The New York Forest Owner - Volume 13, Number 2

FOREST OWNER the VOICE of 255,000 fol'est ow ••el'. in New Yol'I, - l'epl'e.e ••ting CUI ownenhip of 11 _UliOllIlCI' ••

Vol. 13

April 1, 19'75

No. 2

Editorial Committee ,

William M. Roden, Chairman •••••••••••• Trout Lake, Diamond POint, N. Y. Lucille Betts Helen Varian David H. Hanaburgh William Lubinec Merle Wilson, Editor •••••••••••• 24 Louisa St., Binghamton, N. Y. 13904

The opinions stated in this periodical are expressly the views of the writer, but not necessarily the opinions or policies of the New York Forest Owners Assoc. of of the Forest Owner. ~ticle

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President's eolumn ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Minutes of the Board of Directors •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Timber Harvesting •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Timber Sale Contract Form ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Letter from Robert S. Jonas •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Ward Tree Farm - Howard O. Ward •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Report fr~ Conmittee of Education - Alfred Najer •••••••••••• Pinewald Society to Meet ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Letter from Dave Cook •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Letter from Helen Varian ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Letter from William J. Jones ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Healing Trees •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Society of American Foresters - David W. Taber ••••••••••• New Members ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

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PRESIDENT I S COLUMN - Wm. Lubinec There comes a time when I pause in retrospect with reference to the New York Forest Owners Association and ask myself, what have we done with our organization.

I can honestly say we have accomplished the followinc; 1. Our membership has increased slightly, but not enough~ when one member can bring in twenty new members in one year, this does not speak eloquently of the rest of us. Ask yourself, have I honestly tried to get at least one new member? Invariably your answer will be no, so let all of us do our best to increase our membership.

This is your organization.

20 Our publication~s taken on a more profeSSional posture, but we have a long way to go. Let us communicate with our editor, Merle Wilson.

He is capable, r~ady and willing.

You may have some good ideas the rest of us would be interested in, put them down on paper and send your letter to the editor. You may have some good ideas on how to improve our publication, if so, send them to our editorial chairman, William Roden.

3. Our woods walks have improved slightly, now is the time to plan one and communicate with our chairman Jens Hansen. This is a wonderful way to learn from each other.

4. We have adopted an annual budget that we are trying to live with and we are cutting expenses that can be cut. We will be evaluating the budget on every board meeting so that we can put a damper on things that might tend to get out of hand or spark things along that may require a prod. We came close to losing this organization onoe and we don't want this to happen again.

We have many other committees that are working and our minutes of our board meeting will sum these up for you.

Remember this is your organization, and we need all of you heart and soul as we have a tremendous job to do with restoring our woodlands. We as a nation of 6% of the world's population use 30% of the production of the world's production of wood. Currently we are importing approximately 20% mostly in the form of pulp from canada and some imported wood from tropical countries.

Hope to see you all at our annual Spring meeting in Syracuse in ~pril.

MINUT1!S OF THE BOARD OF DJRECTORS

Minutes of the 79th Meeting - Board of Directors New York Forest Owners Association Chenango Country Club, Chenango Bridge, New York January 25, 1915 ltlilliamLubinec, President,

presiding.

The following directors were present: William Lubinec Allen Bratton David Hanaburgh Verner Hudson J. Lewis DuMond Barbara Pittenger John Ridings Robert Sand

Evelyn Stock Francis Rosa Lloyd Strombeck Erniel Palmer

Minutes of the 78th meeting, October 12, 1914, were read by the secretary and upon motion approved with the addition that Miss Jane Barton's resignation had been accepted.

Treasurer, Emiel Palmer, gave his repart stating that in spite of the small registration of 36 for the fall meeting the registration fee had nearly paid the expenses.

This report was approved.

David Hanaburgh spoke for the committee on condemnation stating that an 80 acre property at Lake Pleasant had been condemned by the State without notice to the owners. He said that bills will be introduced in the legislature concerning this procedure.

John Ridings reported for the Budget and Finance committee showing the budget items and the actual expenses for the current year. This report is attached to the minutes.

Francie Ross reported for the By-laws committee su~gesting that the fiscal year be changed to the calendar year. Upon motion of Strombeck, seconded by Hanaburgh, this was approved 0

Page 3 President Lubinec appointed the following committee for the Fall meeting with the possible location to be Arnot Forest: Verner Hudson, Chairman; Robert Sand, Fred Winch and Alex Dixono Separate notice is to be sent for both the Spring and Fall meeting.

Robert Sand reported for the Forest Industry committee, stating that the lumber business is down; that pulp, chips and stumpage are all down in price.

Robert Sand reported that the Spring meeting is to be held at the Forestry College on either April 12 or April 19.

Allen Bratton reported that names have been submitted for the Heiberg Award and that they would be considered by the committee.

John Ridings reported that there are 450 members with 339 name cards.

Lloyd Strombeck gave a written report for the Nominating committee which 1s attached to these minutes.

He suggested that the Membership Secretary should be added to the list of officers which may or may not be directors.

He also suggested that, "No one may serve more than two consecutive terms of one year as President.

A Vice President may be a candidate for a higher office."

He also recommended that the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs under 1, under OFFICERS concerning the appointment and duties of an Executive Vice President, be deleted.

Another recommendation of the Committee was that, "In order to obtain more participation the meetings of the Board of Directors should be moved about the state."

The recommendations were discussed but no action was taken. The feeling was that the paragraphs concerning the Executive Vice President should not be removed from the by-laW8, with the hope that in the future we will have such an officer.

Allen Bratton stated that there is to be a hearing at the Ag center in Albany County on February 14, 1975, concerning forest assessment and taxation.

He stated that the property owner should know the new law. It's purpose is to produce value for growing trees with the value placed on the basis of its use as a forest rather than for other purposes.

President Lubinec reported that the tapes which Miss Barton played at the last meeting have been copied and are to be sent to radio stations throughout the state.

Upon motion of John Ridings, seconded by Evelyn Stock, it was voted that the by-laws be changed increasing the single membership from $6.00 to $7.00, and the family membership from $10.00 to $12000.

The Budget committee is to investigate the printing costs of the IIForest Owner" and to report to the Board.

Mrs. Evelyn Stock was placed in charge of publicity.

The next meeting is to be in Syracuse on March 8, 1975.

Respectfully submitted, J. Lewis DuMond, Secretary TIMBER HARVESTING

As the spring season approaches, we woodland owners begin to think more of what can be done to improve our woodlands and perhaps what we have that is saleable from them.

We all know the need for ready cash as living expenses continue to climb to new heights each year, however, lets not be tempted by the fast dollar from our timber, that took sever~l decades to grow.

Isn't it time you had some professional forester, either State or private go through your woodlands if you haven't already done this? Get an inventory of what we have and set up a plan of work for the future year's management.

Join the State Forest Practice Act and receive free service by a state Forester in your management, or hire a private forester if you desire. Let's not leave everything up to nature to improve our woodlands.

With our present fuel situation as it is, it affords a real opportunity to dispose of much "cull " mater ials from our woodlands.

Even if' we only realize a "br eak-even" on the fir e wood sales, it's a real "shot-in-the-arm" to the trees left for timber, as growth rates will increase tremendously when realized.

If' you have saleable timber or wood of any kind to sell, first think, ~how am I going to ~ell it, for how much, and who to, etc."

About the first thing to do if you are sure you have timber produc~ to sell, is to (Cont'd on Page 6)

TIMBER SALE CONTRACT FORM (Not A Legal Document - Sample Only) AGREEMENT entered into this

day of

BETWEEN _____________

, 19

_

of

_

of

_

hereinafter called the owner and

_

hereinafter called the purchaser.

WITNESSETH: 1. The owner agrees to sell and the purchaser agrees to buy and cut all timber marked for cutting by the owner or his representative, said timber designated by a paint mark or other distinctive marking at a point about four (4) feet above the ground and on the stump approximately six (6) inches from the ground, said timber located on a tract of land belonging to the owner situated in the Town of County of State of New York, comprising approximately acres described as follows:

IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AND UNDERSTOOD THAT: A. THE OWNER: 1. Guarantees title to said timber and agrees to defend it against any and all calims whatsoever.

2. Agrees to allow the purchaser, his agents and employees to enter upon the above described land, for the purposes of this agreement and to do such other things as may be necessary in connection with such purpose, including the right and privilege of the purcha ser to use sufficient and necessary space in and upon said land, to skid, load and haul all timber covered by this agreement, and no other.

3. Agrees to allow the purchaser to construct suitable roads from which said timber will be removed from the above described land, the location thereof to be by mutual agreement which shall include all necessary righrs-of-wa y.

B. THE PURCHASER 1. (a) Agrees to pay the owner at the following rates per thousand board feet for timber by the specified log rule and per standard cord (4' x 4' x 8') for cordwood or pulpwood: __________

at $

_

__________

at $

_ per

_

__________

at $

per

_

__________

at$

per

_ per

_

_

OR (b) Agrees to pay the owner specified in this contract.

1'1

lump sum payment in full of $

for all of the marked timber

(c) Agrees to pay for all material included in this agreement prior to removing same from the owner's property and further agrees to remove all such material on ~r before , 19 . Any and all material included in this contract remaining on the owner's property after this date shall revert to the possession of the owner.

2. The purchaser further agrees to cut and remove said timber in accordance with the following conditions: (a) Only trees marked for removal under the terms of this contract shall be cut. The purchaser shall pay $10 per tree plus its stumpage value, for each unmarked merchantable tree cut or wantonly injured by him or his agents in violation of the terms of this contract. He shall not, however, be penalized for cutting unmarked trees when making necessary skidways or roadways, or where trees have become unavoidably lodged in felling. (b) Stumps shall be low, the felling cut to be above the stump paint mark but no higher than the diameter of the tree at the cut. (c) All sound trees shall be utilized to a top diameter inside the bark of inches for hardwoods and inches for softwoods; all softwood tops and branches shall be disposed of in accordance with the Conservation Law, where applicable. (d) Young trees shall be protected against unnecessary injury; only dead trees and less valuable kinds may be used for construction purposes in connection with the logging operation and all existing roads shall be kept clear of tops, logs, brush and other obstructions. (e) That he will use due care to prevent fires and will use his employees to extinguish all fires endangering the woodland described in this agreement. (f) Agrees that this contract shall be void and of no effect unless the purchaser shall secure compensation insurance for the benefit of, and keep insured during the life of this contract, such employees as are required to be so insured by the provisions of Chapter 41 of the Laws of 1914 of the Workmen's Compensation Law and Acts amendatory thereof. If by reason of partnership status or some other reasons of exemption, compensation insurance is not legally required of the purchaser, then proof of such exemption must be furnished in writing. (g) Agrees to repair logging damages to roads, bridges, ditches, fences, trails or other improvements that by mutual agreement with the owner are judged to be in excess of reasonable wear and tear in the harvesting of this timber.

C. FURTHER, IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED THAT: 1. All sawtimber will be scaled by the Log Rule based on the measurement of the average diameter at the small end of the log, inside the bark, to the nearest inch, except where the Mid-Doyle Rule is designated which calls specifically for measurement at the "middle diameter". Said materials are to be scaled jointly by the owner and purchaser or their duly authorized agents.

2. This contract, and all provisions, terms and conditions thereof, shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and likewise upon their legal representatives, successors and assignees and said contract shall not be assigned without the written consent of the owner.

3. In the event of dispute over the terms of this contract, final decision shall rest with two arbitrator s, one of whom shall be selected by the owner and another to be selected by the purchaser and in case the two selected shall disagree, they shall select a third arbitrator, and the decision of the majority of the three arbitrators shall be final.

IN WITNESSWHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their hands and seals this _________ , 19_.

day of

WITNESS: ___________________

Owner

L. S.

___________________________

Purchaser

L. S.

Page 6 find out who the buyers are. The Conservation Department has available, a list of buyers which can be contacted, or you may want to hire a timber agent who can do the entire job for you, i.e. findin~ a buyer, obtaining the best price, writing a contract with the buyer, and makinÂŤ sur e it is adhered to. For these services, a set fee is charged, and this can vary according to who the timber agent is and by the amount of sale, etc.

The State Forest Practice Board now has certified timber agents who are qualified for thi~ worko There are private consulting foresters who are capable also.

The main thing, is not to be misled by a few unscrupulous buyers. Be sure you obtain a qualified person to advise you if you are not certain of everything.

An ounce of precaution is worth a pound of cure, you know.

No matter if you: do all the "lork yourself in obtainin~ a buyer or hire it done for you, make sure a contract is written bet"reen the parties involved.

I feel we do not have room in this Forest Owner to print all the sample contracts I have, but will list oneo I would like to print a "check list for timber sale contracts.", This list was taken from the journal of Forestry, Article by J. Atwood Whitman, April, 1956.• 1.

2.

30

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

110 12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

170 18.

19.

20.

Name and address of buyer and seller.

Date of instrument and place of execution.

Items bought and sold; species, specifications.

Exact location and legal description of the area.

Provision for marking boundaries.

Declaration of seller's ownership and right to convey.

Conditions governing removal.

Provision for buyer's ingress and egress.

Care of other property: fences, roads, fields, buildings, young trees, reserved, timber, telephone lines, wildlife.

Provision for liquidated damages.

Fire protection.

Method and place of Bcalin~ or measurement, lo~ rule, lumber measure, stump diameter and height.

Price basis: lump sum, price per M. bd, ft., price per pitece.

Method and terms of payment.

Duration of agreement.

ProviSion for or against renewal option; price of option.

Clause for arbitration in ,case of disagreement; who pays for same.

Provision for close utilization: etump height, maximum top diameter, size of lumber to be sawed.

Ownership of by-products: slabs, tops, sawdust, stumps.

Statement of whose loss if timber is destroyed or stolen after execution of the contract Provision for or against assignment of the contract.

Financial responsibility of the buyer.

Si~nature6 of both parties.

Notarization.

Registration.

TIMBER SALE CONTRACT FORM (included) Harold Tyler, Committee Chairman Timber Harvesting and Marketing 0

210 22.

23.

24.

25.

LETTffi FROM ROBERT S. JONAS

Mr. Merle 24 Louisa

Wilson, Editor Forest Owner Street Binghamton, No Y. 13904 Dear Sir: I have been interested

in the articles and letters that you have published about sources

Page 7 of assistance for the forest owner. Various writers beat the drums for different agencies, including Extension Service, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the College of Forestry at Syracuse, and Cornell University.

These are all excellent sources of assistanceo However, there is another agency that is seldom mentioned on your pages.

It Ls the county soil and water conservation dj.strict. In this state, all of these districts rely on the U.SoD.A. Soil Conservation Service for technical assistance.

Conservation planning assistance is available to landowners and operators through the various districts.

This is an acre by acre proces8 in which the landowner indicates his needs and desires and the planner offers alternative means to achieve them. The resultant plan is a blueprint for future management of the area in question.

It reflects the operator's decisions based on factual information and suggestions furnished by the S.C.S. or district techniciano I am fully convinced that in order to successfully grow any crop we need to know something about the limitations and capabilities of the soil with which we are working. Different species of forest trees have varying drainage requirements.

Some do well on an acid soil, while others like a higher pH. A knowledge of soil types and characteristics is basic to good woodland management.

The best source of soils information is the soil and water conservation district in which the land is locatedo The Soil Conservation Service has been mapping soils in this state for over forty years.

At present, something like fifty-three percent of the state has been mapped. Efforts are being made to accelerate soil mapping in the rest of the state. When mapped, soils are classified according to a national system. After the soil classification is identified one can readily determine the soil limitations for any planned use of a particular piece of land.

When a soil conservationist knows the severity of the soil use limitations, he can readily recommend measures which are needed to overcome them. Planning assistance is available, free of cost, fram every district. A trained technician will go over your forest property with you. He will help you make a conservation plan for your woodlands based on the capabilities of the soilo He will point out opportunities for such improvements as needed, drainage, ponds, wildlife marshes, and water management along trails and road~ to prevent soil erosion.

The S.C.S. technician, working with a landowner will base his comments on a soil mapo If the woodlot is in an unmapped area, he may be able to have it mapped before his plannin~ visit with the osmer , Even without a soil map, he will base his suggestions on his experienced evaluation of soil characteristics. ;fuen your plan is completed the district will provide technical help in properly installing the measures called for in the plan. Some districts provide other services, too, at reasonable rates. These may include hauling seedlings from the nursery, tree planting, woodland thinning and pruning, pond stocking, and pond managementc The purpose of this letter is to call attention to one more source of free woodland management helpo Your soil and water conservation district office is usually located in the county seat. It may be listed in the telephone directory under U. S. Government, Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.

I admit to having an "occupational Hang-up" in this matter, having worked for the Soil Conservation Service. for nearly thirty yearso On the other hand, I am a charter member of the New York Forest Landowners Association.

In that capacity, I think that some of our newer members would be ~short-changed" if they were not informed of this valuable source of help.

Sincerely, Robert S. Jonas WARD TREE FARM - Howard o. Ward Certified Tree Farm NYFOA Newsletter

Editor

At the recent NYFO! school at Cornell, which I enjoyed very muc~, considerable emphasiS was placed on even aged forests and clear cutting. This summer I had the State Forester in my region mark trees for thinning in a small (6t acres) section of my hardwoods.

To my view he was over-killing to get an even aged stand.

-~--

.•..

-

-

-

Page 8 I object to this, not because it is a bad practice from the standpoint of timber production, but because it is bad for the owner, psychologically.

Here's whyo A timber harvest every 12 to 15 years will keep up the interest of the small timber grower. If the harvest is once in 50 or 60 years, the owner will see one harvest at best, and if he happens to buy the property just a few years after a heavy cutting, he may never see a harvest. With a harvest only once in a lifetime, and individual is bound to lose interest, to say nothing of paying taxes on the land all those years with income from another source. (The new Forest Taxation Law will ease the burden but it does not remove it.)

I suggest that our State Foresters be re-educated to work toward a forest stand of hardwoods which will produce a marketable crop every 15 years. This will require thinning on a much less stringent basis and that primarilly on wolf and cull trees. Spacing would not be given so much consideration.

Perhaps timber production per year would not be quite as much, but when I asked the question at the NYFOA school about the relative production between even aged vs. mixed age, no one could give me an answer.

That kind of an experiment takes a lot of years and I won't be around to hear the results. However, I've willed my farm to my children and my grandchildren might get the answer.

I would like to offer my farm as an experiment station. I've done the thinning, and had thinned about 15 acres on the basis of present NY State forest practice. Let's do another 15 acres on the basis of sustained production with a harvest eTery 12 to 15 years. I would require that I be a member of the team marking this comparatiye section.

To summarize, human nature is such that the anticipation of several harvests of timber in a lifetime seems better than one harvest when you're too old to see the forest recover after a clear cutting. A part of my hardwood stand WaS harvested in 1956 and again in 1972, hence, I have some knowledge that this will work. I hope the "experts" will take me up on this challenge.

I would like to call your attention to the picture on my letterhead and exclaim to any who will hear what a pleasure it is to have a good s~zed pond on a tree rarm. (The pond looks positively beautiful - The Editor). In addition to fishing, boating and SWimming, there are the pleasures of seeing fish jump, ducks swim, kildeer skim the water for bugs, and hear the frogs croak. A big practical advantage is that of having a source of water in the event of a. forest or grass fireo I find turkey & deer tracks at the water's edge but they don't come around when I'm there.

Here's to good, small forests!

Howard 0 Ward, 240 Owego Street, R.D. 2, Candor, N.Y. 13743 0

Board of Directors Tioga County Soil & Water Conservation District Grand Union Plaza 135 Main Street Owego, N. Y. 13827 Gentlemen: As a former Director of the District, I maintain a high interest in the District activities. Your Vol. 3, No. 2 Newsletter was excellent. As Chairman of the Tioga County Ag Districts Advisory Committee, I commend you for your article on Ag Districts in this issueo I hope that more of Tioga County's farmers will take advantage of Ag Districting before the pressure on land development gets too greato As the operator of one of the 337 Certified Tree Farms in New York State, I urge all farmers with 25 acres or more of woodlot to join the New York Forest Owners Associationo (I'll be glad to furnish membership application forms.) I have just written a letter to the Association recommending a change in forest practice to call for "all agedll farm forests with a regular harvest of timber on a 15 year (plus or minus) basis rather than on the 50 or 60 year basis now recommended by State foresters. The primary reason for this recommendation is to keep up the interest of land owner in the management of his forest as an agricultural cropo If the crop occurs once in two generations, who has the interest to manage the forest properly?

Page 9 I have a pond on my tree farm which has hitherto been stocked with rainbow trout through the Federal Bureau of Fisheries in Cortland. Since this unit no longer provides stocking, I am interested in having a fish pond stocking progr~ in Tioga County. My pond is suitable for the growth of trout but not their propagation.

Therefore, perhaps a program of stocking which would mix trout and bass (which would propagate) would be advisable. Your advice will be appreciatedo Both invited and uninvited fishermen work my pond. Consequently, I've decided that a self-perpetuating variety of fish would be more advantageous than the glamorous, tasty, fighting rainbow trout which requires regular re-stocking.

Please send me the required application blanks for pond re-stocking.

In conclusion, I would also like to point out that, as of September of this year, the tax laws of New York State have been revised to protect the Forest Owner from excessive taxation based on land ~alues which result from the sale of land for recreational purposes.

I've enclosed a copy of the State's summary of the law. This was promulgated by the New York Forest Owners Association and should point out to all woodlot owners that there is a way to keep what you have against taxation based on "highest & hest use", which, generally, is sale for vacation plots or house lots.

Let's retain Tioga County's rural atmosphere as far as our many woodlands are concerned.

T,Tehave a natural resource which is subject to improvement by planning and cultivation.

Let's exploit it by improvement.

I'd be happy to discuss any of my ideas with anyone. I believe in our forest resources and am working to protect and perpetuate them.

Sincerely, Howard O. Ward, Tioga County Legislator, District #3 The Editor, The Forest Owner I think Ed Moot is baiting me to get words for the "magazine".

O.K., I'll take the

ba i.t ,

I'd like to meet Ed. All I know about him is that he's a free lance writer and has been married 51 years. Congratulations, Ed and Mrs. Moot, I'm a licensed Professional Engineer (practical sort of a guy) and I've been married only 31 years.

You know, in a contest of any kind, it helps to know as much as possible about your opponento I'll give Ed an advantage and tell something of myself as it relates to forestry and our discussion.

My Grandfather, O. J. Ward, was a lumberman in Michigan and New York for 25 years either side of 1900 In the early 1920's he bought the farm that is now my tree farm for the timber. After the timber was harvested, my dad, who had graduated from the School of Forestry in (I think) 1914 when it was still at Cornell, used it to pasture cattle. Dad (Kenneth O. Ward, became a farmer and cattle dealer known all across south central New York.)

Lloyd Strombeck and I formed a partnership in 1954 and bought the farm from Dad. It had stood completely idle for 7 years because Dad had had several head of heifers rustled from there and dared not risk continuing it as pasture. Lloyd and I sold timber from the farm two years after we bought it for twice what we paid for the farm. Dad accused me of cheating him, but when we bought the farm I had no idea the amount or value of the timber there.

Lloyd and I were looking for cheap, open land on which to grow Christmas trees. (Recently, Lloyd decided to "retire~ and sold his half to me.) I have willed the farm directly to my four children because they have a love for it that was engendered by forced labor there.

My grandchildren will probably benefit more from it than anY of us, though that's hard to determine, and depends on what value basis you're using.

So much for that. 1'm a Republican, as were all my ancestors. O. J. was Town Supervisor for many years and served on the County Board of Supervisors.

Dad's brother, C. P., also served in that capacity for a couple of terms. When Tioga County Government was changed to a County Legislature (1 man, 1 vote) in 1971, I was one of the 9 legislators elected.

We're still using the same desks my grandfather used 50 years ago. -- I live in my father's birthplace; it's been in the family continuously since 1868. I'm proud of that heritage.

Ed Moot, even though you're old enough to be my father, I'm probably the 路old stick-in0

Page 10 the-mud" conservati~e.

In continuation of our exchange, I'm not going to continue the reference to paragraphs by number or letter. I think we'~e reached the point of philosophising without that need.

Before I go further, I want to state that Ed Moot and I are in general agreement on basic philosophy but we disagree in degree or in detail.

Free Market - I'm still convinced that "Yankee Trader" ingenuity is still the best market control you'll e~er see. I'~e been a contributor to and student of the Foundation for Economic Education since the late 1940's. I've had some very stimulating and gratifying correspondence with its Founder and President, Leonard E. Reed.

I agree with Ed that the big grain sale to the Russians a year ago may not have been in the best interests of the citizenry of the United States. We can no longer be parochial.

We're world citizens. As such, we must consider the effect of so large a sale of agriculmral produce on the U. S. economy. In other words, the grain brokers who made the deal were acting in a free market and were smart enough to capitalize on it. Unfortunately, a deal of that size transcends ordinary business because it affects the national economy almost immediately.

I'd allow Congress and the President to scrutinize such deals before they are finalized and permit them to control them to the extent that our national economy not be jeopardized.

But, I repeat, we're world citizens and eTen that much nationalization should eventually disappear.

Ed Moot says "OLD economics works no more". I say it does, and on a world wide scale, which is difficult for most of us to conceive. I'd hate to have the present crop of Bureaucrats manage my business.

I think Ed would also object if he were told how much per word he'd receive on a freelance article. This type of control would pay the hack as much as the good writer. It's fine for the hack but discourages the good writer.

So much for economics.

Silt - Yes, Ed, erosion by water has occurred since the formation of the earth. My point is that present day farmers are controlling top-soil erosion. The largest amount of silt comes from dirt road ditches, construction sites and stream banks.

Strip Mining - I did not recommend that public funds be used to repair strip mining scars. I said that the Soil Conservation Service had de~eloped procedures to heal these scars. As you said, recent legislation requires the mining operator to make repairs. Use of the research by SCS will enable these repairs to be made to the extent that the final result may be more productive than the original natural land.

Clear Cutting Forestry - I said that good forest practice has determined that clear cutting is the best. If Ed had attended the NYFOA school at Cornell last month, he would have heard the arguments for t'lis and the procedures that are followed in re-seeding the area, either by man or by nature from purposely maintained seed trees adjacent to the cutover ar ea , I will agree with Ed that this is probably not the best method for the small forest owner in the northeast United States, but for different reasons.

I wrote a separate piece on this a short time ago. The basic premise is that an "all aged" small forest with a 15 year harvest cycle will maintain Owner interest and probably result in greater timber production in the long run.

Today (Oct. 26, 1974) I took part in a tour of Tioga County conducted by the Cooperative Extension ~ssociation to show community leaders what Agriculture means to our community in both economy and land use. One of my major obser~ations was the large numberof acres of woodland and the poor quality of those woodlands.

I plan to work toward the improvement of those woodlands for the benefit of their Owners and the generations which will come after us. 1'm sure that this is also a goal of NYFOJ..

As for Highways, Power Stations, Urban Sprawl, etc., I disagree with Ed only to the extent that practicality and economics must be considered along with ecology, that misused, oTerused term. That's why, as Chairman of our County's Agricultural Districts ~dvisory Committee, I have helped to establish two large Ag districts in the county and expect more to follow soon.

More, Ed? Howard 0 •.Ward

Page 11 REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE OF EDUCATION Alfred Najer With the help of a number of members we had an exhibit last year at the Warren-Hamilton Counties Youth Fair, held in Warrensburg last August. Through help from member Tim Murphy, who is Warren Coo Extension agent, and in charge of the Fair, we had an excellent location opposi te the main entrance. The theme of the EKhibi t was: "Money Grows on Trees·t• We had for distribution membership brochures, numerous Extension Dept and Conservation leaflets, also from Cornell University, through member Alex Dickson, announcements for the Cornell School for Forest Owners to be held in Ithaca during September.

There were members in attendance during the entire weeks run including Director and Mrs. Jens Hansen, Town of Chester Supervisor and Mrs Houar d Swan, Mr. Sam Starbuck and others.

To expand the activities of the committee I should like to hear from members interested to give a few hours of their time to promote some of the following objectives: 1 - To achieve participation in local programs directed to teachers and school children such as Arbor Day planning; 2 - Promote and encourage high standards of forest management on private lands; 3 - Provide speakers and programs for Rotary and other service clubs.

4 - Other local efforts such as local newspapers publicity, woods walks and, something new for city residents, "get-togethers" in local members' homes to discuss mutual interests.

5 - Establishing and managing Roadside Parks and Demonstration Forests.

6 - Deyelop a program for forest-oriented seminars for forest owners and educators any help that members should contribute will be appreciated.

I can be reached at 620 Buttonwood, Sarasota, Florida 33577 until May 13th and at Chestertown, N. Y. 12817 after that.

PINEWALD SOCIEl'Y TO HEEl' The Pinewald Society meets Sat., June 1, 1915 at Pinewald Forest - the Bearga£lh Valle.r, north of Richmondyille on route 10 then Bearguclh Road, then up Fox's Vlie Road l! miles from yillage of Richmond ville.

Bring your own picnic lunch or grill l~nch as you wish. Pack in your own water, excellent parking along road hard top road all the way up. Everything begins PROMPTLY at 10:00 no fees, no speakers, woods walk - eat together on lawn promptly at 12:30 then visit, visit, visito This is annual affair for any family who is interested in the problem of ecology, growing trees, new forestry laws, new assessment methods, etc.

This is 11th year this annual first Sat. of June affair has been held. Write Ed Moot, 3027 Lillian Road, Schenectady, N. Y. if you plan to come. Pinewald is NOT a fancy forest in fact the 55 year old years have not grown nearly as fast as in many forests but their growth the last 15 years has been far better than the previous 40 years. This forest is NOT involved with any plan - the three generation family is doing ALL of the thinning, trimming and planting extensive shurb growth from 'cheir own surplus stock each ,.ear.

Ed is writing his second book - The Pinewald Society - which deals with many angles of the present scene.

Come and add your 2¢ worth - comfortable woods clothes and EASY shoeso.No fancy stuff.

See the new Woodshed Gazebo. Its cost is very low and you may want to copy the plano Bring cameras. Ed askes one question - is the dead white pine thin-out worth more as 18" fire place wood for a farmer's cord than as white pine lumber stock? Answer that one in our present energy shor tage , Oh , and take back a trailer load or some in back of your station wagon and lots of white dead limbs which have been thinned. Bring your hand saw and take some home - FREE. Bring old card table and folding chairs for YOUR group. Be sure to write Ed if you plan to come as he would like to know because of limited traffic up the road now, but wants no traffic jam. Signs with arrows and PI~aLD will be hung on junction of 10 and Beargulch Road at top of hill IN VILLAGE of Richmond~il1e and also on Junction of Beargulch Road and Fox's Vlie Road - both are RIGHT turns. Do not turn right up hill in village - that goes to Brooker Hollow.

Page 12 LETTER FROM DAVE COOK Dear Helen: Hope springs eternal ~l~~t But Hhope deferred maketh the heart sick".

Shipmast locust is a FORM of the common black locuts (Robina pseudoacacia) which is reputed to be more resistant to the weevil, to have a straighter central trunk with less branching and a narrower crown. This is supposed to have been brought to Long Island by a Quaker ship captain, from whence it spread along the coast and to other Quaker settlements, at least in New York. Places like Quaker Springs in Saratoga County, Quaker Street just west of Schenectady and Hoosic. Another of its peculiar characteristics is that it rarely if ever bears seed. The answer to "where can I buy seed" is "you can't".

The tree was reproduced by digging up root suckers - a top with a segment of the root but this is a slow and laborious system. It was not applicable to the needs of the New York State nurseries, so we presently "forgot" about it.

Commercial black locust seed normally comes from Hungary and is of uncertain genetiC background.

It may well be that shipmest locust is no more than an ecological form that does exceptionally well on Long Te.Land , But then, Hungarian seed grown at and distributed from the Saratoga and planted on Long Island has done fantastically weIll Whether it will be free from the borer and of good fann has yet to be found out -- trees are too youngo But don't buy Shipmast Locust seed from anyone~lL So far as I know, the locust pods are blown off by the winter winds, not cut off by squirrels. Could be the squirrels will eat the seeds -- they will eat almost anythingl!!

Cordially, Dave Cook LEl'TER FROM HEI..F,N VARIAN Dear Mr. Wilson, vJill you please put the following in the next issue of Forest Owner?

When members move they should notifY the membership secretary and send along their new address. Have received some of the bills sent out marked, moved, not forwardable.

Forest Owner must end up in the waste basket at those P.O.'s. Such a wastel If they can't be located will send along word for you to pull plates.

Yours truly, Helen Varian, Marn. Secretary LETTm

FROM WILLIAM J. JONES 66 Glenmont Drive Rochester, N.Y. 14617

N. Y. F. O.

I would be interested in observations of some of the members on the effects of snowmobiles on farm roads, woods trails, deer runs and the like.

There is no question that I have a strong aversion to snowmobiles, the noise destruction of solitude and the obvious waste of energy, with that admission let's proceed.

Trespassing snowmobilers three years ago crossed a section of ~r farm on a farm track which has been used for at least 75 years as access to a large field. In the early spring when the thaws came the snowmobile tracks had packed and frozen because of a kind of channel under which the melting water from the area ran. Before I could use the road to the hay field I found it necessary to disc and drag the road and mulch it in several placeso This year the sno~mobiling trespassers came again thru the same road after cutting wires and removing temporary barricades. We had a January thaw and this time with heavy snow, and the snowmobile tracks were like a chute. The water came down the slight slope and overflowed

Page 13 the ditch, overloaded the passage under the road, and cut across the top, so that I'll have to brlng in gravel. I have had damage on that farm track only when the snowmobiles have laid these hard frozen trails.

These machines have also taken Over the Finger Lakes Hiking trail as their own, and I look for that to disappear in the near future. Many worked for years to make the hiking trail possible. Now a relatively few arrogant men with thousand dollar toys can ruin it in a day or two.

If others have similar observations or experiences I would like to hear from them. Perhaps we can save some corners of the earth from the screaming whine of men at play.

William J. Jones HEALING TREES I grew' up on a hardscrabble farm in Cattaraugus County, New York, where "the hardpan came up to the second wire on the barbed-wire fence." At times, we even had to lather the fields in order to harvest hayl My father perceived that he didn't own the most responsive land in the world, and so he began to plant evergreen trees several decades ago. He continued to farm most of the land in order to make a living •••and send four children through college •••but, after the kids had left home, he planted more and more land to trees. While growing up, I used to go on long walks with him from time to time •••through our own woodlands, and through the sylTan splendor of neighboring hills.

He has long since ceased to cast a shadow in the sun, but his legacy of whispering pine remains. And now I occasionally walk through them with my own son, marveling at the beauty and utility possessed by tre~s.

Ours is a clamorous and unpredictable world •••uncertainty is the certainty that characterizes our days. But amidst the overwhelming peacefUlness of the woodlands, I experience a bedrock calmness that makes natural and sincere the simple prayer that I may live constructively the days allotted to me upon this earth, and finally die unafraid.

Gordon Conklin, Editor ~merican Agriculturist and The Rural New Yorker RD #2, Trumansburg, New York THE SOCIEl'Y OF AMERICAN FORFSTERS FROM:

DaTid W. Taber, Public Affairs Officer, SUNY College of Environmental Forestry, Syracuse, N. Y. 13210 (Tel. 315-473-8766 - Res. 468-3716) SUBJECT: Logging Standards Developed

Science and

Timber harvesting guidelines for the adirondacks have been approved by the New York Section Society of American Foresters at their annual winter meeting on February 6 here.

John Stock of Tupper Lake, a commissioner of the Adirondack Park Agency, accepted a copy of the logging guidelines With the comment that they would be an appropriaye addition to the agency's efforts.

Dr. Ralph D. Nyland, chairman of the forest practice standards committee for the New York Section Society of American Foresters and researcher for the Applied Forestry Research Institute at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science apd Forestry, Syracuse, presented the guidelines with the comment, WWe wanted to lead the way into a new era of timber harvesting that will prevent problems from developing and safeguard forest lands from harmfUl side-effects of logging."

The timber harvesting quidelines list things forest managers and harvesting contractors can do to prevent problems from building up, and to safeguard forested lands against harmful side-effects of logging. They are concerned with preventing deterioration of the scenic values of the landscape along major traveled roads. Secondly, they protect streams and bodies of water from siltation and temperature changes which are detrimental to the ecology and fish populationso Thirdly, they are concerned with preventing unnecessary soil erosion along roads and skid trails. In general, according to Nyland, "They call for landowners, timber harvesting contractors, forest managers, and forest industries to plan carefUlly their log~ing operations to insure that our forests are kept productive and free of unnecessary harfUl side-effects of logging.u

Page

14

Cooperative Extension Specialist in Wood Utilization David W. Taber notes that professional land use planners in the Catskills and the Tug Hill areas, as well as throughout the state, are already interested in the application of these standards in their areas. Taber states that 45 percent of New York is commercially forested, and that the forest industry and 225 thousand forest land owners have a vested interest in proper forest management which provides a naturally renewable resource base forever. Also, he notes, with diminishing mineral resources and increasing costs, the consumers of wood products for furniture and homes should greatly be concerned with effective, efficient, and economical growing and harvesting of timber.

We welcome the following to membership in the New York Forest Owners Association: William P. Hull 40 Reservoir St. Cambridge, Mass. 02138

Mr.

Mr. William VanScoy Owego, N. Y.

Mr. Z 01 tan Nagy Bloomingburg, N. Y.

&

Mrs. Stuart McCarty

528 Murray Hill Rd. 13903

Binghamton, N. Y.

Mrs. Robert Ford is sponsoring 6 Junior memberships - 3 from Chenango Valley Jr. Sr. High School and 3 from Chenango Forks High School.

BULK RATE U. S. Postage PAID Binghamton, N. Y. Permit No. 132'

J)R. RIC'HARDV.

LEA

905 WESTCOTT ST. SYRACUSE, N.Y路.

1'210