ipONSERVATION" is a magic word of the ^ day. We are a nation of faddists, fol- lowers of the "hit" of the moment. We have our "book of the month" — our musical "hit of the week." Shirley Temple commands remunera- tion beyond that of the governor of a state or the president of a university. Charley McCarthy is the hero of the hour. In the world of agricul- ture and the great out of doors, "conservation" is the magic key of the moment. Some opportunists in the field of 4-H Club Work are making much of conservation in 4-H Club Work, playing up particularly work in the field of forestry. In its broad — and real — sense, conservation has been a part of 4-H Club Work since its in- ception twenty-four years ago. An example par- ticularly applicable to Pennsylvania is potato club work. Four-H club members in that field are taught that a bountiful supply of moisture is essential to the potato plant. To make moisture available, one must have humus in the soil to hold that moisture. To get humus, one must plow under a heavy cover crop. The best cover crops are the nitrogen fixing legumes. To get a good stand of legumes it is necessary to have a "sweet" soil, to test that soil for acidity. If necessary, lime must be applied to correct that acidity. Thus the 4-H potato club member quickly arrives at the very fundamentals of soil conservation about which so much is heard these days. He has been building on that sane funda- tion all these years. The same principle holds for other types of crop club work: corn, small fruits, gardens, etc. The livestock club member learns the funda- mental place of livestock in soil building and maintenance. He learns of the importance of pastures, forage and hay crops in livestock pro- duction and that all ties back again to the funda- mentals of soil conservation. Conservation is not new to 4-H Club Work. It has always been a basic part of that work. Forestry and ICs Appeal Forestry club work has been offered to Penn- sylvania boys and girls for many years. At first we tried the forest tree planting phase. This April, 1938 moved along slowly at first, gained some mo- mentum with the popularity of the reforestation movement but could not hold its own in compe- tition with other claims upon the interests of rural youth. All youngsters arrive at a period in their young lives when they begin to look about for opportunities to earn money. Whether urban or rural, boys and girls have needs and desires which require funds for their fulfillment. It may be a new sweater, a bicycle, a gun, a party dress, money for a vacation trip or for further- ing educational plans that provides the incentive. Whatever the motive, the need or desire is very real to the young person. The boy in town gets a newspaper route, he works part time in the neighborhood store, he caddies on the local golf course, shovels snow off the neighbors' sidewalks in winter to get those much desired funds. Those opportunities are not available to the boy on the farm or in the small community. He must find other sources of revenue. Thousands of them have turned to some form of 4-H Club Work for those earning opportunities. And that is where forest tree planting as a form of 4-H Club Work fell down. It moved too slowly, the visible, tangible returns were too slow in their realization. The club member can make five dollars feeding a pig for four months. He can make fifteen or twenty dollars with a patch of sweet corn grown for market in that same time. If he is patient and successful in developing a dairy cow over a period of two years he has a substantial invest- ment which then begins to bring him substantial and regular income month by month. To meet this problem of providing income through forestry club work we tried next a pro- ject in farm woodland thinning and manage- ment. It was felt that this should provide a good opportunity for teaching the principles of woodlot management and the production of timber as a crop on the farm. But here, again, success was not to be had. Apparently the job of wood lot management was a little advanced for the boy of average club age. The problem of ownership and returns from investment and labor entered in ; the work was heavy for young Nine I ill I ii| I ■ Exhibit at Stoneboro Fair by "Tall Pine" Forestry Club of Mercer County. Planned and executed entirely by the boys. boys and it, too, failed to attract the interest of boys in any large numbers. In the last four or five years a third attempt has been made to make forestry club work ap- pealing to rural youth. The present plan is called the 4-H Farm Woodland Club. ^t The Present Forestry Club Program There are four main objectives of the present forestry club program: 1. To demonstrate methods of gathering forest tree seeds, testing for germina- tion, and the planting and care oP forest tree seed beds. ^ 2. To teach tree identification through a knowledge of leaves, bark, buds, seeds and wood sections. 3. To give instruction in the value and use of forest trees, care of farm woodlands and timber estimating. 4. To provide opportunity for raising forest tree seedlings for use on the home farm and for sale to others. The clubs are usually started in the autumn months. The first activity is the collection of forest tree seeds. This involves, of course, Ten healthful and delightful excursions to forest areas in order to procure the seeds. Seeds are stored through winter months and members taught how to make germination tests. Trees are studied under winter conditions and seed collec- tions are exhibited at local fairs or shows. In the spring, members begin to examine early leafing and flowering of trees. A forest tree nursery bed is constructed and planted with seeds gathered previously. Wild seedlings are procured and transplanted. During summer months there are field trips for the purpose of learning tree identification and contests are held to see who can correctly identify the largest number of trees. A feature of the summer program is an overnight hike and camping expedition in the woods. This feature has proven particularly popular with the young people, and provides an excellent opportunity for wood craft instruction given by Extension Foresters F. T. Murphy and W. W. Simonds. This is the general form of the forestry club program. For two additional years it is ex- panded and developed. In the second year col- lections of leaves, buds and wood sections are prepared and exhibited. The seedling nursery Forest Leaves 1 is cared for and developed. One year-old hard- wood seedlings are lifted from the nursery and planted in the field. Another camping trip adds pleasure to the activities and broadens the mem- bers' woodcraft knowledge and experience. In the third year, members undertake to learn something of methods in handling the home woodlot. There are problems in timber estimat- ing and woodlot thinning. Seedlings are lifted from the nursery and set in transplant rows or in the field as the need may be. Although this present plan of forestry club work has been more successful than either of its predecessors, it has not spread like the prover- bial prairie fire nor has it attained the volume nor aroused the enthusiasm that is claimed for it- in some other states. Pennsylvania's natural economic advantage in having large consumer markets for her agricultural products within her' own boundaries and at her door works to the natural disadvantage of 4-H forestry club work. Some Forestry Club Activities Those members who have and are participat- ing, however, seem to get both fun and profit from it. One of the most active of the current groups has been the "Tall Pine" forestry club in Mercer County under the guidance of County Agricultural Agent C. H. Waha. This club has been in operation for five years and has an aver- age annual membership of about twenty boys. They have been carrying out the program pretty much as previously outlined, have conducted plays and festivals to earn money for educational trips and for visits to The Pennsylvania State College. One of their constructive activities has been the care and maintenance of forest tree plantings in a near-by community park. Last summer they made an overnight visit to Cook Forest in Jefferson County. A smaller group in Berks County had an over- night hike, learned camp fire building, camp cooking, tree identification and judging. Their seedlings were inspected by state officials and marketed, thereby providing some income to the youthful members. In Columbia County there is an interesting group under the guidance of Assistant County Agent J. S. Hummer. Its membership is made up of boys in a small town who grow their seed- lings in the family garden plot. On one excur- sion last summer, they visited a farm where Scotch Pine are being grown for Christmas trees. They, too, had the usual overnight hiking and camping trip. At the close of the season they / A budding forester lends his seedling bed April, 1938 Eleven V\ I '". ' n^ Club members hold a tree identifica- tion contest presented an exhibit of leaves and wood of the more important timber trees. Each member then reported on the uses and planting sites best suit- ed to the particular tree in which he is special- izing. An Increase in Interest May Be Imminent While the economic aspect of many other types of 4-H Club Work may have its advantages and attractions, it also has its disadvantages. Many of the lines of work which are popular from the standpoint of earning opportunities lose some of that popularity in a period of low prices, of limited cash for purchases of seed and livestock, and of business depression generally. Thus we found the period of greatest interest in forestry club work came at a time a few years ago when rural folks had less ready cash availa- ble. Purebred calves, well-bred pigs, disease- free seed potatoes, often cost considerable. In times of that kind, forestry club work has a greater appeal apparently. It gives the rural boy an opportunity to join a 4-H Club, to get its edu- cational and social benefits without the necessity of a cash investment. It may be that current conditions will again show the influence of this factor and that 1938 will witness a renewed and enlarged interest in forestry club work. Here is a promising field of activity for members of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association. More About State Trees The January issue carried an article about official trees of various States. Dr. J. S. Illick, Professor of Forest Management, Syracuse Uni- versity, reports that two were omitted. The State of Georgia officially adopted "the pine" some years ago and California has designated the redwood as the official State tree. Twelve Pennsylvania Joins in Cooperatin Wild Life Research Investigations for improving methods of man- aging wildlife on forests and farms and other biological studies will be undertaken at a new wildlife research unit being established at State College by The Pennsylvania State College, the State Game Commission, and the U. S. Biological Survey. Pennsylvania is the 11th State to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Biological Sur- vey for investigating ways and means of fitting wildlife resources into land-use programs. Forest and farm-game problems will receive equal at- tention at the new research unit, as the States's land area of 28,692,480 acres is about equally divided between forest and wodland tracts and farm and urban property. Investigations will cover environmental studies, life habits, and the relationships of the more importance wildlife species. Trial management areas will also be set up for demonstrating how the information ob- tained in research may be applied in a practical manner. Dr. Logan J. Bennett, leader of the Iowa re- search unit of Ames since its establishment in September, 1935, assumed charge of the new work in Pennsylvania. Rabbit Damage to Austrian Pine (Continued from Page 8) swampy site. Jack pine had not been eaten while Austrian pine only a few yards away was ex- tensively girdled. Since little or no additional damage was ob- served during the much milder, open winter of 1936-1937, even though the rabbit population showed no particular falling off, it would seem that young pine stem tissue is not a favorite food of the cotton-tail rabbit in central Pennsyl- „vania and is only utilized when severe winter ^conditions make foraging for other food difficult. Foresters Elect At the annual winter meeting of the Allegheny Section, Society of American Foresters held in Harrisburg, February 25 and 26, the following officers were elected: George W. Dean, Chair- man, Richmond, Virginia; Floyd I. Dewald, Vice Chairman, Trenton, N. J.; G. Luther Schnur, Secretary-Treasurer, Philadelphia. The section is composed of foresters from Delaware, Mary- land, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Forest Leaves Farm Forestry in Penna's Woods (Continued from Page 3) land will now grow timber and provide some pasturage. No farmer can afford to pay taxes on idle land. Here, then, is a problem. Is this aban- doned crop land to be reforested? Or is it to be let alone to seed up naturally with pines and hardwoods over a period of years? If protected from fire and livestock, replanted with trees where necessary, and generally given the bene- fit of simple forestry treatment, it may be placed in continuous wood production. The application of forestry to farm woods brings two benefits: increased productive capaci- ty and increased revenues. The rules of forestry management for farm woodlands are simple and few. They may be readily understood and applied by the average woodland owner. Information and assistance in the proper handling of farm woodland properties and their crops may be obtained from the Extension For- ester at State College, from the State Forester at Harrisburg, or from the U. S. Forest Service, Washington, D. C. Because the practice of farm forestry depends largely on the use of common sense in the treat- ment of timber trees and their products, it ap- peals to the average farmer as being practical. To raise trees, he does not need to devote labor to the preparation of the soil, nor spend money for fertilizer. Timber is a "poor land" crop. It grows on soils too rocky and steep for other crops. No matter how inferior a site may be, it is usually not too worn out to grow trees. Forestry may be practiced in the farm woods as a part time occupation. It fits in well with the yearly farm routine because it can be carried on in the winter when other work is slack. Fortunately, too, that is the best season to handle most wood products. For example, logs dry bet- ter and develop fewer defects in cold weather than in warm seasons. Injuries and loses to cut products by insects and decay are reduced to a minimum in the winter. The farmers of Pennsylvania are probably in a better position to practice forestry than any other group of private landowners in the state. It is to their advantage to do so, because timber can be made a paying farm crop. Mortised fence posts from a farm woods near Devon, Pa. Many farmers enjoy a cash income from posts, pulpwood, ties and mine props. : ( April, 1938 Thirteen 1 ill Ws^-'i'-^'S^lSZSS Bowman's Hill State Wild- flower Preserve (Continued from Page 7) the Marigold Trail in no uncertain terms in early Spring. Near them a hillside spotted with Trill- ium needs no advertising to attract nature lovers during the month of May. Across Piddelock Creek an island covered with Mertensia virginica forms the nucleus of the Bluebell Trail. This is also a memorial planting. To aid in locating and identifying plants along these trails, stone markers have been placed every fifty feet indicating the footage from the entrance of the trail. The key gives the distance in feet from the entrance of the trail at which plantings are found and states right or left side. For instance: One of the seventeen species of violets, in a group planting of this family by the Girl Scouts, is marked on the Marigold Trail "Viola palens^l25' R— Northern White Violet." As this is half way between the IOC and the 125' marker on the right hand side it is not difficult to find. However, when this little violet is in bloom, the fragrance of the delicate white flowers acts as its own guide to the planting. A new work project is about to start. This work has been carefully planned and laid out by the Preserve Committee. Funds for the pur- chase and collection of plant material are be- ginning to come in for this year's development. Very interesting and worthwhile progress in the development of the Preserve in 1938 is promised. Pennsylvania Rewards Forest Fire Wardens Since the fall of 1934 when the practice was inaugurated, the Pennsylvania Department of Forests and Waters has awarded certificates of faithful service to 1047 ten-year wardens and 192 wardens who have served the Common- wealth 20 years or longer. There are approxi- mately four thousand Forest Fire Wardens in the State. Canadian Forests Provide Employment Logging operations in Canada's forests pro- vide employment on the average for about 84,- 000 men on a yearly basis, but as most of this work is of a seasonal nature it is estimated that about 240,000 men derive a substantial part of their employment in the woods. Fourteen Production of Forest Planting Stock Doubled A new high in the production of forest plant- ing stock by the State operated nurseries will be reached this spring. More than twenty-two million plants will be shipped from the nurser- ies of the Department of Forests and Waters during the month of April for planting in Penn- sylvania. The Soil Conservation Service in addition to the large output of their own nurseries will re- ceive more than nine and a half million from the Department of Forests and Waters. The Department also produced trees adapted for game food and cover for the Game Commission. Nearly forty thousand plants will be available for setting out this spring on State Game lands. Although thirty-one different species are on the list, red pine, white pine, hemlock, Norway spruce, scotch pine, shortleaf pine, pitch pine, banks pine and black locust predominate. Ground Broken for New Buildings at State Ground-breaking for the new building pro- gram at The Pennsylvania State College was celebrated at State College on Saturday, Febru- ary 26. Earth from each of the ten building sites, one of which is that of the new Forestry building, was assembled at Recreation Hall, the largest of the present campus buildings. Ten students, one from each department involved in the program, Gilbert Spangler, 1938 of York, Pennsylvania, representing Forestry, assisted at this symbolic ceremony. Governor Earle, Sena- ^tor Guffey, and President Hetzel gave the prin- cipal addresses, and a large assembly of nota- bles, invited guests, faculty, and students were present. Dr. H. A. Mayer and Mr. Merwin W. Humph- rey are two new members of the Pennsylvania State Forest School. Dr. Mayer is a graduate of the Federal Technical Institute of Zurich, where he also received his Doctor's degree. He served four years in the forest service of Switzerland. He came to The Pennsylvania State College from Mexico City where he had spent two years organizing the forest investigative work and a ranger school for the Mexican Government. He is teaching forest mensuration. Mr. Merwin W. Humphrey is a graduate of Cornell, receiving his Master's degree at the Yale School of Forestry. He came to The Pennsylvania State College after serving six years with the Conservation Commis- sion in New York State. Mr. Humphrey is teach- ing forest management. Forest Leaves Meet America's Largest Tree! Some Observations on Forestry in Mexico SAMUEL N. BAXTER IT'S a long way from forestry in Pennsylvania to that of Mexico, yet we feel that tree lovers are akin the world over and will be interested in an account of our visit to what has been termed the world's oldest tree — Arbol del Tule. Arbol del Tule is a Montezuma Cypress (Tax- odium muscronatum), growing in a churchyard near Santa Maria del Tule in Oaxaco County, some 300 miles below Mexico City. Natives know the Cypress by the Aztec name of ahuehuete (pronounced ah-we-we-te). Whether the age of the Cypress antedates that of our sequoias is a question. We have read one account that gives 4,000 years but Mexican authorities, on a sign placed near the tree, give the age as 2,000 years. At any rate, its 46 feet diameter trunk is greater than the largest Sequoia, even though its height of 140 feet is less. This giant Cypress is said to have been wor- shipped by the Zapotecs as the Goddess of Growth and Cortez is recorded as having taken shelter under its branches, which now have a spread of some 7,000 square feet. In the same churchyard is a similar tree 22 feet in dia- meter. Both trees are in a healthy state of growth and bearing seed at the time of our visit. During our visit to Mexico City with a dele- gation of the American Institute of Park Execu- tives, we were tendered a reception in ChapuUe- pec Palace by Hon. Miguel A. de Quevedo, head of the Department of Forestry, Game and Fish- eries. This department has charge of the main- tenance and extension of parks, gardens and shade trees, as well as conservation of forests. Mr. Quevedo in his address of welcome stated that active operations are being carried out for reforesting great areas to the south and south- east of the Capital, which have been denuded by excessive lumbering activities. "As proof of this," said he, "over 125,000 acres have been Arbor del Tule. April, 1938 Photo by Samuel N. Baxter MorUezuma Cypress 46 feet in diameter, 140 feet high, at Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca County, Mexico. Fifteen III I I r planted and this year alone some 500,000 new trees have been set out. Reforestation of these arid uplands will have a very beneficial effect on the city of Mexico. As regards Lake Tex- coco, it being unfortunately impossible to fill its old bed with water, as the bottom has risen too much for this purpose, it is being planted with grass and trees with a view to improving the climatic conditions of Mexico City. Work is also being carried out all around the city in order to protect it with a belt of trees and grass lands. In this work the Forestry Depart- ment has received the enthusiastic backing of Mexico's President, General Lazaro Cardenas, who has extended his protective work to forestry activities in many other parts of the country, and to the planting of many thousands of fruit trees that will further have the advantage of improv- ing food supply of the people." "Chapultepec Park, the great semi-urban park of this city, is being beautified, insofar as possi- ble, and the Forestry Department is building a museum of natural flora and fauna to be di- vided into a number of interesting sections, and also a great hot house to be devoted to tropical flora and fauna. The museum is to be opened at the end of the current year." Mr. Quevedo gave credit to Netzahualcoyotl, poet and king, as deserving of our veneration as the first man in the Americas to champion conservation of woods and forests. He enacted rules for their preservation and he himself super- vised their execution. Concluding, Mr. Quevedo said, "You who are engaged in the protection and promotion of parks and gardens, which we all recognize con- stitute the highest cultural manifestation in our existence, agree that though the growth of towns and cities is the cause of many evils for the health of the inhabitants, a remedy contributing to salubrity is trees, parks and gardens" — and to which we add, forests. Half Million Acres Planted on National Forests in Three Years More than 145 million trees were planted on the National Forests in 30 states during the cal- endar year 1937, according to a preliminary report of the U. S. Forest Service. The year's planting covered 153,000 acres. The 1937 planting brings the total on the National Forests in the past ten years up to 597,000 acres, of which 502,000 acres have been planted during the past three years. Sixteen Gypsy Moth Blocked In Pennsylvania's gypsy moth infestation is still confined to a comparatively small area after six years of control work on a gigantic and costly program, J. Hansell French, Secretary of Agri- culture, disclosed. A trapping expedition completed late last Fall discovered no new infested areas or extensions of the original area. In this check-up the Fed- eral and State Departments of Agriculture co- operated, employing 984 traps, or assembly cages. The gypsy moth was first discovered in this state in 1932. The infestation has been confined to portions of Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe, Carbon and Wayne Counties. By spraying whole towns, mountainsides and valleys with a poisonous mixture the Federal and State Departments of Agriculture have been able to reduce the infestation and are forcing its boundary back to its focal point. The Pennsylvania infestation is the only im- portant one west of the Hudson River Valley, so the work here is considered a major pest control project by the Federal government. Need 148,000,000 More Acres for Public Forests Acquisition by State and Federal governments of approximately 148,000,000 acres of forest lands now in private ownership is proposed in the annual report of the National Forest Reserva- tion Commission. Studies show that about 48,000,000 acrejs should be purchased and administered by the states and 100,000,000 acres of forest lands ac- quired by the Federal government, the report says. Including expenses incident to acquisi- tion, the Commission estimates the Federal share of the program on the basis of current values would be approximately $700,000,000. The Annual Meeting (Continued from Page 4) in itself to command the attention of everyone interested in forestry. Now that the public is becoming forestry-minded it is more important than ever that this association should have defi- nite aims toward which it should work. Their accomplishment depends upon the active en- dorsement and cooperative effort of all lovers of the out-of-doors. Will you not make an effort to attend this meeting and bring several guests with you? Forest Leaves I Our Program 1. The adequate protection of all Pennsylvania forests from Fire, Fungi, and Insects. 2. T\w pers(Min<-l of the DeparlnKMil of Forests and Waters to he chosen and retained on a hasis o{ etlicicnl service only, in order to jjuarantee permanency of per protection hut also for recreation, hunting and fishing. 4. (;reater co-operation hetween the department- of the State government for protection of the heauty of the puhli* lands. s. Adequate hienniai appropriations for the pur?^v'^^^-^-j<<^ had won the admiration of the nation and had demonstrated conclusively that the employment of idle young men on sound conservation proj- ects was a practical method of dealing with the youth unemployment program and the national conservation problem as well. Let us glance at the record of the Corps. Dur- ing its five years of operation it has furnished work for approximately two million youths and war veterans, virtually eliminated unemploy- ment among foresters and supplied jobs as Re- serve Officers to literally thousands of college youths who had graduated from law, medical, engineering or liberal arts colleges, only to find no vacancies in their chosen fields. Young men who took R.O.T.C. training while in college often were able to cash in on their college mili- tary experience by becoming members of the Corps' administrative staif when they could not obtain employment in the kind of work for which they had been educated. All told, ap- proximately 2,200,000 persons have worked for various periods of time in the CCC, either as en- rollees or as members of the staffs of the thou- sands of CCC camps which have been operated over the last five years. During this period an average of a little less than $400,000,000 has been expended yearly on the CCC program. Almost every cent of this money found its way quickly into trade channels, thus aiding business recovery. Civilian Conservation Corps money was spent for food, shoes, clothes, medical sup- plies, automobiles, trucks, tractors, lumber and thousands of other articles needed in prosecuting a nationwide conservation program and in run- ning a housekeeping establishment of such a tremendous size of the CCC. Out of the $30 a month check paid each enrollee, $25 went to aid dependents at home. Since its formation, the CCC has aided at all times an average of about 300,000 families. Perhaps 10,000,000 persons have been directly aided through the CCC pro- gram. Two principal benefits have been received by the young men and war veterans who have been enrolled in the camps. One of these is better health. The second is improved employability. Reports reaching my office are to the effect that the outdoor life, the regular hours, the plentiful and wholesome food, and proper medical atten- tion have improved the weight and resistance to diseases of virtually all enrollees. Other natural advantages of the camps have contributed to the improvement of the morale and employability of the youth in the CCC. First-class leadership added to the educational and training advantages Two provided at each camp have made the boys better citizens and have improved their chances for economic independence. The greatest thing the camps are doing is building men. Youths who enter the camps dis- couraged, green, often embittered through fail- ure to find employment, are given a new and saner outlook upon life. They leave the camps with healthy bodies, with heads up and capable of making their own way if jobs are available. In this connection, Fred Morrell, Representa- tive, Department of Agriculture on the CCC Ad- visory Council, recently wrote as follows: "During the quarter ending September 30, 1937, a total of 3,799 enrollees from 840 ramps located on national, state and private forest lands secured jobs after leaving the Corps with the assistance of the camps' technical personnel and because of the experience and training re- ceived while in camp. The aim of enrollee training is a dual one: first, to increase the en- rollee's efficiency in his work while in the CCC; and second, to aid him in finding employment when he leaves the Corps. Both of these goals are being reached. Our reports show that boys have received training which has won jobs for many of them when they left the Corps. These reports also show a definite upturn, both in the quality and quantity of work done by enrollees participating in job training activities. This gain can be reduced to figures. The Forest Service has found by its studies a gain of from 20^^ to 25% in the amount of work done as a result of training." I have devoted considerable time to the human phases of the CCC program. I do this advisedly because over the last few years I have found that foresters as a class are deeply interested in humanity and the effects of the advancement of a huge conservation program upon not only the enrollees but upon the country as a whole. I know that all of you are as interested as we in Washington are in improving our youth and in giving the boys of today opportunity to make their way. The money spent on the CCC to date could be justified, I am confident, upon the re- sults attained in the field of aiding youth. I am confident that the American people are too well aware of the value of the CCC program as a human conservation agency to let it die. I be- lieve that the President and the Congress will make it permanent. As great as the CCC's contribution has been in human conservation, it has a counterpart in the (Continued on Page 15) Forest Leaves ^ Growing Wildflowers Commercially By ALBERT F. W. VICK T HE first germ of conservation was introduced to many Americans through that famous car- toon which appeared a long time ago in Lije under the heading, "Ain't Nature Grand?". This famous drawing depicted the typical American family leaving their apartment on a Sunday morning for a picnic in the woods. Hatchets, axes, baseball bats were of equal prominence in the cartoon with the children of various ages and many lunch baskets. The next picture showed the family at a • chosen picnic spot build- ing a fire, cutting fire- wood, and generally being as destructive as possible. Finally we are shown the family with car and arms loaded with huge branches of Dogwoods and Azaleas leaving the deserted pic- nic grove behind — a hope- less wreck, a litter of tin cans and luncheon debris. Thanks to the excellent work of the many socie- ties interested in conserva- tion, there is far more ap- preciation than ever be- fore of the many gifts na- ture has to offer for our enjoyment and there is an increase in appreciation of conservation problems and a real effort to help in this all-important work. However, there still is far too much thoughtlessness and careless destruction of our plant life. We have frequently been told we are extremely foolish to attempt the propagation of wild flowers when there are so many throughout the woods of Pennsylvania that we can have for the taking. However, it is an established fact that unless something even more drastic is done to protect some of our most beau- tiful wild flowers, it will only be a matter of a few years before they will be extinct. Many of our native orchids are disappearing completely from their old haunts because either they have July, 1938 . been pulled up by their roots or have been picked carelessly by the hundreds. Fringed Gen- tian is becoming an unusual sight, and it will not be long before Blind Gentian will be as hard to find as the fringed species. Arbutus has almost completely disappeared from many hillsides which a few years ago were covered with it. Trilliums are rare in Pennsylvania today. Marsh Marigolds are unusual. Shooting Stars rare, and how long Lycopodiums, such as Crow's Foot and Ground Pine, will survive the Christmas decorators or Rhododendron, Kal- mia. Dogwood, and Judas Tree the commercial col- lector is truly a problem. We have practically wiped out the American Holly from Pennsylvania and now we are on the way to do the same thing with the common Deciduous Holly (Ilex verticillata) . With this astounding data before us, we feel justified in making the considera- ble investment we have made in the propagation of these and many other native plants so that the estate owner and the home owner who appreciates the beauty of the untouched woods may restore his own bit of woodland, meadow, or bog to its former glory. In their quest for un- usual and beautiful plants, horticulturists have combed the four corners of the earth. We have forgotten that nature has spent millions of years deciding what will grow best in each particular section of Pennsylvania. We have trampled down millions of seedlings, broken huge branches of Holly and Dogwood for decoration only to find almost too late that the Japanese Cherries do not compare in dramatic beauty with our own Flowering Dogwood and that many imported aperennials lack the color (Continued on Page 14) Three I I 1 n FOREST LEAVES Published quarterly by The PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Disseminates information and news on forestry and related subjects. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE E. F. Brouse, Chairman Samuel N. Baxter Dr. Rodney H. True Charles B. Cadwalader Philip A. Livingston The publication of an article in Forest Leaves does not necessarily imply that the views expressed therein are those of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Address all correspondence to Wayne, Penna., or to the Editor, 306 Commercial Trust Building, Philadel- phia, Pa. Kindly notify us of any change in address. JULY, 1938 Will We Cooperate? Our private forest problem as presented in an article in this issue of Forest Leaves definitely concerns every member of the Pennsylvania For- estry Association. With 96 per cent of our pri- vate forest lands estimated as not satisfactorily managed to "yield maximum benefits on a per- manent basis," it is about time that more serious efforts be made to get forestry into the woods. To anyone familiar with our forests in the Central Atlantic States it is a well-known fact that the forest capital has been greatly depleted by improvident cuttings followed by fire and dis- ease. Nature has been allowed in most cases to take her own slow course in rectifying these wrongs, with little or no help. Weed tree species, scrub oak, pin cherry and the like, are still prev- alent on large areas after more than 30 years of conservation effort. Thousands of farm wood- lots are slashed over annually with no thought for the future despite the efforts of our extension foresters to preach the doctrine of selective cut- ting and long time sustained yield management. There are numerous areas coming back naturally to young hardwoods but greatly hindered by large defective hold-over tres. There are even thousands of acres of planted trees representing a considerable investment of money, time, and effort, which are being sadly neglected. Whether we like it or not, the indications are that some sort of regulation of our private for- ests must eventually come. If cooperative effort and self-imposed regulations are satisfactory, there will of course be a minimum of public Four regulation. The six opportunities for coopera- tive effort as presented by Mr. Hopkins can be made effective only if action is begun by land- owners, local groups of citizens, local and State forest agencies and by concentrated effort by associations such as our own. Director Fechner of the CCC told the Associa- tion on March 30 that organized groups could request CCC aid on private lands under their jurisdiction if certain conditions be met. Land purchases for public forests or parks can be initi- ated by the Association or groups within it. The Tionesta Virgin Forest Area purchased by the Federal Government was obtained largely through the efforts of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- tion. Many county and municipa,! forests needed for watershed protection, recreation, and wood production for local needs could be sponsored. The new agricultural conservation program grants benefits for forest planting and stand im- provement work. Members of the Association can aid considerably in getting forestry into the woods by creating interest for stand improve- ment work among the woodland owners in their communities. Authorization for land purchases through the Fulmer Act is now available and co- operative farm forestry work is authorized by law but no money has been appropriated to con- duct the work. The Association could help make these conservation laws effective by obtaining ap- propriations for them through The Congress. In many sections cooperative sustained yield projects should be started. Some such are al- ready under way but much more interest and ac- tion by forest conservationists and landowners are needed. Will we cooperate? Will we get behind such conservation measures in our own communities? Let us each select one of the sev- eral available opportunities and do our part to really put forestry into the woods where it belongs. (jr. Lj, %^» Yale School of Forestry Maintains Important Wood Collection The Wood Collection of the Yale School of Forestry is the most complete of any in exist- ence. Under the direction of Professor Samuel J. Record, more than 35,000 samples of wood have been assembled and made available for scientific research. These collections form the basis for a cooperative study that is now being made by wood anatomists in the United States and many foreign countries. Forest Leaves > The Private Forest Problem By HOWARD HOPKINS Ass't Regional Forester^ Region 7, U.S.F.S, COOPERATIVE programs and projects be- tween Federal and State forest agencies and forest landowners are, and to an increas- ing extent will be, of vital importance to every forester, forest agency, forest landowner, and forest community. The six States to be considered in this article are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Mary- land, Virginia, and West Virginia. They have a total productive forest land acreage of 44^/^ million acres, covering over 50% of the total land area. Only 2V2 million acres are in Na- tional Forests, less than 2 million acres are in State Forests, and just less than V2 million acres are in county or municipal forests. The total public forest area in the States is there- fore just over 4Vi> million acres, representing less than 11% of the total area, leaving about 89%) of this forest land area in private owner- ship. It is these 40 million acres that presents our major forest land problem. The problem or battle, in its broadest sense — improving our forest land so it will yield maximum benefits on a permanent basis — will be fought, and either lost or won, not on our public land, but on our privately owned forest land. This total privately owned forest land is apparently fairly evenly divided, between so-called "farm woodland," covering 42%, and the so-called "commercial timberland," which includes 58% of this total of 40 million acres. Accurate information as to the exact condi- tion of our privately owned forest land is noted mainly by its absence. We have, nevertheless, during the past year collected the best infor- mation available from the Extension and Forest Services of the States. The available data indi- cate that only 2% of the commercial timberland and 514% of the farm woodland is being handled under sustained yield management, leav- ing 96% of the privately owned forest land as a whole handled under all stages, or variations, of unsatisfactory management. Even if all pri- vately owned forest land were included which was reported under the classification of "land left in good growing condition," we find the total acreage forms less than 25% of the total forest land concerned. The solution of this major forest land problem July, 1938 may be achieved through one of three main avenues; namely, public ownership, public regulation, and cooperative effort. Each of these should of course participate in the solu- tion. An approach to the solution through a public forest land purchase program to con- vert to public ownership all, or most, of the forest areas not properly managed by private owners is obviously not practicable and is de- cidedly undesirable. Another course might be through public regulation of the owner's treat- ment of his forest land. This is unquestionably preferable to public ownership but should be applied primarily to supplement other means, and as the major solution only when other methods fail. The third plan is through co- operative action between all interested agencies; the forest landowner, the wood-using industry, and each public forest agency. The next question is how can and should our forest land problem be solved by cooperative efforts. Half a dozen specific opportunities for attacking the problem through cooperative efforts may be listed as follows: 1. Establishment of timber stand improve- ment and planting demons|ration plots by CCC resources. 2. Forest land purchases or acquisition, under the Fulmer Forest Law, under the former Resettlement Administration, under Title III of the Bankhead-Jones law, or by co- operating agencies for municipal, town, or county forests. 3. Forestry practices in the Agricultural Con- servation Program. 4. Soil Conservation District Laws. 5. Cooperative Farm Forestry Law. 6. Cooperative Sustained Yield Projects. These laws or activities are tools available or now being made available, to us to help solve our major forest land problems. Is it fair to inquire how many of the state agencies, other public owners and private owners have considered the desirability of applying any or all of these six opportunities to improve forest land and stand conditions of any specific forest land area, or group of areas in the state or in the vicinity? While many are familiar with Five I I I I Mk i'\ iii «i[|^iS| (courtesy U.S. FOREST SERVICE/ Before and after thinning 25-year-old white pine planting on CCC research and demonstration plot. Six Forest Leaves them, it may be worth while to indicate briefly the past and possible application of each. 1. During the last two years Director Fech- ner, of the CCC, has authorized use of CCC labor and resources, in the establishment of demonstration timber stand improvement and planting plots on privately owned forest lands to demonstrate to forest landowners in the vi- cinity how best to treat each similar timber stand or area. These authorizations have been utilized with very beneficial results through the cooperative efforts of the Federal Forest Service, the State Forest Service, and the State Extension Service of many of our States, al- though some States, on the other hand, have made little or no use of this privilege. 2. Cooperative purchase' or acquisition pro- grams, such as under the Fulmer Act of 1935, under the former Resettlement Administration and under Title III of the Bankhead-Jones Act, are mentioned at this time merely to indicate possible tools for utilization in connection with those forest land areas which should be trans- ferred to public ownership in order to place and maintain them in a productive condition, or to prevent further injury to public welfare. 3. Last year the Agricuhural Conservation Program for most of the States within this sec- tion provided benefits also for timber stand im- provement work in timber stands on woodlands justifying such treatment. In some States the State Forest Service, Extension Service, and A.C.P. Committee have worked hand-in-hand under this Program with excellent results, while in other States this procedure was practically unused. The final 1938 Agriculture Conservation pro- grams have not yet been made available for all states. The available programs and pre- liminary drafts covering a majority of the group of States considered have been reviewed. They indicate in each case benefits for both planting ' and timber stand improvement work are avail- able. In addition to these benefits, this year the National Agricultural Conservation Pro- gram bulletin provides that all or any part of any payment under the 1938 Agricuhural Con- servation Program may be withheld if, "with respect to forest land or woodland owned or controlled by him, he adopts any practice which tends to defeat the purposes of a sound conserva- tion program as prescribed by the Regional Director." Thus this year the 1938 A.C.P. opens a door for each State Conservation Pro- gram Committee, on the advice of the Extension and State Foresters, to recommend what prac- JuLY, 1938 tices, if applied to farm woodland, it feels would defeat a sound conservation program. Certainly all would agree on the desirability of recom- mending that burning or setting fire to the wood- land should be specified, most persons will agree that clear-cutting on steep slopes should also be specified, and some will agree that clear-cutting of any large area should be included, as prac- tices which would defeat a sound conservation program. The opportunity is given, however, through this opportunity to formulate and ac- complish an informational and educational pro- gram that will be listened to as never before. A number of the States within this section have strongly recommended this section of the Nation- al Agricultural Conservation Program be ob- served. The degree to which these forestry prac- tices are included in the Agricultural Conserva- tion Program for any State, and the degree to which these practices are applied on the ground, is usually in direct proportion to the degree the local forest agencies. State Extension Forester, and State Agricultural Conservation Committee recommend that they be utilized. 4. The Federal Government, in 1935, passed a Soil Conservation Law which provides that the Federal agencies may assist States which have satisfactory soil conservation laws. Such State laws usually provide that Soil Conservation Dis- tricts can be established through vote of a ma- jority of the residents of the District concerned. State Enabling Acts have already been passed by Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. After the establishment of such Soil Conservation Dis- tricts, the State and Federal Governments co- operate with the landowners in placing the lands concerned in a more productive condition. The law is of both tremendous importance and value, and should be considered of special value to im- prove forest land project areas where soil erosion control forms a major problem. 5. The Cooperative Farm Forestry Law, authorizing the appropriation of 2V2 million dol- lars was recently referred to by a Federal Sena- tor from one of the Southern States as the most constructive piece of legislation passed by the last session of Congress. No funds have as yet been made available but it is hoped and expected funds will be made available under this Law starting with next fiscal year, or July 1, to both the Extension Service for transfer to State Ex- tension Services, and to the Federal Forest Serv- ice for transfer to State Forest Services. Funds, when made available under this Act, may be util- ized for informational, educational, and demon- strational farm forestry activities, for the estab- Seven I I I I iJ m lishment of tree nurseries, for the surveying and improving of farm woodlands, and for assisting farm woodland owners in the marketing of their wood products. This is a cooperative project which very likely will provide a most effective tool to solve our farm woodland problems. 6. Demonstration cooperative sustained yield projects on commercial timberland and farm woodland have been initiated during the past two years in a number of the States. Usually the first step is a recommendation by a forest landowner or State agency that a preliminary survey be made of an area to determine the practicability of using this plan to improve the forest land of, and income from, the area concerned. The second step is usually to determine the preliminary boundaries of the area, the method by which the preliminary survey should be accomplished, and the persons or agencies to handle the job. The third step is a conference by all interested agen- cies to review the findings of the preliminary sur- vey and to determine the practicability, desir- ability, and program of further cooperative action, to initiate the sustained yield project. Usually the first job to be done in connection with actual establishment of the sustained yield project is covering the selected area with an in- tensive timber survey and growth study to fur- nish an accurate cutting or management plan for use by the landowners and local forest agencies. Following this survey and management plan, an association of landowners may be formed to as- certain and obtain the best markets for wood products from the area, and to assist in obtaining advice as to proper handling of each owner's timberland so that products of maximum value may be produced on a permanent basis with maximum benefit to the landowners, the wood-us- ing industries, and the community. This plan has been followed in Coos County, New Hampshire, and Essex County, Vermont, where over 135,000 acres of farm woodland have been surveyed through the cooperative efforts of the Extension and Forest Services of these States, and the Federal Forest Service. A cooperative marketing association of landowners has been formed which, during this winter, is supplying local pulp mills with over 30,000 cords of pulp- wood. In Tioga County, New York, in coopera- tion with the Soil Conservation Service and the State Extension Service, 30,000 acres of farm woodland have been surveyed, and the Extension Service is now assisting the local landowners to form a cooperative marketing association, while the local lumber mill owner has offered a prem- Eight ium to the association for all wood products sold to his mill from the land handled under sustained yield management. Likewise in West Virginia, in cooperation with the College of Agriculture of West Virginia University and the State Forest Service, the Federal Forest Service is planning to survey approximately 40,000 acres of woodlands, and a cooperative marketing association has been formed by the local forest landowners, while the local pulpwood company has paid a bonus for pulpwood sold to it through the association, in recognition of the value it feels such an associa- tion will be to the company. A similar project in Pennsylvania, where the local mill owner has offered a similar bonus, was inspected last sum- mer by a representative of the Federal Forest Service, and the results of this preliminary sur- vey have been presented to representatives of the State Forest Service and State Extension Service for determination as to their wish to proceed further with this project. A similar project area has been investigated during the past month in Virginia in cooperation with the Virginia State Forest Service and Extension Service, while a similar preliminary survey is now nearing com- pletion in Maryland, the Federal Forest Service cooperating with the State Forest Service and Ex- tension Service. The utilization of this cooperative arrangement to fit the individual area and its use should be equally beneficial to the landowner, the wood-us- ing industry owner, the forest community, and the forest agencies. I have tried to point out what is considered by many as the major forest problem of today, three possible approaches through which this problem may be attacked, and six methods recently made available or soon to be available, one or more of which might be employed as a help toward a solution under the cooperative approach. To suc- ceed in cooperative programs and projects, how- ever, requires definite contributions in time and effort from each cooperator. The cooperation of the Federal Forest Service is proffered but the responsibility for initiating action undoubtedly rests with the forest landowners, and the local and State forest agencies of that area and State. The Delaware County Park and Recreation Board commenced the issuance of a monthly bul- letin. "The News" is a mimeographed leaflet which tells of the Park and recreational activi- ties throughout the County. The Board plans to conduct in early summer a short training course for recreation leaders. FoREfT Leaves The Wisconsin Youth at Work and Play By WAKELIN McNEEL AN act of the 1935 Wisconsin legislature which became effective in 1937 made in- struction in conservation of natural resources a part of the curriculum of the common schools of the state. Those interested in conservation wfi\- come this step as one of the biggest strides made in all its history in our state. Conservation is a matter of education, and education begins with those who have most of life still before them. A vital presentation of this subject so close to children's interests, is sure to be an effective safeguard against abuse and a guarantee of a wiser use of the indispensible provisions of nature. Those who are concerned in the health and character development of youth welcome the wide contact and acquaintance with the outdoors that the law implies. A sympathetic presenta- tion is sure to rebound to better health, cleaner pasttimes, and improved moral viewpoints. In a democracy proper regard for the provisions of nature is the result of correct attitude, and that means education. Because of the widespread influences of forests, this resource is sure to re- ceive the major attention in our schools. For 9 years club work has offered boys and girls an opportunity to study trees, to know forests and to plant trees. Since the starting of this work, the youth have planted seedlings and transplants, mostly conifers, numbering approxi- mately 3,000,000. Under normal growing weather a reasonable expectation would be a survival of at least two-thirds of these trees. However, during these years there has been at least 7 years of unfavorable growing weather, and my observation would prompt the statement that 40 to 50 percent of the trees are now grow- ing. Tree conservation reaches four general groups: Junior Forest Rangers, School Forests, Boys in Vocational Agriculture and Young men in the Short Course offered at the College of Agriculture. Junior Forest Rangers: These boys are at least 12 years of age, are 4-H club members, and carry on this project under the requirements set down for all 4-H club enrollers. In 1937 there were 1400 of them, largely in the upper-two-thirds of the state. They planted approximately 390,000 tree plants, July, 1938 two-thirds of which were seedlings. When seed- lings are planted in the open there is sometimes a heavy loss, hence a feature of the work this year was the establishing of transplant beds in which to grow trees to suitable size to plant in the open. Boys were provided instruction in the technique and care of transplant beds. The transplant bed results in a better utilization of tree plants, and so far as the boy is concerned is an educational feature. In furnishing trees, boys have been instructed in the importance of the woodlot, and the rela- tionship of trees to their home and farm. Tree conservation is home preservation; it is better land utilization. More emphasis was given this year to the selection of trees that were suitable to the nature of the work and the character of the soil upon which planting is done. The handling and planting of trees have a distinct advantage in carrying the message that trees cannot be ignored in the scheme of life on the farm. The young ranger signs a contract to use the trees for replenishing woodlots, planting waste places, rough untillable soil, hillsides, wind- break and shelter belts, but not for landscape purposes. The trees are furnished free by the Wisconsin Conservation Department. School Forests: A school forest is a tract of land owned by the school on which planting of trees and other for- estry and allied conservation practices may be carried on. It is a laboratory for teaching con- servation and the appreciation of nature by actual participation. There are 137 of these tracts of land owned by school districts with a total area of 10,720. In most cases the school authorities are using the school forests for the purposes intended. A few are inactive. As teachers become prepared to teach conservation with confidence, school forests are sure to in- crease, and the work on them is certain to be more effective. Three school districts acquired tracts this year— Shell Lake, Stevens Point and Montello. Thp State Conservation Department furnishes trees free to schools for planting on the tracts. About 250,000 tree plants were set out by pupils this year, most of them transplants. On some of Nine / . ^ ( I Young and old in this sparsely -settled coinmunity join the work on tree planting days. the school forests transplant beds were made to use what seedlings were received, the smaller transplants, and to provide the education the activity furnishes. Through the efforts of the State Extension Forester maps of over 100 of the school forest areas have been made. These maps provide information about tree cover, striking contrasts in soil types and typography, streams, trails, etc., and suggest general planting and working plans. On many of the areas the state forestry employees carry on some phases of the work that children could not do or that the boards find rather difficult to get done, such as plowing furrows for planting in rough areas and through brush. It is encouraging to have the chief Forest Ranger write all the area for- esters to give help and supervision on school forests. Planting work was done on 115 of the school forests involving approximately 10,000 pupils. The number of trees planted on each tract varied with the size of the pupils and the difficulty of planting. Some of the best work of the year was done on the Hay ward High School forest; Mauston High School forest; and Loana Public Ten School forest, while Marinette and Rusk counties carried on the greatest amount of work. Portage county established its first school for- est on an 80 acre tract near Plover. This tract is divided among 4 schools, each having its own area to develop. The land was donated by a citizen of Stevens Point. The forest was dedi- cated last fall, the Governor participating in the exercises. The interest created in this enterprise gives promise that many such areas will be dedi- cated to conservation education in this county. Boys in Vocational Agriculture: Many high school teachers of agriculture are involved in the school forest work, and many are responsible for the conduct of the work. These and many others have boys who are plant- ing trees on their farms. Forestry has become a part of the classroom instruction in agriculture. These teachers are responsible for carrying to many homes the gospel that farm and forestry go hand in hand. Because the teachers are trained in agriculture and have made close sup- ervision of the work done by boys an integral part of their responsibilities, the planting operations are especially successful. Forest Leaves Short Course Boys: Fifty-two boys took a five weeks course in tree values, and the essentials of handling woodlots and establishing windbreaks and shelter belts. Twenty-two of these boys received transplants in pursuance of this work. The class was taught by the writer. Children Have Big Year: Wisconsin observes conservation week. Thou- sands of children were equipped with scrap books that made it possible for them to identify native trees during the summer. Every scrap book owner is entitled to membership in the Wisconsin Junior Conservation League spon- sored by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. Information for the tree series was compiled by the conservation department forester. Thousands of trees have graduated from nur- series to planting sites. Wisconsin School Chil- dren's Forest of 1,240 acres, nine miles from Eagle River, now is about two years old. School children contributions paid for planting 108 acres of this tract to pines last year, averaging 898 trees per acre. This project, sponsored by the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation, and en- couraged by all conservation agencies but helped most actively by the federal forest representa- tives, will be continued under the program of "Four Pines for a Penny," and child contribu- tions will again add many acres to the forest plantation. Other Forms of Conservation Work: Besides tree conservation, our club activities included conservation of wild life, such as up- land game birds, song birds, wild flowers and soils. One or more of these were carried on as a project or were carried on along with other projects. In all 2000 club members were in- volved. The Conservation Department furnished pheasant eggs, and the children used the do- mestic hen to hatch them. Data are not com- plete about the number because county agents and leaders ordered direct from the game farm at Poynette, but conservative judgment would place the number at 10,000. Other activities: Camps: The Club Department assisted a{t 22 4-H camps last summer. At most of these camps conservation was presented, often stressed, but never neglected. The writer attended 12 of these A group of planters ready to go to work. July, 1938 Eleven • ', ', • ' 'i Young and old in this sparsely-settled coninninity join the work on tree planting days. the school forests transplant heds were made to use what seedlings were received, the smaller transplants, and to provide the education the activity furnishes. Through the efforts of the State Extension Forester maps of over 100 of the school forest areas have heen made. These maps provide information about tree cover, striking contrasts in soil types and typ()graj)hy, streams, trails, etc., and suggest general planting and working plans. On many of the areas the state forestry employees carry on some phases of the work that children could not do or that the hoards find rather difficult to get done, such as plowing furrows for planting in rough areas and through brush. It is encouraging to have the chief Forest Ranger write all the area for- esters to give help and supervision on school forests. Planting work was done on 115 of the school forests involving approxinuitely 10.000 pupils. The numlxT of trees planted on each tract varied with the size of the pupils and the difficulty of planting. Some of the best work of the year was done on the Hay ward High School forest; Mauston High School forest; and Loana Public School forest, while Marinette and Ixusk counties carried on the greatest amount of work. Portage county established its first school for- est on an oO acre tract near Plover. This tract is divided among 4 schools, each having its own area to dexelop. The land was donated by a citizen of Stevens Point. Vhv forest was dedi- cated last fall, the (Jo\ernor parlici paling in the (^xercises. The interest creal<'(i in this enterprise gises promise' that many such areas will be dedi- lated to conserxation t^ducation in this count). i^oYs L\ Vocational A(;rh:i i/n kk: Man) high school teachers ()f agricullure are involved in the school forest work, and many are responsible for the conduct of the work, rhese and iiiany othtMs base boss who are plant- ing tn'cs on their farms. Forestry has become a part of the classroom inslrucliorj in agricullure. Ihese teachers are responsible for carrving to many liomes tb(^ gospel thai farm and for<*slry go hand in hand. Bei ause the leacbers are trained in agriculture and ha\<' made close sup- ervision of the work done bv boys an int(^gral part of their responsibilities, the planting operations are especially successful. Ten f'ORKST LkAVES INTENTIONAL SFroMn PYPociTr. Short Cohrsk Roys: Fifty-two boys took a five weeks cours<» in tree values, and the essentials of handling woodlols and establishing windbreaks and shelter belts. Twenty-two of these boys received transplants in j)ursuance of this work. The class was taught by the writer. CiiiLDRiCiN Havk Rk; Ykar: Wisconsin observes conservation week. Thou- sands of children were equipped with scrap books that made it possible for them to id(Mitify native trees during the sunnner. Every scrap book owner is entitled to membership in the Wisconsin Junior Conservation League spon- sored by the Wisconsin Wildlife Federatio!i. Information for the tree series was compiled by the conservation department forester. Thousands of trees have graduated from nur- series to planting sites. Wisconsin School Chil- dren's Forest of 1,240 acres, nine jniles from Eagle River, now is about two years old. School children contributions paid for planting lOo acres of this tract to pines last year, averaging {)9c) trees per acre. This project, sponsored by the Wisconsin Garden Club Federation, and en- couraged by all conservation agencies but helped most actively by the federal forest representa- tives, will be continued under the program of "Four Pitu^s for a Peimy,'" and child contribu- tions will again add many acres to the forest plantation. Othkr Forms of Conservation Work: Resides tree conservation, our club activities included conservation of wild life, such as up- land game birds, song birds, wild flowers and soils. One or more of these were carried on as a project or were carried on along with other projects. In all 2000 club members were in- volved. The Conservation Department furnished pheasant eggs, and the children used the do- mestic hen to hatch them. Data are not com- plete about the number because county agents and leaders ordered direct from the game farm at Poynette. but conservative judgment would place the number at 10.000. Other activities: Camps: The Club Department assisted at 22 4-H camps last summer. At most of these camps conservation was presented, often stressed, but never neglected. The writer attended 12 of these I I I I A group oj planters ready to go to work. JiiLY, 1938 Eleven I > Pails with water for seedlings, handled by the girls; ''spuds" for making wedge-shaped holes, handled by boys, camps and made nature study his special respon- sibility as an approach to conservation. The third annual conservation camp held at Wiscon- sin Dells, September 9 to 12, inclusive, brought together 52 well selected conservation club mem- bers and leaders for 4 days of helpful instruc- tion and inspiration. The program was well balanced. A wide variety of conservation sub- jects were discussed and studied. A resort- hotel provided the facilities for the camp, and a Minneapolis business man, who is deeply inter- ested in conservation and possesses faith in youth, furnished the money, making possible at- tendance on the part of delegates without cost to them. Literature : Bulletins and other forms of study helps, per- tinent to the various projects, were furnished each club member. A library of bulletins giv- ing information on all phases of conservation was furnished each school having a school for- est, or enrolling for the "Afield with Ranger Mac" broadcasts. Nurseries: Rock county has established a county 4-H nursery on the County Farm, where Forestry Club members grow seedlings in transplant beds prior to planting on home farms. This nursery is cared for by the patient help during the sum- mer. Various broadleaf species are planted in this nursery for the woodlots of club members. This enterprise was started last spring. The County Farm, with patient-help to do much of the work, should be a splendid way to grow trees for planting throughout any county. The Hancock 4-H Club took the 14,000 seed- Twelve lings grown on the Hancock Experimental Farm and established transplant beds in the garden of the Club Leader, Mr. Parkin. These beds are examples of neatness, care, and growth. Talks: The writer gave 28 talks on conservation be- fore high school assemblies, teachers institutes, garden clubs and women's organizations. Radio — Afield With Ranger MAC: This is a series of radio talks on nature and conservation designed for students of the 6th to 8th grade level, given each week on Monday morning over radio station WHA. The talks are based on the outline for teaching conserva- tion provided teachers of the state and is in- tended to help teachers by presentation of perti- nent subject matter in a way that will arouse the interest of pupils. The broadcasts are used by a research committee of the General Education Board of the Rockefeller Foundation to study the effectiveness of radio in education. Over 550 schools enrolled in the series, involving 12,- 250 pupils. One day a week of the writer's time is devoted to this work of conservation instruc- tion by radio. Besides 22 other radio talks were given, one over a National hook-up. Plans for 1938 in Conservation: 1. Establish School Forests in Taylor and Lincoln counties and assist in carrying on the work in school forests now established. 2. Provide instruction, leadership and trees to 1400 farm boys as Junior Forest Rangers. 3. Extend the work in other phases of conser- vation besides forestry among club members to include 2500 lives touched. 4. Continue the work on radio, in camps and at meeting of adults. The conservation camp will be continued in 1938. 5. Encourage the establishment of little nurs- eries in farm gardens for the growing of broadleaf trees from seed gathered by the boys themselves. A Large Azalea An Azalea, commonly known as wild honey- suckle, Rhododendron Nudiflorum, measuring eleven feet, seven inches in height with a branch spread of eight feet, ten inches was located re- cently by District Forester E. F. Brouse. The plant has the form of a tree. It is growing near the Hopewell Forest Fire Observation Tower in Southern Berks County. The species usually is only three to five feet in height. Forest Leaves Larkland— The Tale of a Very Old Shoe By RALPH W. BERKY I WILL tell you the story of a very old Shoe, a Shoe that was never worn by any man, and yet one in which many boys and girls walk, and feed their minds and warm their hearts. Many, many years ago the Mennonites fled from Germany to the Province of Pennsylvania, in America, the Bechtels, and the Clemmers settled in Eastern Berks County. Here they cleared the wilderness from what was to be later named Butter Valley, and here, in the woodlands of Hereford Township, they left this old Shoe as a part of the woodsy landscape. Un- doubtedly some lone and wandering Indian used it as he gave good-bye to his beloved hunting ground, and some prowling bear may have sniffed at the scent of the departing red man's foot, in this very old Shoe. Seventy years ago, when James Bechtel Funk married Susanna Clemmer, the old Shoe, the greenest spot in Butter Valley, came into the possession of the Funks. "Father Funk," as he liked to be called, put corn and wheat in it, for it was a pretty big Shoe, and we are told that one of his boys, poking into it one Sum- mer's day, was chased by a black snake, the largest observed in all of the region. Twenty years ago, when Father Funk aban- doned his old Shoe in the woods to its own proclivities, never to be used by him again, he did not vaguely suspect that some day "Meadow Larks" would possess it and nest in it and grow in it. He may be assured however that the use will be full and the care of it lasting for the larks are as zealous and as persistent as some of our little neighbors, among them, the wren, and perhaps, a little more understandable, for you never can tell what a wren will do. A friend of mine kept her clothepins in a bag hung from a porch post. One Spring morning when she came out for her clothepins Jenny sassed her for butting in on the Wren's family affairs. Jenny won the battle and the bag. Now, this good friend of mine is disappointed because she cannot persuade Jenny to build in the fanciest box that she can post for her. The Butter Valley Meadow Lark, a species created Decem- ber 30, 1930, is composed of boys and girls ten to eighteen years old (Junior larks, six to ten), devoted to the study of nature, music July, 1938 and poetry. The larks are even more snooty than the wren. Of all the cozy clover fields and meadow lands about, he chooses instead to build in our very old Shoe, full of wasps, and bram- bles and snakes and boulders. As a bird, the Butter Valley Meadow Lark is very freakish but something more than the ordinary human perhaps — ^he has no feathers, and crawling creatures are not a part of the regular diet. He cannot soar on wings, yet he loves to roam through field and woodland; while his soul undeniably sings — and the eggs that he lays are dream eggs. He loves to seek other birds, but not to their harm, and to put- ter around nature's woody sprouts, and what better place could there be in which to lay some of his dream eggs than in our very old Shoe in the woods, and what greater joy could be his than to find that on hatching — perhaps the most highly prized baby which came into be- ing October 13, 1934, should prove to be a home, a temple in the wild wood, an arboretum created by supplementing nature's generous gift of plants — which he forthwith called Larkland. Believe it, the Butter Valley Meadow Lark never matures but keeps on dreaming, and dar- ing, and faring, and so never grows old. The opening words of his preamble read — and his is all preamble; he has no postamble— "I am a Dreamer of Dreams"— and a fireplace in the toe of our old Shoe would keep his feet warm, so he laid another dream egg, and hatched a fire place of lovely blue sand stone. But the larks might get lost in the old Shoe— for the heart of it is two-and-one-half acres big and the uppers are fashioned from two formidable mountainsides— before they ever found the fire- place, so a covey of trails was hatched, moss and leaf covered trails, winding through the laby- rinth of tulip and sumac in the leg of the Shoe, and through dewberry and smilax in the lin- ing thereof— fuzzy trails, with names feathery and fragrant with suggestion, like "Towhee," and "Tanager," and "Pennyroyal,"— trails lead- ing to mystery-filled nooks in the old Shoe, like "the Whittier Nook," a spreading sixty-foot white oak, set in a fringe of huckleberries and azaleas. If the whippoorwill may be looked upon as a bird of ill omen, then the "Meadow Lark" must Thirteen ^ II I > il H Pails with water for seedlings, handled by the girls: "spuds'' for making wedge-shaped holes, handled by boys. camps and made nalurc study his special respon- sibility as an approach to conservation. The third atinual conservation camp held at Wiscon- sin Dells, September 9 to 12, inclusive, brou;r Azalra An A/alca. commonh known as wild honey- suckle. Hhododcndron Nudiflorum. measuring ele\en feet, seven inches in height with a branch spread of eight feet, ten inches was located re- centl) b) District Forester E. F. Brouse. The j)lant has the form of a tree. It is growing near the Hopewell Forest Fire Observation Tower in Southern Berks Count). The species usually is ordy three to five feet in height. FoRKST Li:\v5:s I I Bx RALPH W. BLRK\ I I I WILL tell you the story of a very old Shoe, a Shoe that was never worn by any man, and yet one in which many boys and girls walk, and feed their minds and warm their hearts. Many, many years ago the Mennonites fled from (Germany to the Province of Pennsylvania, in America, the Bechtels, and the Clemmers settled in Eastern Bt'rks County. Here they cleared the wilderness from what was to be later named Butter Valley, and here, in the woodlands of Hereford Township, they left this old Shoe as a part of the woodsy landscape. Un- doubtedlv some lone and wandering Indian used it as he gave j^ood-bye to his beloved hunting ground, and some j)rovvling bear may nave snifl'ed at the scent of the departing red man's foot, in this very old Shoe. Seventy years ago, when James Bechtel Funk married Susanna Clemmer, the old Shoe, the greenest spot in Butter Valley, came int()^ the possession of the Funks. "Father Funk," as he liked to be called, put corn and wheat in it. for it was a pretty big Shoe, and we are told that one of his boys, poking into it one Sum- mer's day, was chased b) a black snake, the largest observed in all of the region. Twenty years ago, when Father Funk aban- doned his Old Shoe in the woods to its own proclivities, never to be used by him again, he did not vaguely suspect that some day "Meadow Larks" would possess it and nest in it and grow in it. He ma) be assured however that the use will be full and the care of it lasting lor the larks are as zealous and as ])ersistent as some of our little neighbors, among them, the wren, and perhaps, a little more understandable, for you never can tell what a wren will do. A friend of mine kept her clothepins in a bag hung from a porch post. One Spring morning when she came out for her clothepins Jemi) sassed her for butting in on the Wren's famil) affairs. Jenny won the l)atlle and the bag. Now. this good friend of mine is disappointed because she cannot persuade Jenny to build in the fanciest box that she can [)ost for her. The Butter Valley Meadow Lark, a species created Decem- ber 30. 19.S0. is composed of boys and jrirls ten to eighteen years old (Junior larks, six to ten), devoted to the study of nature, music ji lA. vy.\\\ and poetry. The larks are even more snooty than the wren. Of all the cozy clover fields and meadow lands about, he chooses instead to build in our very old Shoe, full of wasps, and bram- bles and snakes and boulders. As a bird, the Butter Valley Meadow Lark is very freakish but something more than the ordinary human perhaps — he has no feathers, and crawling creatures are not a part of the regular diet. He cannot soar on wings, yet he loves to roam through field and woodland; while his soul undeniably sings — and the eggs that he lays are dream eggs. He loves to seek other birds, but not to their harm, and to put- ter around nature's woody sprouts, and what better place could there be in which to lay some of his dream eggs than in our very old Shoe in the woods, and what greater joy could be his than to find that on hatching — perhaps the most highly prized baby which came into be- ing October 13, 1934. should prove to be a home, a temple in the wild wood, an arboretum created by supplementing nature's generous gift of plants — which he forthwith called Larkland. Believe it, the Butter Valley Meadow Lark never matures but keeps on dreaming, and dar- ing, and faring, and so never grows old. The opening words of his preamble read— and his is all preamble: he has no postamble— 'M ain a Dreamer of Dreams"— and a fireplace in the toe of our old Shoe would keep his feet warm, so he laid another dream ^^^.. and hatched a fire place of lovely blue sand stone. But the larks might get lost in the old Shoe— for the heart of it is two-and-one-half acres big and the uppers are fashioned from two formidable mountainsides— before they ever found the fire- place, so a covey of trails was hatched, moss and leaf covered trails, winding through the laby- rinth of tulip and sumac in the leg of the Shoe, and through dewberry and smilax in the lin- ing thereof— fuzzy trails, with names feathery and fragrant with suggestion, like "Towhee," and ^Tanager," and ^4Vnn)ro)al," -trails lead- ing to mystery-filled nooks in the old Shoe, like "the Whittier Nook," a spreading sixty-fool white oak, set in a fringe of huckleberries and azaleas. H the whippoorwill may be looked upon as a bird of ill omen, then the "Meadow Lark" must Thirteen I ■ ■' . II. Tn-<¥-?-NTT^T/^XT AT cproND F.XPOSURE it be regarded as a bird of good portent. As are many of nature's fold, he is given somewhat to signs, of which some seventy dainty ones have been hatched in different parts of the old Shoe- signs in white, and green with legends like: "Hemlock— State Tree of Pennsylvania. Also known as hemlock spruce, and spruce pine." "White Pine — Needles bluish green. Five clustered. Range, New Foundland to Manitoba and Iowa, and in moun- tains of Georgia." And who would ever think of looking for poetry in a Shoe? And yet it is not a far step without rubbing against poetry, about one half of the Larks' dream eggs hatching sign legends with poetry including Joyce Kilmer's "Trees," (in Rock Oak Tavern), and specially selected verses from Henry Van Dyke's "God of the Open Air." And the Butter Valley Meadow Larks have a penchant for collecting tree seeds, and for seeking out small trees, shrubs, and flowers for transplanting, and what happier thing could be done with them, than to feed them to the lusty little arboretum in our very old Shoe, and so every Spring you can see the Larks tucking pine, and oak, and hemlock into the Shoe. And so our very old Shoe keeps marching on, and its tale is never done. Its toe points West- ward, where one-half mile away Shelley's Point rises 1080 feet high — 400 feet above our old Shoe — but not enough to block its path, for al- ready there are mystic stirrings in the Meadow Larks, which may occasion them at any moment to lay eggs filled with trails to Shelley's Point, and beyond to Mt Penn, Reading; and Westward till they meet the great Appalachian Trail in the Blue Mountains fifty miles away. And in Larkland our Shoe holds a precious baby — a small baby — yes, but still a precious one — with over eighty species of trees, shrubs, and flowers in its lap, from which, like ribbons floating to the breeze, stream trails into the acres of woodland in which the old Shoe rests. And, perhaps best of all, in that lap — in our very old Shoe — are altars — shrines, vernal with peace, where one can rest and meditate, away from the crowded, noisy confusion of the day — there to feel drawn closer to God, and there in sweet communion with Him, beneath the open Sky, and in complete self-surrender, say: / will, I will, by Thy help, be true, dear Lord, To the Vision that Thou hast given me; To the Laws of Man, and to Thy Holy Word As pure as a Flower, and as trustful as a Tree, Fourteen Growing Wildflowers Commercially (Continued from Page 3) of our own native Lobelia. We have totally de- stroyed one of our most magnificent trees, the American Chestnut, with the importation of the Chestnut Bark Disease. We have spent millions of dollars studying how we can best grow hy- brids and rare hothouse plants and are com- pletely satisfied with our own total ignorance as to how to propagate or even properly transplant the daintiest of our native wild flowers which are so essential not only to the beauty of the land- scape but to the health and vigor of our trees. Many home owners have picked their residence sites amid towering trees and immediately tried to grow a carpet of thick grass as a lawn over the entire property without a single thought that before the real estate development started the grove of trees was a natural woodland, thick with many desirable shrubs. Spice Bush, Huckleberry, Dogwood, Azalea, beneath which grew ferns and a wide variety of wild flowers, all of which re- tained the falling leaves where they belonged and aided the magnificent trees in securing the proper nourishment which is so vital to them. The home owners find it difficult to understand why, when they purchased the land and proba- bly gave the trees the first proper pruning they ever received, the poor trees immediately started to go back. They do not seem to realize that the small amount of moisture from the short sum- mer showers during the hot weather is unable to penetrate to the sponge-like roots of the grass and that their priceless trees are actually dying of starvation. A pleasant surprise awaits these people when they learn that by restoring these trees to their natural environment their life can be prolonged many years. It takes from five to seven years to produce the average fern to a size where it is marketable, that it takes two years for trillium seeds to germinate, five years before we can be sure the plant is going to bloom, that it takes years and years to produce Holly Trees, Rhododendron, Kalmia, and even Dogwoods. Of course, we have many beautiful wild flowers and some shade-loving plants which are proba- bly not in the slightest danger of ever becoming extinct. Our Chickory is a beautiful sight and a bane to the farmers. It is a prolific producer of seeds and the plants thrive almost anywhere. The same is true of the Brown-eyed Susan and many other familiar plants of real beauty. Forest Leaves The Twin Purpose of the CCC (Continued from Page 2) tremendous amount of conservation work accom- plished by the Corps in such fields as forest planting, forest improvement, forest and park protection, park development, erosion control over large areas of farm lands, flood control and wild life preservation. The contribution of the Corps to the conserva- tion of natural resources in the United States and its insular possessions has been enormous. This contribution has been as widespread as it has been practical. During its five year life it has made a real beginning in the restoration of the damage caused by many generations to our nat- ural resources, a damage wholly thoughtless, wasteful, and even criminal — one might say — uncivilized. Waste and damage which only a pioneer nation, a nation blessed with untold natural wealth, could ever have survived. The job of the CCC has been to help to repair some of that damage and waste. I said the Corps has begun this work, and I mean that very literally. Large as the totals of work accomplishments of the Corps may loom, they are after all only a beginning. Among logical and proper and worth-while jobs ahead for the Civilian Conservation Corps, as I see them, are: Reforestation, Forest Protection, Wild Life Restoration, Soil Conservation, and Flood Con- trol. Reforestation. Much of our 138 million acres of barren, denuded, abandoned forest and sub- marginal farm lands can, with immense toil and time and money, be made green again with liv- ing trees. According to Federal foresters there are over 138 million acres of barren and partly stocked forest land, marginal and submarginal farm and pasture land and prairies in this country which might be growing trees and forests. Over the last five years Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees have planted seedlings over about a million acres of devastated and cutover forest lands. This represents more than a billion young trees. During the past ten years, 597,000 acres have been planted in all the national for- ests. Of this acreage, 502,000 was planted since the CCC was launched, largely by CCC en- rollees. That is encouraging for we have been reforesting wasted lands at the rate of slightly more than 250,000 acres a year. July, 1938 But in spite of the great impetus given to planting, a huge job remains to be done. For- esters estimate that trees should be planted on at least 26,000,000 acres of our remaining waste lands. To plant even a fraction of this acreage would require years of work by a Civilian Con- servation Corps of 250,000 to 300,000 men. Forest Protection. The biggest single contri- bution perhaps that the Corps has made during its first five years has been to forest protection. This covers the broad field of protection of forests from fire, insect and fungus attacks. This job received immediate consideration back in April 1933, and has occupied a large part of the Corps' attention since. The CCC enrollees have fought forest fire on a thousand fronts, and they have acquitted them- selves like men on this harrowing and dangerous assignment, winning the admiration and praise of seasoned rangers and woodsmen. Instead of being a third line of defense, as I had planned for them back in 1933, they have become the first line, and if available, are the first to be called on in case a forest fire starts. The unus- ually good fire seasons claimed by the National Forest and Park Services, as well as State For- estry Services, have been due essentially to the CCC boys. CCC enrollees have not only fought forest fires but by their mere presence in tim- bered regions, have held in check possible incen- diaries. The CCC must continue to aid in keep- ing down forest fires. Fighting forest fires is seasonal work, but the CCC has worked throughout the year on protec- tive improvements of every conceivable type, structures and facilities necessary in the detec- tion, reporting, reaching and extinguishing of forest fires. Truck trails and bridges, fire towers and lookouts, telephone lines, fire breaks, fire hazard reduction, water holes, guard cabins, are only some of these improvements and structures essential in a forest or park protection plan. The battle against bark beetles, pine beetles, elm beetles; white pine weevils, gypsy moths, and grasshoppers is not yet won, even though millions of acres have been covered; it will re- main a seasonal battle for some time to come, depending on climates and cycles. Twig blight, Dutch elm disease, blister rust and other tree fungus diseases are still with us. Twig blight is so far confined to the southwest, Dutch elm disease to a zone around New York City and in Indiana, but blister rust is in the white pines of New England, New York and Pennsylvania, the Lake States, in western white pine in Idaho, Washington and Oregon, and is Fifteen I I I I 1 m ; III m 11 now threatening the sugar pines of California. Here is much immediate work for many CCC boys. They can do it, for in the past five years they have done it on millions of acres. Wild Life Restoration. We have been as profligate with our wild life as with our other natural resources. Certain species have become extinct, others are approaching extinction. Wild life protection and restoration was considered more or less a fad, a hobby of a relatively few people. The CCC has, during its brief five years, done a lot to change these conditions and points of view. CCC funds helped buy the millions of acres now being improved and developed into big game refuges and migratory bird reserva- tions. And the CCC boys are doing most of this work of restoration. Again, we have only begun wild life restoration. We need to restore more marshes, to build more ponds and small lakes, to plant shrubs and plants for game food, to sow wild rice for duck feed, in order to give wild life a better chance in this country. And 1 am sure we will have no more sincere supporters of wild life restoration than the CCC boys who have learned by doing jobs to hasten that restor- ation. Soil Conservation. The four and a half million acres of our agricultural land totally destroyed by gullies can never be brought back. The billions of tons of our most fertile soils taken by erosion to the sea can never be re- trieved. We can only attempt to build up, pains- takingly and carefully through the years, what we have left. We can restore somewhat the mountain springs and headwaters of our water- courses by dams and retaining walls and the planting of trees and shrubs — jobs which the CCC is especially fitted to do. The Soil Conservation Service has tackled a big job — ^to help save some of the farm soils before farms and farm homes fall into the gul- lies. They have only made a beginning, for there is serious sheet erosion on over 190 mil- lion acres, and gully erosion on the staggering area of over 846 million acres. Flood Control. Great floods seem to have come to be the usual things with us. This is a real stigma on our efficiency, our foresight, our in- telligence. Dr Bennett of the Soil Conservation Service, estimated that the Mississippi flood of January 1937, carried away over 300 million tons of soil above Cairo, Illinois. The CCC has ever been ready and willing to help to the utmost on national emergencies. I am referring especially to big floods on which the CCC has proved again and again its sterling worth. It is right and proper that the boys should help on these emergency floods, in saving life and property, but I should like to see the Corps used much more on flood prevention, on work and efforts to ameliorate the heavy losses, by what has come to be known as upstream en- gineering. I made this statement in a talk be- fore the National Rivers and Harbors Congress in Washington on January 20, 1938: "There is a splendid field and a proper one for the Civilian Conservation Corps to engage in those types of upstream engineering which are a necessary part of the national problem of flood control. Small gullies in denuded mountains, bare, treeless areas that need again a forest cover, the building of small ponds and reser- voirs near the heads of the smaller tributaries of our great rivers — along with continued forest protection activities — would seem to me to be proper work for the Corps. This is especially true when one considered the type of workers in the Corps — young men full of interest and en- thusiasm for the outdoors who can be well taken care of in camps located in isolated mountain areas, individual projects small in themselves but extremely important as a part of the whole problem. Such types of work cannot be con- tracted for and moreover would have little or no appeal to older, more seasoned workers. "Flood control, we all know, is a long-range problem of public necessity. Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1936 has provided for measures of soil erosion prevention and reforesta- tion to supplement and complete the work of the Army Engineers. These 'upstream engineering' measures, as they may be called, aff^ord types of work, and under conditions, for which the CCC by its experience is admirably fitted. The Corps stands ready not only to help save lives in time of flood disasters, but to use its manpower to help curb their occurrences." I repeat that statement now for I strongly be- lieve that the Corps can perform no job more vital to our national life and future than to aid in carrying out the upstream engineering work under the Flood Control Act of 1936. Sixteen Forest Leaves m Our Program 1. The adequate protection of all Pennsylvania forests from Fire, Fungi, and Insecta. 2. The personnel of the Department of Forests and Waters to be chosen and reuined on a basis of efficient service only, in order to guarantee permanency of policy and continuity of action. 3. The management of the State forests so that they may supply the permanent needs of the people not only for continuous timber protection but also for recreation, hunting and fishing. 4. Greater co-operation between the departments of the State Government for protection of the beauty of the public lands. 5. Adequate biennial appropriations for the purchase, protection, and development of the State forests. 6. The education of the public, corporations, sportsmen, and forest land owners with respect to the value of our forests and the necessity for their development and proper utilization. 7. The planting of trees valuable for lumber on all waste and idle lands and the continued distribution of seedlings by the State. 8. The education of our children in forestry in both public and private schools. A love and appreciation of the forests tend to a better type of citizenship. 9. The establishment of town and county forests which will bring pure air, pure water, and recreation close to the centers of population. 10. , The preservation of the few remaining areas of virgin timber in Pennsylvania. I I THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Organized in 1886 306 COMMERCIAL TRUST BUILDING PHILADELPHIA, PA. I desire to support the activities of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association for the prcserya- tion and developmem of forest lands, and enclose a check for $ • ^ to cover membership for the ensuing year. One dollar of this amount is to pay for yearly sub^nption to Forest Leaves. MEMBERSHIP CLASSES Annual member $3.00 Club membership 5.00 Sustaining member 10.00 •ContributinK member 20.00 Life member 100.00 Perpetual member 250.00 •If paid for five consecutive years the person automatically becomes a life member. Name Address Date State Forest Leaves, the Association's magazine, is sent to mem- bers in all classes. Our program will be found on the inside back cover. FOREST LEAVES I I DEPT. OF FORESTRY LIBRARY i '-■■ \ ;5 ITI IF If', / <* •• y; OCTOBER 1938 « / .. ' »^ r« ■' VT' •» ■♦ « THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION til Hi ^ m \ 1 *( CONTENTS Cover Design— A Branch of Prime Holly Cover Photo from the J. Horace McFarland Co. Maryland's Certified Holly ^ Nelson H. Fritz Forest Protection by Mining Companies 3 Stanley Mesavage Editorials and Letters The Blue Mountain Wilderness ^ D. K. Hoch The Last Raft ' L. A. Luttrlnger, Jr. The "Old Thing" Controversy ^ - - - 13 THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Founded in June, 1886 Labors to disseminate information in regard to the necessity and methods of forest culture and preservation, and to secure the enactment and enforcement of proper forest protective laws, both State and National. Annual Membership Fee, Three Dollars One Dollar of which is for subscription to Forest Leaves Neither the membership nor the work of this Association is intended to be limited to the State of Pennsylvania. Persons desiring to become members should send their names to the Chairman of the Membership Committee, 306 Commercial Trust Building, Philadelphia. President— H. Gleason Mattoon Honorary P residents amvel L. Smedley Honorary Vice-President — Robert S. Conklin Vice-Presidents W. B. McCaleb Dr. E. E. Wildman Edward C. M. Kichards Francis R. Cope, Jr. Edward Woolman Secretary— "KV . B. McCaleb Treasurer— K. A. Wright, C. P. A. FOREST LEAVES PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Entered as aecond-class matter at the Post-Office at Wayne, Pa.. October 22. 1935. under the Act of March 3. 1879 Subscription $1.00 per Year Vol. XXVIII— No. 4 Wayne, Pa., October, 1938 Whole Number 291 Maryland's Certified Holly By NELSON H. FRITZ District Forester, Maryland State Department of Forestry WITH Christmas not many weeks away, the American public will soon be turning its thoughts to evergreen decorations for that signifi- cant annual celebration. The spruce, the fir, the pine, mistletoe, crowsfoot, laurel, and other ever- greens will once more take their traditional place during the holiday season. Topping the list, be- cause its use as a Christmas evergreen dates back to the time of the ancient Druids, will be that red berry-bearing, spiney leaved, evergreen member of the genus Ilex and family Aquifoliaceai— American Holly. Holly is fast disappearing from its original range that extended from Massachusetts to Flor- ida; from southern Indiana to the Gulf and west- ward through Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and eastern Texas. Vandalistic bar- Pile of Grade No, 1 Holly vesting methods combined with wasteful logging and other destructive agencies have to a great extent been responsible for its narrowing limits and decreasing abundance. Today the holly center for the entire eastern half of the United States is the Delmarva Penin- sula composed of Delaware, and the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland and Virginia. From this area during the brief period between Thanks- giving and Christmas is shipped some $400,000 worth of holly. The evergreen in this section has been termed "Green Gold" and is sold in crates as branch or spray holly or is shipped as wreaths. Most farmers and woodland owners have yet to realize that their forests hold an annual profit in holly and as with individuals everywhere, it is difficuh to organize them into an association that will ultimately give them control of the holly market, bring them a fair profit, and at the same time save the holly for posterity by guaranteeing a continuous supply. Abusive Cutting Methods What is wrong with the holly business today? Let us familiarize ourselves with the practices and procedures employed by some owners and most of the dealers with this crop of "Green Gold." J, It is the custom for dealers to go to a woodlot owner and buy his holly crop for the year. For this crop, he will pay as low as 40 cents a crate. Or, he will buy outright the entire crop by the acre; paying as low as $15.00 for five hundred acres of land from which the holly crop will be taken. This dealer supplies his own crates. These crates are standard 2' x 2' x 4', made of thin wood, and when packed, weigh from one hundred to one hundred twenty-five pounds. The dealer then ships this crated holly to a commis- sion man, who in turn sells the holly to florists, I I or other retailers, and these retailers in turn sell the holly to the public. The average price of holly on the market very seldom brings under $8.00 a crate from the retailer, who in turn en- deavors to make one hundred per cent profit on his investment, so that the public pays a tremen- dous price. When holly is a little scarce, it has brought as high as $14.00 a crate; that is. Grade No. 1 holly, or holly having a very deep green leaf and a good quantity of berries. From the time a contract is drawn up with a farmer or woodland owner, holly passes through four or five hands before the public receives it and each time an exchange is made, the price is advanced, but the farmer or woodland owner from whose trees the holly is cut receives practically nothing. After the dealer has bought the holly crop from the woodland owner or farmer, he enters the woods armed with a corn knife, a hatchet, or a saw, climbs to the top of the tree, and hacks the branches from the tree, letting them fall to the ground. From this huge pile at the base of the tree, he trims what he considers to be the best sprays and leaves the remainder to rot. The trunk of the tree is left as a naked shaft pointing skyward with innumerable butchered stubs where once the beautiful branches grew. A tree thus stripped requires fifteen to twenty years before any holly can again be cut from it — if the tree does not die. If this hogging continues, within ten to fifteen years there will be little holly left on the Eastern Shore of Maryland or in lower Delaware, or in fact in any of the States that permit such practice. Cases have been known where the dealers were not satisfied with butchering the branches from the tree, but have actually cut large thirty to forty-foot trees and then stripped them after they fell, leaving the naked trunk lying on the ground. This method is used by innumerable poachers who annually steal quantities either for direct selling or for wreath making. Forestry Department Supervises New Plan For the past four years, the State Department of Forestry in Maryland has conducted harvest- ing demonstrations for the benefit of farmers and woodland owners. A large tree of holly is scien- tifically harvested and proper methods are point- ed out. Under this system, a tree can be re- harvested within two years time and in the case of large trees, a crop can be taken annually. Working in connection with the Garden Clubs of America, who secure orders from dealers and private individuals, the State Department of For- estry endeavors to fill these orders with "certified harvested holly" in the following manner: The Department supplies cardboard boxes to those who certify to them they will properly harvest the holly. Such holly is then scientifically cut, packed, and presented for inspection to a State Department of Forestry official. If the holly passes inspection, the farmer is paid at the rate of $6.00 per crate. The box is then sealed and stamped with the Maryland State Department of Forestry Inspection Tag. This guarantees to the user good "certified harvested holly" No. 1 grade and also guarantees to the owners of the holly tree a fair price for his product. During the past four years this practice has spread. Of course such radical changes in har- vesting procedures and holly sale policies cannot be accomplished over night, but it is hoped that within a few years the movement will have grown to such an extent that those who have holly will (Continued on Page 14) Tivo 1 ^- ' Left: The vandal at work; Center: Results of vandalistic cutting; Right: Butchered trees vainly trying to make a come-back. Forest Leaves Some Observations on Forest Protective Practices on Mining Company Lands I I By STANLEY MESAVAGE THE quality and kind of mine timbers that will be available in the future is of vital con- cern to the Susquehanna Collieries Company as well as to other coal mining companies. Heavy lumbering on the lands followed by severe forest fires and later by soil erosion has reduced the productivity of the soils in the anthracite field, undeniably the most devastated section in Penn- sylvania. Drought has played havoc in this lo- cality as it has in many other sections of the country and has affected various species of trees valuable as mine timber. Forest insects and dis- eases have been assisted in gaining entrance into our forests by the scourges fire and drought. It is impossible to determine to what extent these insects and diseases will take their toll. Suffice it to say that mine timber badly diseased has a more limited utility than sound material. The same is true of insect-infested props. The chest- nut oak, commonly called rock oak, of great value as mine props, is one species for example attacked extensively by a disease that reduces its serviceability in the mines. In the year 1936 an investigation of the forest tree diseases and destructive forest tree insects was inaugurated to determine the prevalence of pests on the Susquehanna Collieries Company lands. Throughout the forested areas, dead and dying trees were noted and it was decided that an examination be made of the affected trees to determine what enemies might spread and devel- op-into serious proportions. Specimens of all insects were collected and submitted for identifi- cation to the several State and Federal agencies interested in this sort of work. Dead trees throughout the forest areas consti- tute a forest fire hazard of considerable intensity as well as present pretty strong proof that the general state of health perhaps is below normal. For that reason the destructive diseases and in- sects demand special attention in forest manage- ment. Since control measures were not practical from an economic standpoint, in many cases, the local residents were permitted to remove from company lands under "Forest Use Permit" regu- lations, any diseased or dead tree. In plantations it was possible to retard further October, 1938 spread of insects outbreaks by pruning and burn- ing the infested limbs, and in some cases the entire tree. Where trees, affected by a disease of secondary importance were noted, the primary cause was determined and control measures pre- scribed. In the oak forest type at Wolf Lake, a 25-year stand was treated; first through a "sani- tation" cutting to remove all the diseased and dy- ing trees, followed by a "release" and an improvement cutting — removing the inferior trees and species to the advantage of the good. Virginia pine, although of unproven value as mine props due to its uncertain lasting qualities, was found to harbor various insects. The Pine Leaf Miner, and the Pine Leaf Scale, had in some cases weakened the tree to the point where the Ips Engraver Beetle entered and killed the tree. Although the Ips species are secondary in importance, the primary cause had to be found. It is believed sulphuric fumes, in many cases emitted from burning rock and culm banks, had weakened the trees to the point where the beetle found the trees to be desirable hosts. Pitch pine, in 5-year forest tree plantations, was affected by minor insect and diseases such as the needle rust, fungi, White Pine Weevil, the Light-loving Grapevine beetle, and the Pine Shoot Moth. Following the 1938 spring growing season, several species of the pines were noticed to be forking. After examining closely it was found that the lateral buds, at the end of the terminal stem, had continued their growth while the ter- minal bud remained dormant, thereby causing a fork in the tree. The lateral buds, having grown two to three inches, became hardened during the same year and had an advantage in growth over that of the terminal during the following growing season. This hardening of the advanced growth had "pinched" out the terminal growth causing the fork. The species affected were the pitch, red and banks pine. An investigation and study is being made to work out control measures. At present there seems to be no assurance that the damage will not be recurrent. Some of the pitch pine in the plantations actu- (Continued on Page 15) Three '%^:k m or other retailers, and these retailers in turn sell the holly to the public. The average price of holly on the market very seldom brings under S8.()0 a crate from the retailer, who in turn en- deavors to make one hundred per cent profit on his investment, so that the public pays a tremen- dous price. When holly is a little scarce, it has brought as high as $14.00 a crate; that is, Grade No. 1 holly, or holly having a very deep green leaf and a good quantity of berries. From the time a contract is drawn up with a farmer or woodland owner, holly passes through four or five hands before the public receives it and each time an exchange is made, the price is advanced, but the farmer or woodland owner from whose trees the holly is cut receives practically nothing. After the dealer has bought the holly crop from the woodland owner or farmer, he enters the woods armed with a corn knife, a hatchet, or a saw, climbs to the top of the tree, and hacks the branches from the tree, letting them fall to the ground. From this huge pile at the base of the tree, he trims what he considers to be the best sprays and leaves the remainder to rot. The trunk of the tree is left as a naked shaft pointing skyward with innumerable butchered stubs where once the beautiful branches grew. A tree thus stripped requires fifteen to twenty years before any holly can again be cut from it — if ihe tree does not die. If this hogging continues, within ten to fifteen years there will be little holly left on the Eastern Shore of Maryland or in lower Delaware, or in fact in any of the States that permit such practice. Cases have been known where the dealers were not satisfied with butchering the branches from the tree, but have actually cut laree thirty to fortN -fool trees and then stripped them after the\ fell, leaving the naked trunk lying on the ground. This method is used by innumerable poachers who annually steal quantities either for direct selling or for wreath making. Forestry Department Supervises New Plan For the past four years, the State Department of Forestry in Maryland has conducted harvest- ing demonstrations for the benefit of farmers and woodland owners. A large tree of holly is scien- tifically harvested and proper methods are point- ed out. Under this system, a tree can be re- harvested within two years time and in the case of large trees, a crop can be taken annuall). Working in connection with the Garden Clubs of America, who secure orders from dealers and ])rivate individuals, the State Department of For- estry endeavors to fill these orders with "certified harvested boll)'' in the following manner: The Department su|)j)lies cardboard boxes to those who certify to them they will properly harvest the holly. Such holly is then scientifically cut. packed, and presented for ins|)ection to a State Department of Forestry oflicial. If the holly passes inspection, the farmer is paid at the rate of S6.00 j)er crate. The box is then sealed and stamped with the Maryland State Department of Forestry Inspection Tag. This guarantees to the user good "certified harvested holly" No. 1 grade and also guarantees to the owners of the holly tree a fair price for his product. During the j)ast four years this practice has spread. Of course such radical changes in har- vesting procedures and holly sale j)()licies cannot be accomplished over night, but it is ho})ed that within a few years the movement will have grown to such an extent that those who have boll) will (Continued on Pajie 14 ^ V . Tuo Lkft: The vandal at work; Centkr: Results of vandalistic cuttirif'^: Hl(;HT: Butchered trees vainly tryiny:, to make a ronie-hack. FoKKST LkAVES Some Observations on Forest Protective Practices on Mining Company Lands I I By STANLEY JMESAVACE THE quality and kind of mine timbers that will be available in the future is of vital con- cern to the Susquehanna Collieries Company as well as to other coal mining companies. Heavy lumbering on the lands followed by severe forest fires and later by soil erosion has reduced the productivity of the soils in the anthracite field, undeniably the most devastated section in Penn- sylvania. Drought has played havoc in this lo- cality as it has in many other sections of the country and has affected various species of trees valuable as mine timber. Forest insects and dis- eases have been assisted in gaining entrance into our forests by the scourges fire and drought. It is impossible to determine to what extent these insects and diseases will take their toll. SufTice it to say that mine timber badly diseased has a more limited utility than sound material. The same is true of insect-infested props. The chest- nut oak, commonly called rock oak, of great value as mine props, is one species for example attacked extensively by a disease that reduces its serviceability in the mines. In the year 1936 an investigation of the forest tree diseases and destructive forest tree insects was inaugurated to determine the prevalence of pests on the Susquehanna Collieries Company lands. Throughout the forested areas, dead and dying trees were noted and it was decided that an examination be made of the affected trees to determine what enemies might spread and devel- op into serious proportions. Specimens of all insects were collected and submitted for identifi- cation to the several State and Federal agencies interested in this sort of work. Dead trees throughout the forest areas consti- tute a forest fire hazard of considerable intensity as well as present pretty strong proof that the general state of health perhaf)s is below normal. For that reason the destructive diseases and in- sects demand special attention in forest manage- ment. Since control measures were not practical from an econojnic standpoint, in many cases, the local residents were |)ermitted to remove from cornj)any lands under ''Forest Use Permit" regu- lations, any diseased or dead tree. In ])lantali()ns it was possible to retard further 0(:t()hi:i{. l<)3i{ spread of insects outbreaks by pruning and burn- ing the infested limbs, and in some cases the entire tree. Where trees, affected by a disease of secondary importance were noted, the primary cause was determined and control measures pre- scribed. In the oak forest type at Wolf Lake, a 25-year stand was treated; first through a "sani- tation'* cutting to remove all the diseased and dy- ing trees, followed by a "release" and an improvement cutting — removing the inferior trees and species to the advantage of the good. Virginia pine, although of unproven value as mine props due to its uncertain lasting qualities, was found to harbor various insects. The Pine Leaf Miner, and the Pine Leaf Scale, had in some cases weakened the tree to the point where the Ips Engraver Beetle entered and killed the tree. Although the Ips species are secondary in importance, the primary cause had to be found. It is believed sulphuric fumes, in many cases emitted from burning rock and culm banks, had weakened the trees to the point where the beetle found the trees to be desirable hosts. Pitch pine, in 5-year forest tree plantations, was affected by minor insect and diseases such as the needle rust, fungi. White Pine Weevil, the Light-loving Grapevine beetle, and the Pine Shoot Moth. Following the 1938 spring growing season, several species of the pines were noticed to be forking. After examining closely it was found that the lateral buds, at the end of the terminal stem, had continued their growth while the ter- minal bud remained dormant, thereby causing a fork in the tree. The lateral buds, having grown two to three inches, became hardened during the same year and had an advantage in growth over that of the terminal during the following growing season. This hardening of the advanced growth had "pinched" out the terminal growth causing the fork. The species affected were the pitch, red and banks pine. An investigation and study is being made to work out control measures. At present there seems to be no assurance that the damage will not be recurrent. Some of the pitch pine in the plantations actu- (Continued on Pajie 15) Thre INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE I'ii? }l' 1 FOREST LEAVES Published quarterly by The PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Disseminates information and news on forestry and related subjects. PUBLICATION COMMITTEE E. F. Brouse, Chairman Samuel N. Baxter Dr. Rodney H. True Charles B. Cadwalader Philip A. Livingston The publication of an article in Forest Leaves does not necessarily imply that the views expressed therein are those of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association. Address all correspondence to Wayne, P^nna., or to the Editor, 306 Commercial Trust Building, Philadel- phia, Pa. Kindly notify us of any change in address. OCTOBER, 1938 A Conservationist's Utopia The Lehigh County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs is embarking on a vast conservation proj- ect of great promise. The Jordan Creek water- shed Northwest of Allentown totalling approxi- mately 75,000 acres has been abused and neg- lected for many years and as a result the inhabi- tants of the valley have suffered severely from the lack of water, from financial loss as well as the loss of the fertile top soil and in numerous other ways. Preliminary plans have been adopt- ed providing for the rehabilitation of the entire watershed: to maintain a more constant water level; to provide better game food and cover; to improve the holding capacity of the stream for fish life; to carry out up-stream engineering for flood control purposes; to induce and assist farm- ers and land owners to follow up-to-date prac- tices for the prevention of soil erosion; to refor- est unused lands embracing approximately 5000 acres and to construct a subterranean dam to pre- vent the sinking of the water in the creek during periods of drought. The work will be spread over a period of five years. Aside from the sportsmen's organizations, cooperation has been secured of the County Com- missioners, the Federal Government, farmers' or- ganizations, the State Fish Commission, the State Department of Forests and Waters, the business and civic clubs and others. The project ties in very nicely with the Trex- ler-Lehigh Park now in the process of develop- ment. E. F. B. Four Letter to the Editor Editor, Forest Leaves. Dear Sir: In Forest Leaves for July there are two arti- cles of especial interest — the editorial "Will We Cooperate?", and the address of Robert Fechner, Director, CCC. Before giving unqualified approval to turning loose untrained men in our forests, and even into our woodlots, would it not be wise to seriously consider statements made by Professor Fernald, presented at the Benjamin Franklin symposium, Friday, May 20th, 1938? Some extracts from his interesting address are here quoted. "Here is the most serious problem for those who regret the unnecessary destruction of our sensitive and retiring species of plants and ani- mals. For it has been too much the custom to overlook the fact that the oldest and most inter- esting of animals and plants are what I have called the fugitive aristocrats. These are the rare and ecologically most retiring and specialized species, and anything which upsets the equilibri- um to which, through millions and millions of years, they have become adjusted is fatal to them. The conventional planner of man-made land- scape and destroyer of Nature's equilibrium should have no place on any board which is to control the destinies of preserves for wild life. When I first knew eastern Massachusetts many public-spirited citizens gave freely to the state wild forest-lands for state reservations which were to be kept forever wild. All undershrubs were cleared out, destroying the nesting haunts of various native birds; the dead leaves, which supply the humus for many rare plants and the hiding places of many small animals, were raked up; and everything unwittingly done to make the areas forbidding to sensitive and retiring species. Then came the CCC! "Naturally, we cannot expect all so-called hu- man progress to be held up because Nature is in the way. Man's mastery over Nature is one of his proudest boasts. "The building of artificial ponds, roads, arti- ficial bridges, and artificial beaches and the plant- ing of introduced trees and shrubs is not conser- vation. It is just the opposite of true conserva- tion, for it upsets the natural equilibrium which had become established long before men, proud of a supposed resemblance to God, came to ruin it. True conservation leaves Nature uninjured, and the true conservationist is a lover of un- (Continued on Page 16) Forest Leaves The Blue Mountain Wilderness By D. K. HOCH IN these days when stress is everywhere being laid on parks, when community, state and na- tion are becoming more and more park-minded, a story telling about a rather unique movement in Berks County, Pennsylvania, might be of interest. Here a part of the community has conceived the idea of conserving the Blue Mountain, which forms the northern border of the county. The organization which fosters this movement is known as the "Blue Mountain Wilderness Asso- ciation." It has been incorporated by the Berks County Courts. It is composed chiefly of mem- bers of the Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club, largely men from the City of Reading and envi- rons, which organization has opened the Appa- lachian Trail from the Lehigh River to the Sus- quehanna River and has had opportunity to ob- serve conditions on "the mountain." The object is to acquire mountain land, pro- tect it from the ravages of fire and from the thoughtless woodman's ax, and so to permit it to return to its original wilderness state. Time was when the wilderness was considered a nuisance, when man felt it his duty to destroy it — to get rid of it and the creatures that inhabit it as soon as possible. In a measure this was right. When the pioneers reached our shores their one purpose was to establish homes. If they would do this then their first task was to get rid of the wilderness and they proceeded to do so. Had they done less we would today not have our beautiful productive farms. However, like in many things, man carried this movement too far. He kept on destroying the wilderness long after such action was no longer necessary. He is still doing it. By following out this plan he has unbalanced Nature. The wilderness floor, which is a natural sponge, is designed by Nature to store water. When the Blue Mountain was in its natural wil- derness state it stored up an abundance of water, so that the Indians called it "The place of a thousand springs." Man kept on cutting down the trees again and again; fire destroyed the undergrowth as well as the trees. Nature constantly struggled to recover herself but was unable to do so with sufficient rapidity. As a result the mountain has suffered terribly. The hillside can no longer retain the October, 1938 water. Consequently erosion has done its work. Moreover, the wild creatures of the mountain wilderness have lost their homes and so some species have become practically extinct and oth- ers have wandered elsewhere. These creatures are the friends of the nearby farmer, for their preferred diet is weed seeds, in- sects, rodents and vermin so destructive to the crops. Thus Nature having become unbalanced, the farmer and the city dweller as well must go to great trouble and expense to secure an adequate supply of pure water. The farmer is suff^ering more and more from the ravages of insects and vermin, for the creatures of the wild, which were intended by Nature to keep them in check, are no longer here to play their part in the scheme of things. For a long time there has been a misconception as to many of the creatures of the wild. Since the days of our earliest ancestors the hawk was looked upon as man's enemy because, forsooth, he occasionally catches a chicken. Now it is rec- ognized that on the whole he is man's friend, for he catches many field mice and other crop de- stroyers. Scientists tell us that for every chicken that the hawk steals he consumes half a hundred field mice. If this be but half true he is still man's friend and benefactor. The fox, too, has been more sinned against than sinning. He, too, occasionally catches a chicken, but those who observe closely insist that field mice are his preferred diet and that grass- hoppers are regarded by him as a choice deli- cacy. They insist that, like the hawk, he does much to combat the farmer's enemies. Other creatures of the wild are similarly useful. As man realizes more and more the worth of wild animals he is less and less inclined to destroy them nor yet the wilderness where they make their home. All this has been forcibly impressed upon those who make up the Wilderness Association and it is the purpose of this organization to ac- quire as much mountain land as possible with a view of bringing back the mountain wilderness. In no way will Nature be interfered with; noth- ing artificial will be introduced. It is agreed that if Nature is given a chance she will restore (Continued on Page 15) Five '.', I I ^,r><::> i\i Photo by Lawrence A. Long The Raft Crashes Against the Muncy Railroad Bridge The "Last Raft" By L. A. LUTTRINGER, JR. Illustrations Courtesy Pennsylvania Game News Photo Harrisburg Evening News tt « The Raft Shooting the Rapids at Rocky Bend TIM-BER-R-R-R! Amidst the echoing crash of a giant white pine in a remote section of Pennsylvania's forests was launched the opening chapter of an idealist's dream. The dreamer, R. Dudley Tonkin, last of an old lumbering family which settled near the headwaters of the Susque- hanna's west branch over a hundred years ago, wanted above all else to commemorate that his- toric event, as well as his own fiftieth year in the lumber business. -At last he hit upon the very solution to his problem. Why not, he soliloquized, build a raft, get a crew of old time rivermen to man it, and float it down the river to Harrisburg in the same manner the old timber rafts of a half century ago were floated down? What better way, he thought, to uphold the traditions of that great pioneer in- dustry which contributed so much to the advance- ment of our Nation? What more fitting tribute to pay to the courage, heroism, sacrifice, suffer- ing and hardship exemplified and endured by the early-day raftsmen, most of them long since de- parted, and to the dwindling army of those who still live? When the first great tree fell under the guiding hand of Levi "Bud" Connor, when one after an- other of the white pine giants also fell, they were dragged by team over snow-covered trails to the river's edge and hewn and bowed together. The raft was 112 feet long and 28 feet wide, made in three platforms. People who beforehand had scoffed at the idea, who felt that Mr. Tonkin and his companions were chasing a will-of-the-wisp, began to think differently. Interest grew rapidly. Soon the countryside near Cherry Tree, Burn- side, Bellnap and McGee's Mills became a mecca for the curious. The news spread, hundreds of people visited the scene of operations to watch the construction of the "last raft.'] As it neared completion the event was given widespread pub- licity. The eyes of the Nation were focused on that one little spot in Pennsylvania's woodland. Engrossed in their labor, sponsor and crew perhaps never realized the full extent of their undertaking. They may or may not have had a vision of the excitement that memorable day, the V 14th of March, 1938, would cause; when amidst cheering thousands the trim little craft, her fore and aft crews at the long, perfectly balanced sweeps, was expertly maneuvered into the turbu- lent waters. Down the river swept the intrepid crew and a Seven I I II tkm I I i^ Photo h\i Lawrevce A. Long The Raft Crashes Against the Muncy Railroad Bridge The "Last Raft" By L. A. LITTRINGER. JR. Illustratiuns Courtesy Pennsylvania Game News '^r-*^*'"^ v- Vhoio Harrisbury Kvening News The Raft Shooting the Rapids at Rocky Bend I^IM-HKK-R-K-K! Amidst the echoing crash of a giant white pine in a remote section of IVnns) Ivania's forests was launched the opening chapter of an idealist's dream. The dreamer, R. Dudley Tonkin, last of an old lumhering family which settled near the headwaters of the Susque- hanna's west branch over a hundred years ago, wanted above all else to commemorate that his- toric event, as well as his own fiftieth year in the lund)er business. At last he hit upon the very solution to his problem. Why not, he soliloquized, build a raft, get a crew of old time rivermen to man it, and lloat it down the river to Harrisburg in the same manner the old timber rafts of a half century ago were floated down? What better way, he thought, to uphold the traditions of that great pioneer in- dustry which contril)Uled so much to the advance- ment of our Nation? What more fitting tribute to pav to the courage, heroism, sacrifice, suffcM- iiig and hardship exemplified and endured by the early-day raftsmen, most of them long since de- parted, and to the dwindling army of those who still live? When the first great tree fell under the guiding hand of Levi "Bud" Connor, when one after an- other of the white pine giants also fell, they were dragged by team over snow-covered trails to the river's edge and hewn and bowed together. The raft was 112 feet long and 28 feet wide, made in three platforms. People who beforehand had scoffed at the idea, who felt that Mr. Tonkin and his companions were chasing a will-of-the-wisp, began to think differently. Interest grew rapidly. Soon the countryside near Cherry Tree, Burn- side, Bellnap and McGee's Mills became a mecca for the curious. The news spread, hundreds of people visited the scene of operations to watch the construction of the "last raft." As it neared completion the event was given widespread pub- licity. The eyes of the Nation were focused on that one little spot in Pennsylvania's woodland. Engrossed in their labor, sponsor and crew perhaps never realized the full extent of their undertaking. They may or may not have had a vision of the excitement that memorable day, the 14th of March, 1938, would cause; when amidst cheering thousands the trim little craft, her fore and aft crews at the long, perfectly balanced sweeps, was expertly maneuvered into the turbu- lent waters. Down the river swept the intrepid crew and a Seven / I I I ' I INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE i^4 I small group of official passengers. School chil- dren were allowed on the raft at all tie-ups, and many were the books and papers the members ot the crew and passengers autographed. Howard Stewart, former member of the State Game Commission, acted as commentator when the raft landed at Clearfield, and amidst a rous- ing welcome from several thousand people it came safely to rest along shore at the upper end of the city. Mr. Tonkin and some of the old timers were induced to say a few words over the microphone, all of which brought tremendous cheers from the spectators. The Mayor and other dignitaries spoke, the school band played, and the first leg of the journey was properly and thoroughly celebrated. Next morning at 7:00 A. M., amidst another large gathering, the raft left its mooring, shot over the Clearfield dam in fine shape, and pro- ceeded on its winding and picturesque course to Karthaus. It rained part of the day, but the downpour was forgotten in the excitement and enthusiasm of the voyage. Mr. W. W. Wrigley of Clearfield, well-known merchant and sportsman, and his daughter made the trip from Clearfield to Renovo, along with many other interesting persons whose names are mentioned here and there throughout this article. Just as we left Clearfield two daring young men, who missed connections when we embarked, jumped onto the raft from the railroad bridge, one spraining his ankle badly, the other barely making it. He was within an inch of going over- board. The former, a young chap by the name of Carl Fox, later became the cookee's helper. No one has any idea of the beauty or magnifi- cence of our forests unless he travels by water along the winding courses of our mountain streams. For miles one heard nothing but the rippling of the water on the sides of the raft, or the roaring of the rapids as we shot through them at ever-increasing speed. We were due to land at Karthaus that evening but experienced difficuUies in snubbing the raft to a suitable tree. The current was swift and as a result we were forced to tieup at Salt Lick Landing, two and a half miles below at five- thirty. From there some of the party hiked back to town along the railroad while others, myself included, awaited the arrival of trucks from over the mountain. At the hotel that evening young Fox became extremely ill from his swollen ankle and had to be taken to the local doctor for treatment. The cook stayed on the raft all the time to guard it Eight I '€"' # lAi.:! ' t r* ks:'^ ,.„,«^0^mj^m ((#****^ ^^mmn Before the crash. The ill-fated raft entering the their lives in the icy waters oj t against souvenir hunters, who at Clearfield the nTght before had gotten away with practically all the kitchen supplies, including knives and forks, salt and pepper shakers, napkins, etc. We left Salt Lick Landing at 8:20 the morning of March 17, and shortly after went through the famous Buttermilk Falls and the Cataracts. Our destination that day was Renovo, and we made it in good time, stopping only once, at Keating, at noon. The second day's run also was extreme- ly picturesque although a drizzling rain discour- aged our photographic ambitions. To break the monotony, the crew and passen- gers sang a great deal. There was much good- natured banter, passengers had time to become better acquainted — in fact almost like old friends. Mock trials were held, and much other amusing entertainment was furnished by the more talented members of the party. The women who made the trip are to be highly commended for putting up with the many discomforts they had to endure, but they were good sports, all of them. The most photographed individuals on the raft were the members of the crew, but old Harry Connor, the pilot, and Bud Connor, the man who superintended the building of the raft, came in for more than their share of photographic laurels. All the way, even through remote, heavilv wooded sections, little groups of people, many of them having tramped many miles to the river s edge, called to us from Ijridges, from stream banks, hilltops, etc. One of the episodes which brought more forci- bly to my mind than anything else the deep senti- ment the trip inspired was when the raft passed Forest Leaves Photo by John Bain \Chute. Seven members of this cheerful company lost shortly after this picture was taken, the spot where one of the passengers, Mr. Tozer, an old riverman from Tyrone, lost his father years before when he fell from a raft and drowned. Another remarkable thing to me was the ease with which Harry and Bud Connor, and some of the other old lumberjacks, recognized and named familiar landmarks. One thing about the scenery from Karthaus to Renovo which inspired me more than anything else were the beautiful stands of white pine and the thick growth of rhododendron along the stream banks. We saw very little wildlife, in fact only one porcupine atop a tree, a fawn deer, several wild ducks, quite a few migrating geese and a gray squirrel. The majestic mountains, rising almost verti- cally from the water's edge, presented a magnifi- cent spectacle, and we all prayed for sunshine so that we could register those marvelous beauties of nature on our film, but the day remained dull . and somber. Nevertheless, we took many pic- tures. At times the railroad paralleled the river, and on more than one occasion we were saluted by the whistle of an engine, while the engineer and fireman waved jovially at us from the cabin. The arrival at Renovo was something to re- member. School children by the hundreds clam- ored to board the raft and Mr. Tonkin ultimately agreed to let them on in small groups. We al- most wore our arms out signing autographs. Everything in the town was free to the crew that night, and several of us enjoyed a movie as though it was the first time we ever saw one. We left Renovo at 8:10 the morning of the 18th, and arrived in Lock Haven at 3:30 that af- OcTOBER, 1938 ternoon. It was a nice though not quite as inter- esting a run from the standpoint of scenic beauty. As we approached Lock Haven we were met by the Mayor and other city officials in a police boat. Some place up the river we picked up an ac- cordion player who kept us wonderfully enter- tained all the way to Lock Haven. A gentleman by the name of Mr. Kepler, who rode from Renovo to Lock Haven with his little three-year- old daughter, took the limelight for awhile when he got the little girl to tap dance. As we neared Lock Haven we also were met by a number of airplanes which threatened at times to take the roof off the cabin — or so it seemed. Motorboats, rowboats, canoes and other craft followed as we neared the mooring point. Thou- sands were on hand to greet us. That night the Chamber of Commerce held a big banquet in honor of Mr. Tonkin and the crew. I made notes of some of the speeches because I thought they contained some of the finest tributes to the old- time lumbermen and rivermen I ever heard, or expect to hear again. Unfortunately my note- books were lost in the subsequent crash and my memory is not capable of having recorded the remarks properly. At the culmination of the banquet the Mayor turned over the keys to the city carte blanche. Shooting the Lock Haven dam, a five-foot drop, was our most hazardous passage and only the crew and several officials were permitted on the raft. I sat, as usual, on the roof of the shanty and got some fine motion pictures of the whole thing. The nose of the raft edged outward over the dam quite some distance, then dipped hard. Old Harry Connor, Chief Pilot, stood on the front like a general, the water swirling around him up to his knees. The run from Lock Haven to Williamsport was probably the most uneventful part of the trip. However, the scenery was beautiful. There was a noticeable widening of the stream, the country was more open generally, and the moun- tains were not nearly so abrupt nor so high. I missed getting a picture of one of the most unique rock formations I ever saw along the river above Jersey Shore. At one point along the route several large flocks of wild geese in perfect formation circled the raft apparently trying to get their bearings. I stood behind and to the side of the American flag which was flapping in the breeze on the prow and managed to get a beautiful picture of a large flock seemingly coming out of the flag's folds. Unfortunately, this picture went to the bottom Nine • I I m TIGHT BINDING i; 1 » along with my other equipment when we later crashed at Muncy. From Lock Haven to Williamsport we saw more and more people along the stream banks and at some points on the highways traffic was badly congested. Bridges, as heretofore, were packed with humanity, and many were the gibes which were flung at us as we passed under them. When we hit the slow water between Jersey Shore and Williamsport we were razzed in earnest, for we were barely making two miles an hour. Fur- thermore, the sun shone brightly, the afternoon was extremely hot, and most of us were pretty badly scorched — quite a contrast to the first cou- ple of days when it was so cold, rainy and blustery. As we neared Williamsport we were met by various individuals in power boats, rowboats and canoes, many of whom rowed from shore, tied to the raft and floated down with us. The Mayor and members of the City Council visited the raft twice in their police launch, once to extend a welcome, and the other to find out what was hold- ing us up. We were due to land in the city at five o'clock, and practically every person in town had turned out to see us, but it was almost eight when we finally snubbed in at the foot of May- nard Street. As it grew dark the number of cars on the highways along the river were so numerous and so close together that their headlights formed what appeared to be a long ribbon of light ex- tending for miles in either direction. The police launch finally towed us the last five miles into the city. ^At Williamsport Bud Greenwood, son of the State Game Farm Superintendent located at Loy- alsockville, not far from the city, was on hand with some new films I ordered and an invitation to spend the evening with him. He later extend- ed that invitation to Frank Stevens, the Boy Scout who officially carried the auger from Clearfield to Lock Haven, and with whom I struck up quite a friendship, so we both accepted. Next morning Bud took us back to the raft, and I gave him my 16mm. movie camera and Photo Harrishurff Evening News Levi "Bud^^ Conner, builder of the raft; T, J. Fae, one of the old timers, and R. Dud- ley Tonkin, sponsor of the trip. Ten Forest Leaves told him to take a picture of us going through the Williamsport chute from the shore so I could have it from both angles. I was going to take a picture from the roof of the cabin. I got a good one but lost it when we crashed. He got a dandy, however, for which I am thankful. After we went through the chute we tied up below to take on passengers. From there we started toward our next destination, which I un- derstood was to be Northumberland or Sunbury. We hit up speed soon after we left Williams- port. Just a short time before, however, the Sea Scouts who accompanied us, and one or two other young men who had boats, volunteered to pick up a little firewood. A load cut to stove lengths was supposed to have been delivered at Williamsport but it failed to arrive. The fire- wood which the boys gathered consisted of old logs ranging anywhere from six to ten inches in diameter and from three to five feet in length and some forked tree limbs about six inches at the base and tapering off into a few inches at the broken tips. This refuse was piled up on the back of the raft near the cabin — our life preserv- ers as we learned later. Everything progressed serenely that morning, and the only excitement we had was when the raft scraped the side of one of the piers of the highway bridge a mile or two above Muncy. I remember I was sitting in front of the cabin talk- ing to Dr. Charles F. Taylor, of Montgomery, about a sportsmen's meeting to be held the com- ing Thursday at Williamsport when the incident occurred. There was some excitement getting a trailing rowboat up on the raft to keep it from being smashed against the pier. It was not long after that, in fact but a few moments, when we approached the Muncy rail- road bridge, which was jammed with people — and I heard Ord Tonkin yell from the top of the shack that we were going to hit one of the piers. I noticed the men at the front oar working franti- cally as we approached the channel between two of the abutments but realized we could not make it and that we would probably hit head on. Instinctively everyone assumed some defensive position although in the sudden shock of realiz- ing we were about to hit no one apparently paid any attention to anyone else's movements. I ran through the cabin to the back of the raft and braced myself but the impact sent me to my knees and I remember getting my trousers wet. I stood up immediately and looked around. Everything seemed all right and I assumed it would be but a moment before we were clear of the pier. However, the current caught the back end and started swinging it downstream, but the distance between the piers being much shorter than the length of the raft the first thing we knew it smashed broadside into the pier to our right. The impact nosed the front end down, catapult- ing almost everybody into the icy waters. Things happened so quickly thereafter, that my recollections are all too hazy. I remember going over, coming up, and swimming a short distance to a piece of driftwood. I also remem- ber someone making futile grabs for my shoul- der, catching once or twice and almost pulling me down. However, this individual, whoever it was, also succeeded in getting hold of a piece of firewood. Floating very rapidly in the strong current, I ultimately drifted into three other individuals clinging desperately to a comparatively small piece of tree limb. Two of them I recognized in- stantly as being rear oarsmen, Mr. Sunderland and Mr. Dunlap. The other man I recognized as a passenger, although I had forgotten his name. My support added a little bit more to that of the others and by keeping very quiet and virtually holding our breath we managed to keep afloat until we were rescued. We floated well over a half-mile before we were picked up. As we drifted downstream I thought of trying to make shore but soon realized the futility of such a foolhardy effort. The shore was too far off, the current too swift and my legs were too numb with cold. Furthermore, all of us were gradually weakening from shock and strain. I doubt very much if we could have held out much longer. Mr. Sunderland had gone overboard with his rafting axe which he managed somehow to imbed in the debris he was hanging on to. I recall Mr. Dunlap's asking me to pull it out and I yanked at it but the old gentleman protested so much that I stopped. Thinking any moment that the debris would break apart or that someone in his weakened con- dition would become frantic, I attempted to re- move my galoshes and succeeded in getting the left one off by careful and slow manipulation. I could not get the right one off, however, or I hadn't until a boat came to our aid. ^ As we floated farther and farther away those drifting around us who were gradually becoming exhausted started yelling for help and that they were drowning. I remember seeing Mr. John Bain and his wife and Mr. P. J. Strunk off to my right and below me a short distance. They were '.'. Ill October, 1938 Eleven II in a bad way, although Mr. Strunk, being much younger, managed to keep the trio together very nobly. To my left also farther down and apparently well-nigh exhausted, was John Connor, the head oarsman of the front sweep. He was floatmg very low, chin barely sticking out, a suggestion which he yelled to us to follow. We did and rode the water a lot easier after that. When we first started to drift away from the bridge no boats were in sight. When we were about a quarter of a mile away we saw one or two boats rescuing those near the raft and by the time we reached our point of rescue we saw a half-dozen boats. Where they came from so quickly is a mystery to me. I remember a young fellow in a yellow boat picking us up— I learned later that his name is Frank Smith, of Muncy— and I was dragged over the side. The others hung on the sides. A son of the passenger floating with us also drifted into our party toward the end, making a total of five clinging to that small driftwood support at the end of our rescue. It took Herculean efforts to get that boat to shore, and it drifted downstream quite a distance before the oarsman finally made it. I remember asking him to let me row, tell- ing him I was almost frozen, but he told me to stay where I was. When I left the boat and tried to scramble up to shore I couldn't stand up, and a young fellow who was supporting John Connor just a few yards ahead of me took the two of us, staggering, up to a farm house where our clothes were pulled off of us quickly. Blankets were thrown around us and we were given stimulants and put to bed with hot water bottles at our feet. Fortunately two doctors were in attendance and they saw to our needs con- stantly. As soon as our condition permitted we were wrapped in blankets again, carried to cars and taken to the Hotel Stover, at Muncy, where we were again placed in bed and given more stimulants. I had lost everything, cameras, equipment, films, etc. The cook salvaged all the films and placed them on the bank after the raft was snubbed following the accident — several cans and square boxes of movie film and a number of 4x5 film packs, but souvenir hunters took all of them but one movie film which Mr. J. S. Ferman, veteran woodsman and member of the party, picked up. Fortunately I had mailed all my movie film exposed between Clearfield and Ren- Twelve ovo into Philadelphia from Renovo or it too would have been lost. The one thing that impressed me more than anything else was the efficient manner in which the farm people along the riverside administered first-aid. I was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. V. S. Fenstermacher, where all the men and women joined hands in making everybody com- fortable. I remember particularly the efficiency of Dr. J. E. Spalding and Dr. Sarah Hall of Muncy, and Mrs. Blanche McCarthy. Other riv- erside residents rendered just as efficient service to other survivors. The officials at the Hotel Stover and local as well as imported nurses likewise deserve much credit. The Sea Scouts, true to the ideals of their organization, rendered noble service in rescuing people close to the raft immediately after it struck. All in all the services rendered in all capacities more than ever cemented my faith in human nature. The day following the accident I revisited the scene running a veritable gauntlet of State Motor Police who had already been officially organized, had their wireless up, and were helping super- vise local residents and others in dragging for the bodies of the victims, six of which were still missing. One man was dead from shock when they took him from the water. Mr. Gordon Krieble and I went down to the raft and made a further search for films, but didn't find any. We then proceeded to Harris- burg where subsequently I took a severe bron- chial cold and other complications from shock and had to convalesce for over a week. In the meantime, the raft came all the way down. Bud Connor, Mr. Sunderland, and Claude FuUon, the cook, being the only original crew aboard. They and Mr. Bain came to see me soon after the raft landed above Harrisburg. I had the last part of the voyage recorded by Mr. Krieble. All bodies of the victims were found although some were in the water several weeks. Dragging, blasting, diving, and many other practical meth- ods of bringing the bodies to the surface have been employed, and it was believed that some were caught fast to debris at the bottom of the river, or around some of the old submerged piers, a number of which I understand still remain. In closing this narrative I wish to pay tribute to those who lost their lives on that ill-fated day of March 20. It was a sad climax to a noble undertaking. If we but understood the workings (Continued on Page 16) Forest Leaves Top: Box huckleberry (gaylussacia brachy- cera) at LosKs Run, Perry County, Left: A branch of box huckleberry. Let's Have An "Old Thing'' Controversy The oldest growing thing in the world is a little shrub in Pennsylvania, the box huckle- berry (Gaylussacia brachycera), not the mighty redwoods of California, nor the im- mense cypress of Mexico. The redwoods may be 4,000 years old, the ancient cypresses 5,000 to 9,000, but botanists say the tiny shrub on Losh's Run, Perry County, thirty miles Northwest of Harrisburg, discovered in 1920, has been 12,000 years growing to a height of ten inches. It is a half-hardy ever- green, inhabitant of South American moun- tains, growing from Pennsylvania to Virginia in this country. — Southern Lumberman. t Maryland's Certified Holly (Continued from Page 1) be able to cope with dealers in such a manner that they will demand from the dealer who buys their holly that it will be properly harvested and that they will receive a fair price for it. We have hundreds of letters commending the stand the Department has taken and also numerous letters from those who have purchased this "certified harvested holly." The Department has adopted boxes of 3 sizes, the small one, 12 x 12 x 24'' containing enough holly to decorate a small house; the medium size, 16 X 16 X 24" enough holly for a large house; and the larger size box, 24 x 24 x 24", equaling one-half a standard crate for dealers or for large organizations. A lot of dealers jest at this "certified or scien- tific harvesting procedure" and state that if they are not allowed to cut holly as they always have the trade will go to Virginia and to the Caro- linas where it can still be bought at a ridiculous- ly low figure and cut without restriction. That may be true, and Maryland, for a few years, would lose a good portion of the industry, but when, through careless cutting methods the crops of these neighboring states are eliminated, where then will the dealer turn? He will have to come back to Maryland where the holly has been con- served. The woodland owner then can demand a fair price. The holly wreath industry reaches an enor- mous size on Maryland's Eastern Shore and yet these wreaths, made by hundreds of individuals who seek a little Christmas money, bring ap- proximately four cents apiece when sold on the block. Individuals who know the game, take their wreaths direct to New York and receive wholesale thirty-five cents apiece. Holly Is Cut Early in December Cutting of holly in some cases begins before Thanksgiving. The greater bulk of holly, how- ever, is shipped between the fifth and twentieth of December. Truck transportation has elimi- nated to a great extent the shipping of holly by rail, and from the Delmarva Peninsula to New York between the above-mentioned dates, a con- tinuous stream of trucks laden with crates of holly can be seen. The average farmer would not think of cutting Fourteen green wheat, digging potatoes before they are ripe, or selling corn before the ear is formed. Why then should he allow dealers to destroy for them what can be an annual profit-making crop? Twenty-five 'dollars just before Christmas is a nice amount of money for the average farmer and'\vith a large holly crop, here is some ready money. A great many woodland owners do not live in the State and their woodlands are under the protection of a tenant farmer who annually sees a chance to grab a few dollars, unknown to the owner. I doubt very much if these owners know the amount of "green gold" or holly that is taken from their woodlands every year. The Cooperative Association Objectives Two problems confront the Department of Forestry in connection with certified holly — one is, appraising the farmer and woodland owner of the fact that holly is an annual profit-bearing crop and impressing on him that a sustained yield of this crop can be obtained through proper harvesting methods, to get him to join with his neighbor in a holly conservation program that will in time benefit him financially and build up for him a continuous annual income from holly. Second — educating the public and the retailers as to what is happening to holly trees through wasteful harvesting methods and having these dealers and the public demand that the holly that they purchase be certified holly. Good for- estry is making the best continued use of the for- est. Vandalistic harvesting for holly is anything but good forestry. As in past years, this Christmas of 1938 will see tons of American holly shipped to the market places and sold ; 99 per cent of it will have been vandalistically cut from the Irees. Some $400,000 or more will change hands through the medium of this evergreen with the red berries. A small but ever-increasing number of people will receive their holly in a paper board box, labeled with a tag of certification. These people will receive ripe, properly pruned sprays and branches with deep green leaves, heavy with berries and free from dust and other blemishes. This holly will l)e that product shipped by the farmers who are cooperating with the State Department of For- estry and are practicing what the Department preaches; who are learning in this way of tree growing substituted for tree destruction; who after years of improper cutting and poor pay are now realizing a nice profit from their crop and who by following a few simple rules are doing their bit by furnishing certified holly. Forest Leaves Some Observations on Forest Protective Practices (Continued from Page 3) ally grew too rapidly. The growth was unusual for the species and in many cases as much as 30 inches in one season. These new shoots were so top heavy that they turned very crooked and later the trees became stunted for some reason. The wood in the new growth did not have a chance to harden before its own weight pulled it down, making this species very undesirable for planting as a mine timber on this particular site. Because of its sprouting ability, several trees will be pruned to the ground to determine, if possi- ble, whether or not a straight trunk can be devel- oped. In many cases the pitch pines became so stunted that as mine timbers they will never be of value. During the early summer months of 1936, due to favorable hot and dry weather conditions, an infestation of the spring cankerworm was quite prevalent throughout the oak region but no con- trol measures were applied on our lands. Al- though many trees were refoliated by the cater- pillars, most of them were able to recover. This outbreak was checked by several days of rain followed by lower temperatures. Along with the cankerworm came the Cicada, adding to the in- sect activity in the forests. This insect caused no serious injury to the tree other than the punctur- ing of the outer twigs. In most cases the twigs were able to recover by healing the wound al- most completely in two seasons of growth. Throughout the black locust plantations a spe- cies of the twig borer was prevalent. Of late the larvae of the Le conte Sawfly was found feeding on i\\e needles of scotch pine in the plantations. The chestnut oak, since 1935, has been affected by a twig disease, identified as a species of the Phomopsis. This organism is of secondary im- portance and primary infection caused the weak- ening of the tree through some other source. Drought conditions during the past no doubt had weakened many of the trees. However, a further investigation of this disease will be made, as the chestnut oak is of considerable value to the min- ing industry. Since sound mine timbers are needed, forest trees for this purpose will have to be healthy and free of disease. Apparently only through applied silvicuhural practices can first quality trees be grown. Forest fire protection has advanced to the point October, 1938 where fires have been promptly controlled and suppressed and now is the proper time to insti- tute further protective measures in an effort to control insofar as possible the ravages of insects and disease. i I I The Blue Mountain Wilderness (Continued from Page 5) the wilderness and so bring back the water-stor- ing ability of the wilderness soil. She will lure back the creatures that delight to inhabit the wil- derness. These in turn will again take up the task of keeping in subjection the destroyers of the crops of the farm. Game will increase and man will be attracted to the mountain heights to climb, to hike and to breathe the uncontaminated, invigorating mountain air. The thousand springs that the Indians spoke about will come back. As partial evidence of this in a tract near Reading that has been refor- ested, many springs, long dry, have come back. This surely will be repeated in the Blue Moun- tain wilderness. Already the Blue Mountain Wilderness Asso- ciation has acquired considerable mountain land. A few tracts have been purchased at a nominal price. Other tracts have been donated by their owners, who realize that the land had better be in the hands of this organization, which will care for it and conserve it to the end that its utility may be restored. There are parks and there are parks. This or- ganization does not have any quarrel with any of them. But the promoters of the movement con- tend that there is room, aye there is need for the wilderness. They have visions of a vast state- owned Blue Mountain Wilderness area, extending from the Lehigh River to the Susquehanna — a place where Nature is to be given her opportu- nity to reproduce the wilderness with its water and its attractive wild and useful creatures. In this wilderness the lover of Nature will be able to revel amid conditions that are denied him in the artificial recreation parks which are becom- ing more and more plentiful. Scientists say that where wild life cannot exist man cannot exist. The members of the Wilder- ness Association believe this to be true. They are convinced that if wild life should be entirely wiped out rodents, vermin, insects and blight would destroy man. Fifteen I !i m\ The "Last Raft" (Continued from Page 12) of the Almighty. His wisdom endureth forever. Those who passed into the Great Beyond were: Harry C. Connor, Burnside, Chief Pilot of the raft; Dr. Charles F. Taylor, Burgess of Mont- gomery; W. C. Van Scoyoc of Philadelphia; Thomas C. Proffitt of Chester, Universal newsreel cameraman; Harold Berringer of Tyrone; Mal- colm McFarland of Trenton, N. J.; and W. W. Holley of Bradford, all riding the raft. As to how the accident happened, I have been told on good authority that it was no fault of the crew. It was definitely understood we were to run the fifth span. The raft was headed straight for it when an unauthorized person called to the rear oar that they were to take the fourth span. One sweep of the stern oar got our nose into the current of the fourth span when our stern was in the current of the fifth span. We struck with the fourth timber from the side, the rear hit the other pier, and we were swept off. But bear in mind, the raft righted itself and ran the fifth span WITHOUT ANY HELP, although going through rear end foremost, proof positive that there was room to pass through. It was a great venture despite its ill-fated end- ing. It was reminiscent, however, of the fate hundreds of others suffered to help develop our present-day commerce. Raft days are over now that man's ingenuity has developed other means of transportation, but the trip of the "last raft" will live in our memory for many years to come. viduals to clear it all up. It is a quick-growing annual and by concerted action a little of the taxpayers' money could appropriately go to its eradication or to the reduction of poison ivy or of tent caterpillars. 'The problem is most difficult. The country is awakening, we hope, to a belated appreciation of its precious birthright, now largely wasted. Lovers of birds have made the right start. Lovers of the rare and scientifically most significant plants urge that all rare native species be given a chance." C. C. C. is doing an excellent bit of work for young men. In some cases it may be of benefit to the preservation of actual American species of trees and plants. But when we realize, as Pro- fessor Fernald of Harvard shows, that the rais- ing or lowering of the water level, the changing of bits of riverside for improvement in naviga- tion, etc., etc., has in the past destroyed unique specimens of our flora, is it not time to call a halt at indiscriminate "Forest improvement"? There is no question of the terrible scourge ragweed has brought our country. Poison ivy is little less obnoxious. Why not use the C. C. C. to destroy these enemies to health and comfort, rather than have these young men ignorantly de- stroy some unique specimens of our original flora? Yours very truly, S. F. Houston. Letter to the Editor (Continued from Page 4) spoiled Nature. According to the report, these misguided and enthusiastic young men had been paid more than $14,000,000 for making the face of Nature unnatural. "If vast regiments of otherwise unemployed young men are to be encouraged to hew, rake and burn the forests, they will unconsciously be- come destroyers of the natural equilibrium of Nature. Put them to work destroying the vagrant pests which crowd us and which are a worthy foe. Our open lots and roadsides are overrun with ragweed, the most prolific cause of hay-fever, as well as by poison ivy, tent caterpillars and scores of other nuisances. No one really cherishes rag- weed; but it is a formidable task for a few indi- Sixteen A State Forest Wilderness Area About 500 acres of Pennsylvania State Forest land surrounding Bruce Lake in Pike County has been designated as a "Wilderness Monument." It is to be preserved in its natural state for all time to come. There is a beautiful natural gla- cial lake, a cranberry bog, a large swamp con- taining rare botanical specimens and timber growth typical of the section. More Chestnuts to Be Planted The Huntingdon County Game, Fish and For- estry Association purchased 100 pounds of Chi- nese Chestnuts for planting in the Greenwood State Forest tree nursery in the spring of 1938. Good germination is reported. Several thousand seedlings will be distributed to the Association members for setting out in abandoned fields along the foothills of the mountains in the spring of 1939. Forest Leaves Our Program 1. The adequate protection of all Pennsylvania forests from Fire, Fungi, and Insects. 2. The personnel of the Department of Forests and Waters to be chosen and retained on a basis of efficient service only, in order to guarantee permanency of policy and continuity of action. 3. The management of the State forests so that they may supply the permanent needs of the people not only for continuous timber protection but also for recreation, hunting and fishing. 4. Greater co-operation between- the departments of the State Government for protection of the beauty of the public lands. 5. Adequate biennial appropriations for the purchase, protection, and development of the State forests. 6. The education of the public, corporations, sportsmen, and forest land owners with respect to the value of our forests and the necessity for their development and proper utilization. 7. The planting of trees valuable for lumber on all waste and idle lands and the continued distribution of seedlings by the State. 8. The education of our children in forestry in both public and private schools. A love and appreciation of the forests tend to a better type of citizenship. 9. The establishment of town and county forests which will bring pure air, pure water, and recreation close to the centers of population. 10. The preservation of the few remaining areas of virgin timber in Pennsylvania. I I THE PENNSYLVANIA FORESTRY ASSOCIATION Organized in 1886 . 306 COMMERCIAL TRUST BUILDING PHILADELPHIA, PA. I desire to support the activities of The Pennsylvania Forestry Association for the preserva- tion and development of forest lands, and enclose a check for % to cover membership for the ensuing year. One dollar of this amount is to pay for yearly subscription to Forest Leaves. MEMBERSHIP CLASSES Annual member $3.00 Club membership 5.00 Sustaining member 10.00 ♦Contributing member 20.00 Life member 100.00 Perpetual member 250.00 •If paid for five consecutive years the person automatically becomes a life member. Name Address Date State Forest Leaves, the Association's magazine, is sent to mem- bers in all classes. Our program will be found on the inside back cover.