Show EDt k D Small Woodlots Hold l Key fey To Future Timber Supply Dy By N News w. w Analyst and Commentator WASHINGTON WASHINGTON-I I have just had an interesting conversation with R. R E. E McArdle of the forest service of the department of agriculture agriculture agriculture agri agri- culture and I have discovered that Im I'm one of the people that the United States of America has to look to for its future lumber supply My father took up some of the last of the government forest land that was avo available liable in the Southwest That little plot along with the theother theother theother other privately-owned privately timberland straggling over the map of the U. U S. S makes up three-quarters three of all the timber there is in hi the country Only one-fourth one of our forests are public property And Ana there foUrthS fourths Of 01 this thIS inis three three- I fourths la is composed of small wood woodlots lots which average average average aver aver- age 80 60 to 70 10 iT acres Furthermore Furthermore Furthermore Further Further- more much of Itis it itis itis is not part of a tl farm being worked by an exi experienced experienced ex ex- ex- ex i farmer r A great deal is owned by people who dont don't live on the wood lot or orv v near It like me and many of whom also like me wouldn't be able Baukhage to tell tc a to toothpick toothpick tooth tooth- h- h pick from a telephone telephone telephone tele tele- phone pole if it it weren't fo for their size Bize Worse still many farmers owning owning owning own own- ing woodlots with valuable stands of timber on them dont don't know how to get their moneys money's worth from that land or how to keep the wooded wooded wood wood- ed acres contributing to their livelihood livelihood live live- as the rest of their farmland does In other words growing timber timber timber tim tim- ber in this country has become to a large extent a side issue 1 I am glad to report after telling you all this bad news that both the government and the lumber industry are trying to do something about this situation situation situation sit sit- for the general as well as for the Individual good For example in 1937 the Crossett Lumber company gave the government government government govern govern- ment 1680 acres of typical second growth stands In southeastern Arkansas I cant can't go into the program program program pro pro- gram of experimental work that has been done there but there is isone isone isone one item that affects our story R. R R. R Reynolds of the forestry service went to work on 40 acres of this area He did the things any farmer can learn to do to a similar woodlot Last year Reynolds reported eight annual cuts which averaged a marketable value of more than a year and he had as much volume as when he started I Of course everybody hasn't Reynolds Reynolds' Reynolds Reynolds' Reynolds Reynolds' Rey Rey- i know how but the government government govern govern- ment meat is helping to spread that know-how know through its representatives tives or through state So is private enterprise Florida Teaches Youth Forestry Fundamentals Thirteen years ago Florida for example began a forestry training camp for her Future Farmers of America members On August 1 of this year some members of the attended a two week camp at Camp OLeno about 60 miles west of Jacksonville where they were taught in the forest the fundamentals of good forest tices The first week was for beginners beginners beginners begin begin- ners who had had no previous forestry forestry forestry for for- estry background the second week weck was for those who had attended a previous camp During the first period they were taught fundamentals of gum farming farm farm- ing how ing-how how to secure naval stores such as turpentine and rosin from slash and long-leaf long pines how to identify the commercially valuable trees and their use how to farm forests as they farm cotton and other crops how to protect their woodlots from fire how to thir thil their stands of trees by cutting ou out the crooked diseased and other trees to allow the healthy ones room for more rapid growth how howo to o make seed beds grow tree seedlings seedlings seed- seed lings ings and how to transplant them themon on their woodlots In the second week the lads were put through more training In advanced principles with emphasis on actual work In the forest They fought a fire to learn the correct procedure They marked trees in a plot estimated estimated estimated esti esti- mated the board footage in a stan standing standing stand stand- ing tree cut it down sawed it into lumber and measured the lumber lumberas as a check against their previous estimates They were taught how to chip trees in gum farming and how to market the gum They were even put through a law enforcement enforcement enforcement en en- course which stressed fighting the in the woods They were shown how to detect clues for purposely set fires Health and recreation are not neglected in these camps and and at atthe atthe atthe the end of the two week period the boys go home enthusiastic ready to practice on their own woodlands They take the message to their parents of course and make a report report report re re- re- re port to the organizations to which they belong Briefly they have gained a fundamental knowledge of the value of trees and how they can be grown for profit During the time Florida has run this camp they have averaged averaged averaged aver aver- aged boys a year which means some 1300 have been Indoctrinated indoctrinated in In- in the fundamentals of forestry Today many of these graduates are leading citizens of their communities and many are growing trees for profit Program Extends To Other States Nor is Florida the only state taking taking taking tak tak- ing an interest in this new thinkIng thinking thinking think think- ing regarding trees and youth Alabama Arkansas Georgia Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana Loui Loui- siana North Carolina and Virginia staged similar camps this year or 4 H club members were the lucky youngsters depending on which group the state forestry agency is operating co-operating with at the time The purpose of course is not to turn out foresters That would be impossible in two weeks But camps can build up an effective in interest interest interest in- in terest in growing a cash crop by growing trees This year more than youths from the seven states attended these camps with all expenses paid I by the forest Industries This is where private industry has stepped into the picture On the modern theory thory that our future timber supply must come from what we grow not as in the pas past from what we found on the land the Southern Pulpwood association composed of southern pulp and paper paper paper pa pa- per industry members with the cooperation cooperation cooperation co co- co- co operation of 01 the Southern Pine association association association as as- pioneered in financing these and similar camps The sum total of this whole project pros adds up to this Industry has joined forces with state agencies to interest youth in becoming sue suc Tree Farmers of America and to turn to account what hu has hus been up to recently a wasteful sideline on the farms farms farms-a a sideline which must supply an Important part of Americas America's current and future fu ture vital lumber needs t Nj I IQ Q A as q i R A Ar AM Ar I M r m r Florida teaches the fundamentals of good forestry to youth at annual summer camps Trammel Green nurseryman for forthe forthe forthe the Florida forest service is shown here instructing two boys in iu iut t preparation of a seed leed b. b bed bd d. d Here lIer they are spreading pine straw over the freshly planted seed as u 4 protective measure |