The New York Forest Owner - Volume 19 Number 2

Page 1

Ii V(1

!k'ANewYor.

Forest Owner ~

N6/~

V. '1Q

WHITETAIL The first real Spring thaw brings the deer out in search of succulent morsels . after a long winter of buds, twigs and

conifer foliage. Deer linger in the fields of a March day, but will soon retire again to the thickets and copses, re-

stricting their movements more to the dim lit hours.

more

and


l

New York Forest Owner

Page 2

VOL. 19, No.2

THE NEW YORK FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION

In This Issue P. 2 New Members, Directors, Front Cover

P. 3 View from the President's Chair, NYFOA

P. 4 Current Events, Annual Meeting P. 5 Maturity, Memberships & Acquaintances, Loss

Determining

P. 6 Selling Your Timber P. 8 Lumber Buying Guide,

Heat

Jour-

nalism

P. 9 On the Calendar, Construction Humor

Log Cabin Schools, Broad

P. 10 Nebraska City, Nebraska-Where Arbor Day Spring, April

Began,

March,

P. 11 Maple Syrup, Acid Snow P. 12 Ask a Forester Front Cover

Photograph by Walter Lang of Marcellus Other pictures of his may also be seen in the Baltimore Woods calendar for 1981.

Calendar MARCH 14: • Board of Director's Meeting APRIL 25: • Annual Spring Meeting; College of Environmental Science and Forestry OCTOBER 10: • Annual Fall Meeting; Arnot Forest • There are no dates as yet for

WOODS

WALKS

MAY 11-16: • School III Log cabin construction MAY 18-23: • School #2 Log cabin construction

Welcome Our New Members FREDERICK BRANTON Foreman Forester Genesee Co. Park & Forest c/o Gen. Co. Hgwy. Dept. Mill St. Batavia. NY 14020 JOHN W. CARLIC Box 63 South Schodack. NY 12162 FRANK X. GEBERT P.O. Box 242 Vestal. NY 13850 MR. ALBERT GEDNEY Gramercy Avenue Rye. NY 10580

Published by the

NEW YORK FOREST OWNERS Association Editor

Evelyn A. Stock 5756lke Dixon Rd. Camillus. NY 13031 President

Howard O. Ward 240 Owego St. Candor,

.:

r.;

NY 13743

First Vice President

Robert L. Edmonds R1I3, Box 99 Marathon, Second

NY 13803

Vice President

Prof. Robert R. Morrow CHRISTOPHER J. HOWARD 3104 Ridgeway Ave. Rochester. NY 14606 DR. CHARLES L. PALMER 816 South Ave. Horseheads. NY 14845 STEVEN VAMOSY R.D. Box 382 Stamford. NY 12167

Dept. Natural Resources Fernow Hall, Cornell Univ. Ithaca, NY 14853 Recording

Secretary

Lewis DuMond 9 Grand St. Cobleskill, NY 12043 Treasurer

Emiel Palmer JOHN F. VAN GOTT Unadilla Laminated Products Unadilla. NY 13849

5822 S. Salina St. Syracuse, NY 13205

JAMES

Membership

GREGORY WARD Mountain Ave. Candor. NY 13743

Secretary

Helen Varian 204 Varian Rd. Peekskill, NY 10566

DONALD WEBER Brink Road Candor. NY 13743 MR. RICHARD WISE, SR. East Lake Rd. Skaneateles. NY 13152 SKY LAKE of WYOMING CONFERENCE, INC. Att. James Krager. Forester Box 270. RDII3 Windsor. NY 13865

It happened in a teenage rock-n-roll joint. The waiter dropped a tray of dishes and _six couples got up to dance.


New York Forest Owner

Page 3

The View From the President's Chair Christmas is past and all of us who had Christmas trees to sell sold all that we had. There appears to be a shortage of Christmas trees being grown in New York State at present. More and more landowners are getting into the business, however, and five to seven years from now there may be an oversupply. Your President was the speaker of the evening at the annual meeting of the New York Christmas Tree Growers Association in Syracuse on January 9. My topic was "An Alternate to Christmas Trees." I stated that in my case, the scotch pine which were not Christmas tree quality were left standing and are now serving as a nurse crop for hard maple. The maple is growing up virtually branch free in its attempt to reach sunlight through the pine. When my grandsons are grandfathers, they will be able to sell that maple and the scotch pine will have all died out. There is a possibility of a wood fiber shortage twenty years from now, and I (more likely, my children) may be able to sell the scotch pine as whole tree chips at that time. In this connection what would you think of this possibility? NYFOA becomes a cooperative (like Agway)

and buys equipment for whole tree harvesting and chipping. They could develop a market for the chips and serve the cooperating members by harvesting their wood fiber crop for a nominal fee. This won't happen right away but I am planting the seed of an idea in a lot of heads. Maybe it will germinate and sprout after awhile. At the Christmas Tree Growers meeting I pushed the thought that they should also be members of NYFOA. I was told by several that they would join. I hope that all of our members push for more members in our Association whenever they can. Our membership as of January 4, 1981 was 704. Let's get it to 1, 000 as soon as possible and then keep on growing. There are many woodlot owners in this state (as well as absentee landowners) who need the information which we have to offer for the proper management of their woodlots. The landowner (not the DEC forester, a consulting forester, or the logger) is responsible for the proper management and harvest of his woodlot. There are too many owners who haven't the vaguest notion of what they should do with the asset they have. NYFOA wants to help them become

more knowledgeable so that future generations will have timber to harvest. Let's spread the word. Howard O. Ward

NYFOA

Treasurer Retires It is with deep regret that the NYFOA Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Emiel Palmer as Treasurer of the Organization at its January meeting. Emiel is a charter member of the New York Forest Owners Association and has been treasurer since 1967. Before that he was either a member of the Board, or an officer since the first organizing meetings were held in 1961. The first official meetings of the organization were held in 1962. Emiel achieved a well deserved New York Forest Owner annual award for outstanding service, in 1978. His wife Carol has supported him in his efforts to help build the organization and the lunches she helped provide for the Board meetings were gourmet fare. Emiel plans to continue to be active in the organization but we will miss his special touch as treasurer. -Editor


,----------------------------------------------

Page 4

New York Forest Owner

Current Events By Robert Demaree

On many occasions, the question of prices and values of standing timber and cut logs and other products come up in our meetings. Requests have been made from time to time to publish such information in the Forest Owner. While probably not being able to answer this request totally, I will make some attempt at price reporting now and in the future. Many people consider the Department of Environmental Conservation's semi-annual Stumpage Price Report as the most authoritative source for this information because it is the only regular publication of statewide data. However, because of constantly changing market conditions and an imperfect data gathering system, the information in this report can very quickly become outdated. The report is available at all

Department offices and is also furnished to people in the business, such as sawmills, consultant foresters, timber buyers, etc. As a forest owner. if you have need for this information, you may go to your nearest Department office. They will have this report on file and you can refer to it and extract information for your area at your leisure. The report quotes stumpage prices by region for all the tree species that are commonly sold. It also reports the prices for pulpwood and since it includes northern hardwoods, a firewood price report is also available I can only report to you that over the past 18 months, prices have been steady or have declined due to a number of negative market factors. As I look at this report, I can see for instance that the average price for sugar maple appears

to be in the neighborhood of $100 per thousand on the stump: for black cherry. $150: for red oak. $150: white ash. $100: white pine. $40: hemlock, $40. These prices are extracted from the July 1980 issue of the Stumpage Price Report and are only averages. One of the things that becomes readily apparent in reading this report is that there are sharp regional differences. For instance. the most common stumpage price for black cherry in the western part of the state (the Jamestown area) is $170 per thousand: and it is quoted as low as $75 per thousand in the Hudson Valley. As you can see, a significant difference! I hope this information is helpful to you and if you have any further questions, you can write to me for particulars.

New York Forest Owners Association ANNUAL MEETING The 1981 annual meeting of the NYFOA has been scheduled for April 25 in Marshall Hall at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. The theme of the meeting will be forest finances - everything you always wanted to know about trees and money. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with a business meeting at 10 a.m. and the program to follow during the day. The program will again offer the workshop format with sessions on income and state taxes, forest valuation, and timber contracts. An excellent luncheon will be served and an awards ceremony will be conducted. To cap it all off, an optional tour of Carrier Dome will be given in the afternoon. The registration and luncheon fee for this meeting will be $10 per person. If you plan to attend, please fill out the preregistration form below and submit it as early as possible. Please return the form to: Robert Demeree 4 Northway Drive Cortland, NY 13045

NEW YORK FOREST OWNERS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING - APRIL 25, 1981 PRE-REGISTRATION

FORM

I am planning to attend the annual meeting in Marshall Hall at the College of Environmental will bring guests. Enclosed please find my check in the amount of $

for

Science and Forestry in Syracuse.

people.

Please return this form to: Robert Demeree 4 Northway Drive Cortland, NY 13045

(Name)

I


New York Forest Owner

MATURITY John H. Hamel. M.D. His weekly work was done. It was his time to wander, observe and admire his years of efforts, and enjoy this day, hiking a part of his one hundred ninety acres. It was a warm day in October with the anxious breeze, churning waters of his "Shadowbrook", and the active wildlife making it a truly hilarious experience. He had hiked it twenty-six years before with the seller, when it was a fallowing land of brush, pasture and a neglected woodlot. At that time he had felt the need to possess a large, wild piece of property. Perhaps the seeing of four deer with their white flags up, disappearing into the distance, finally clinched the sale, one that he would never regret. Noting three choices, he wisely and gladly chose the most prudent. First, he could cut the timber, and rape the soil for a monetary return, a thought quickly

MEMBERSHIPS and ACQUAINTANCES In the November-December Directory Issue of the New York Forest Owner are the names and addresses of approximately 480 individuals or husband-wife family memberships. Your President personally knows 59 or (1/4) one quarter of that number. He would like to know more of you! Will you, at the annual meeting in April, make it a point to introduce yourself and your family to me? I'd like to know as many of you, the membership, as possible on a first name basis. We're a family oriented organization and we should all be close friends if we are to accomplish our goals as a forest information group. Come shake my hand and introduce yourselves. Sincerely, Howard O. Ward, President New York Forest Owners Assoc.

GIFT MEMBERSHIPS The beginning of the year is a good time to renew your membership and give gift memberships. Gift memberships are $8 per person for a one year period. The more members the more services we .cen provide. Let's make this the best year ever.

Page 5 rejected. Second, he could just let nature take its course; no harm would be done. His third choice was a challenge to enhance what lay before him. Becoming a cooperator with his Soil and Water Conservation District was the answer. From them he learned about Silviculture and became a charter member of the New York State Forest Owner's Association and took one of the first conservation courses at Cornell's Arnot Forest. Later he was elected to membership in the American Tree Farm System. First, to reverse the trend in the woods, he would thin out competing trees, destroy the inferior ones; the opposite from what many owners have done, who took the best trees as needed and left the poor species. By thinning he would allow new growth, called browse, to spring up, to feed the deer, partridge and the other lesser species, because he realized few birds and animals live in a mature forest.

On the played-out pasture, he planted thousands of evergreen trees and shrubs that held their berries during the winter to provide emergency feed and cover. He even dug two ponds for swimming, fishing, ice skating and, surprisingly to become a haven for migratory geese and a home for muskrat: and mink. The years had passed and the results were beyond his dreams. He had privacy, peace and beauty. Each time he hiked the different areas, he found some new development of nature. Somehow, on this day as he meandered, strange thoughts were not to be denied. He also had matured! He had come into this world naked and would have to leave it naked. This beautiful land could not be his. It was simply a loan and he was the steward of it, not the owner. As he appreciated how generous nature had been to him, he remembered a line: "Great is the person who plants a tree beneath whose shade he may never sit."

DETERMINING HEAT LOSS The approximate heating requirements can be easily determined by using the formula listed below. There are more complex formulas taking into account more factors, but this one generally suffices.

BTU/hr

=

AU T

In order to use the formula, we must become familiar with the characters in it and how to use it. BTU/hr = British Thermal Units per hour, a standard used to describe heat loss through a material. A area exposed in square feet. U heat loss or heat flow factor expressed as BTU / OF/hr per square foot. T temperature difference between inside and outside. The design temperature for Long Island, New York is O째F. Therefore, the BTU's of any structure can be readily determined by multiplying the area exposed in square feet by the heat flow factor by the temperature difference. If more than one type of material is used" calculations must be made using the heat flow factor of each material and their totals accumulated. The heat flow factors of a variety of materials are listed in Table 1.

Table l.

Heat flow factors (commonly called heat transfer coefficients) for some construction materials (ASRAE).

U

Material

BTU/sq. ft./

OF/hr. Glass

1.13

Glass, double layer, Glass, triple layer,

1/4"

1/4"

space

spaces

0.65 0.47

Poly film, single layer

1.15

Poly film, double layer, separated'

0.70 l.00

FRP (Fiberglass) Concrete Concrete,

blocks, 8"

Cement-asbestos Foamed

0.51

6"

poured,

board, 1/2"

urethane,

I" plus

1/8" cement-asbestos Foamed

polystyrene,

1/8" cement-asbestos Concrete

board

0.14

I" plus board

0.21

block, 8" plus I"

foamed urethane Concrete

0.75 l.10

0.13

block, 8" plus I"

foamed polystyrene I" nominal softwood

0.18

0.56

Perimeter-uninsulated

0.8 BTU/hr-ft

Perimeter-insulated

0.4 BTU/hr-ft


Page 6

New York forest

Owner

SELLING YOUR TIMBER So the time has come to sell off part or all of your merchantable timber. As with any activity we enter into, there are alternatives to consider. As a forester with a sense of pride in what I do, nothing sickens me more than to see a thriving woodlot turned into a "war zone" due to unscrupulous harvesting methods. What can the average landowner do to prevent his woodlot from being butchered? Hopefully by reading the following article you will have a better idea before signing on the dotted line. Having worked for and in cooperation with several local, State and Federal agencies, I have had the opportunity to travel and see many different forestry practices administered from New York south to Tennessee. One of the most repeated and most abused practices was the harvest of timber from privately owned land. The usual way a logger, or logging company, buys standing timber is to merely approach a landowner and ask them if they have any timber they would like to sell. Many landowners don't know what they have so the logger offers to look at it. As he goes through the woodlot he makes a mental note of how many sawtimber trees per acre, their average board footage, and their quality. He also estimates the average tonnage of pulpwood (trees 6" to 10" in diameter breast height (DBH) per acre). He will then affix an average low and high price per acre, multiply them by the number of acres in the woodlot and arrive at a minimum and maximum price that he proposes to the landowner. After the woodlot inspection, the contractors seek the landowner and if he has sufficient monetary backing, will offer to buy the woodlot on the spot. A contract (drafted by him and favoring him) and a check are handed to the landowner. To receive his money all the landowner has to do is sign the contract. A contract is an agreement between two or more persons designed to protect the interests of both parties. And this is what a logging contract does. However, it can favor one over the other and it may not be obvious to the inexperienced eye. This favoritism and, consequently, who it favors depends on

who drafts the contract. As seen from the sellers point of view, such contracts should be avoided. Some loggers conveniently omit some very important items. For example, there may be no mention of a time when the contract is to expire. I would assume that this gives them the right to remove their machinery and bring it back at a later date, be it 1, 10 or 100 years later. A contract may make no mention of the size of tree that they will be cutting. As I mentioned earlier, pulpwood trees may be as small as 6 or 8 inches DBH. Some pulpwood companies will only accept stems that are straight and of a few specific species. In other words, the crooked, defective and low valued species remain on the woodlot. It's almost guaranteed that there will be no mention of esthetics or erosion control. It takes time, which means money, to construct water bars on main skid trails and logging roads. (Water bars divert excessive water off these avenues into the woods minimizing erosion). If woods roads and the landing area were to be back-bladed at the completing of the job the general appearance of the work area would be much improved. In addition, these areas could be utilized by the landowners for the removal of firewood. The loggers contract may also omit clauses concerning fence repair, displacement of tops on adjacent properties, the care taken to prevent harm to the residual timber stand, or that they will be covered by compensation and liability insurance. By observing a number of timber sale sites in Tioga County it's easy to assume that most loggers could care less what happens to a piece of land when they're there or, after they leave. Most will cut timber sized trees as small as 12 inches DBH (diameter breast high). Needless to say, that doesn't leave very much growing stock for the future. There will be some larger trees remaining when they leave. However, a closer inspection will reveal that these trees are hollow or highly defective. These low quality, genetically inferior, lower valued species will reseed the woodlot and in possibly 80 - 100 years, will again be harvestable. Obviously, low

grade timber will be the rule rather than the exception. The main concern of conservation oriented foresters, that is foresters in the private sector (consulting foresters) and State Foresters (DEC) is the proper use of the land and the production of high quality timber. Timber that is marked for removal by them will coincide with one of the silvicultural systems (the growing of trees) as learned in school and through practical experience. Trees of all diameter classes are removed in such a manner that sufficient room for growing is allowed between future crop trees. The crop trees that remain respond to the added amount of sunlight and diminished nutrient competition by increasing their diameter growth. Depending upon the site and species involved diameter growth at DBH can be as much as I" to 3" in ten years. Reprinted

with permission Tioga County Soil and Water Newsletter

The photos on the left are of a consultant supervised sale, while the photos on the right are of an unsupervised sale. Upper photos show the log landing and truck loading zone. Landing on supervised sale has been back bladed by a dozer as specified in the contract. Debris has been left behind at unmanaged landing (in the spring and fall of the year this area can be severely rutted). In the second set of photos logging activities were not permitted during the wet months of April and May in the supervised area. This prevented serious rutting as shown in photo at right. The third set of photos show what the woodlot looks like after the loggers leave. Note the size of the trees that remain as growing stock for future harvests in the managed area as opposed to those in the unmanaged area. The timber in the managed area will again be harvestable in 10 15 years. The last set of photos shows erosion caused by the lack of water-bars in the unmanaged woodlot road system. The photo of the managed woodlot shows a waterbar (marked by arrows) which reduces the quantity and velocity of the water coming down the road and diverts it into the woods.


New York Forest Owner

SUPERVISED

Page 7

UNSUPERVISED


Page 8

New York Forest Owner

LUMBER BUYING GUIDE FOR CONSUMERS 2" x 4" dimension lumber grades (Western Wood Products Assn.; grades listed from high to low based on strength:

This issues contributor to OBSERVATION is Vince Trawinski. Vince was hired by the District through the CETA program of the Tioga County Department of Manpower and Personnel on August 4th. Vince is a native of New Jersey who moved to the twin tiers in 1972. At the present time he lives on West Candor Road, in Candor. After graduating from the New York State Ranger School he was employed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a forest technician. His main employment activities centered around silviculture. He later accepted a position with Kimball Consulting Foresters in Ebensburgh, Pennsylvania. His main concerns there were with data collection, forest management and silviculture. Until recently, he was self-employed as a consultant specializing in timber stand improvement and timber sales. Vince writes this article from personal experience and observation. There are, however, other facts which support what he has written. A recent study showed that timber sales supervised by a consulting forester brought an average twenty-five percent higher selling price for the timber. The seller of the timber benefits by this in that the fee of a consulting forester for the average timber sale is ten to fifteen percent. This leaves at least a 10 percent increase in selling price. Selling timber should be handled the same as any large transaction. Get the price from more than one source. It will help your pocketbook as well as the residual stand left on your woodland.

JOURNALISM "What do you mean," roared the politician, "by publicly insulting me in your old rag of a newspaper? I will not stand for it, and I demand an immediate apology." "Just a minute," answered the editor. "Didn't the news appear exactly as you gave it to us, namely, that you had resigned as city treasurer?" "It did, but where did you put it? - in the column under the heading 'Public Improvements.' "

Grade Construction (light framing) Standard (light framing) Utility (light framing) Economy (light framing) Two special stud grades may be available:

Abbreviation or other designation Const. No.1 Stand No.2 Uti!. No.3 ECONOMY "Stud" and "Economy Stud".

Structural joists and planks 2" -4" thick x 6" & wider (Western Wood Products Assn.) Grades Grade Select Structural Number One Number Two Number Three

Abbreviation Se!. Str. No.1 No.2 No.3

Board grades for nominal l-Inch thick lumber (Western Wood Products Assn.). listed from highest to lowest based on appearance. 1WP = Idaho White Pine. Grade B & Better Select C Select D Select Colonial Sterling Standard Utility

Grades

Abbreviation or other designation 1 & 2 clear, Supreme-1 WP Choice-1WP Quality-1WP #1 Common 1 COM #2 Common 2 COM #3 Common 3 COM #4 Common 4 COM

Lumber Grades for boards of Eastern White Pine and Norway or Red Pine: (Northeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn.; NELMA grades). Grade D Select (& Better) Finish Premium Standard

Abbreviation

or other designation

No.1 & 2 Common No. 3 Common No. 4 Common

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 1. Boards are graded on the better side or face. 2. S-GRN means that the lumber was surfaced when its moisture content was above 19 percent. 3. S-DRY means that the lumber was surfaced when its moisture content was 19 percent or less. 4. S-15 means that the lumber was surfaced when its moisture content was 15 percent or less. 5. Board grades are based on appearance which relates to end -use. 'Prepared by David W. Taber, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Wood Utilization Service, 231 Baker Laboratory, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York 13210.


New York Forest Owner

Page 9

ON THE CALENDAR LOG CABIN CONSTRUCTION SCHOOLS We are building log cabins at Vanderkamp again this spring. It started with Mr. David Goff of Oneida, New York, who has been active at the New York State Fair as Director of the Museum and for many years headed up the log craft and log buildinq demonstrations there. His interest led to the construction of numerous log cabins in our area. He worked for the contractor training men and supervising the hewing handwork on Fort Stanwix in Rome, New York. He consulted on the planning for the Fort at Brewerton, New York. He did the handwork on Fort Atkinson in Nebraska and Fort Wayne in Indiana. From his demonstrations people have asked many questions and from requests he has been holding "Log Cabin Schools" to give people a "hands on" training experience. This is a week long affair and a real experience to have with this colorful, practical minded hewer of traditional log cabins. This year two schools are to be conducted here at Vanderkamp; May 11-16 and May 18-23. The result will be two hand built log cabins in one of our camping areas. We will be using our own logs from pole wood plantations, heretofore unmarketable, sphagnum moss for chinking from our own bogs. We will "trade" some prime Douglas Fir that is marketable for hemlock flooring, roof sheeting, frame and door materials. The only cost will be cement piers for foundation, screening and asphalt shingles. Windows, a pot belly stove and other conveniences can come later. School participants will be well versed on the construction of a log cabin by the end of the week - enough to build their own camp, second home or home; doing it themselves without mortgage or other institutional necessary exits. GENERAL INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND Are you one of a growing number of people who dream of owning their own home, but are finding their dream becoming impossible due to outrageously high material, labor and interest rates? If so, knowledge, experience and skill in log cabin building may provide you with one of the ways to own a beautiful home of your own. Building with logs is becoming increas-

ingly popular as a practical, very economical and exciting way of erecting a house or cabin. A log building is warm in winter, cool in summer, is immensely attractive and is completely suitable for the owner-builder. Vanderkamp, in cooperation with David Goff, regionally noted log builder, hewer and historian, will once again sponsor two Log Cabin Construction Schools in the spring of 1981. The course is oriented so that the student may learn through practical, hands on experience gained by going through all construction operations from the tree to the ridgepole. Techniques and skills learned in this way are not soon forgotten. The buildings are erected in the traditional, northeastern full round log style, a type extremely appropriate to the majority of people with limited time and/or labor. The course is open to all healthy men and women 17 years and up. Unusual strength is not required, while a certain amount of stamina and a genuine willingness to learn is. Our diverse groups in past courses have represented most trades and professions, a fact which facilitates an even richer learning environment. Four cabins have been completed. You are welcome to come and view the finished projects. COURSE CONTENT The six day (about 48 hours) Log Building Course is intensively structured to provide an inexperienced person with all the skills and information needed to completely erect a log building from the ground up. Specifically, each course includes instruction in: 1. Site preparation, squaring and leveling. 2. Tree felling techniques and safety procedures. 3. Discussion of tree and wood characteristics, strengths, R-factor, shrinkage, weight, decay resistance and identification. 4. Thorough introduction to the tools required, their care, safe use and pointers for locating sources for purchase. . 5. Peeling bark from logs with spuds, drawknives and custom tools. 6. Extensive and unique experience in raising logs on the building

using rope, pulleys and leverage, in order that a graduate can construct his own building without heavy machinery. 7. Two methods for laying floor support logs. 8. Experience in hewing floor joists with a broad axe. 9. Notching, leveling and setting logs. 10. Notching and setting second floor joists with full locking dovetail joints.

11. Preparing for and installing doors and windows with regard to log settling and movement, and structural loads. 12. Gable log roofs, rafters, purlins, ridgepoles and various roof support systems. 13. Field trip to a number of log buildings in the area. 14. Discussion of decay hazards and prevention including information on buildlng and roof design, building orientation, chemical preservatives and ventilation. 15. Discussion of the pros and cons of chinking material (ie. sphagnum moss, mortar, clay, poles, oakum and fiberglass) with actual experience in identifying, locating, collecting and using sphagnum moss. 16. Floor and roof insulation methods. 17. Porch construction (integrated and add ons). VANDERKAMP Martin Road, R.D.#l Cleveland, New York 13042 (315) 675-3651

BROAD HUMOR This sign on a New York service station: We collect taxes - federal, state and local. We also sell gasoline as a sideline. The biggest job Congress has is how to get the money from the taxpayer without disturbing the voter.


Page 10

New York Forest Owner

NEBRASKA CITY, NEBRASKA ... Where Arbor Day began The uniqueness of Arbor Day was summed up by its founder, J. Sterling Morton. In an address in 1887, he said, "Arbor Day ... which has already transplanted itself to nearly every state in the American Union and has even been adopted in foreign lands ... is not like other holidays. Each of those reposes on the past, while Arbor Day proposes for the future." Arbor Day in New York State is April 24th. In 1872 Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture an annual tree planting day to be called "Arbor Day." Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for properly planting the largest number of trees on that day. The first Arbor Day was observed in Nebraska with the planting of one million trees. Morton continued his campaign for trees throughout his life, gaining a national forum as Grover Cleveland's Secretary of Agriculture. Morton's Nebraska City home, Arbor Lodge, is now a state historical park managed by the Game & Parks Commission. The grounds contain a magnificent arboretum of more than 160 varities of trees. Morton's beautifully restored home is open for tours from mid-April until the first of November, and the grounds are open year round. The National Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit organization working toward a goal of improving tree planting and care throughout the country, especially in the nation's cities.

The Foundation presents Arbor Day Awards for effective tree promotional and planting projects by the media, corporations, organizations, and individuals. The work of organizations in fostering tree planting will continue to be a critical factor in the beautification of our cities and countryside. The Arbor Day Awards recognize and encourage the best of these activities. Through the Foundation's various communication programs, millions of people are made more aware of the importance of tree planting and care. Public Service Advertising tells the story of trees and their role in our environment. The Foundation publishes materials on ways Arbor Day can be effectively observed in schools and communities, and provides informational brochures to assist local groups in their Arbor Day activities. To become involved in the work of the National Arbor Day Foundation in your community, you can obtain information on the following: • Tree City USA • Arbor Day Awards Program • Ideas on observing Arbor Day Cut out and mail to the National Arbor Day Foundation, Arbor Lodge 100, Nebraska City, NE 68410, or phone (402) 474-5655.

Ah! passing few are they who speak Wild stormy month in praise of thee; Yet though thy winds are loud and bleak Thou art a welcome month to me. For The And And

thou, to northern glad and glorious thou hast joined uiear'st the gentle

lands again sun dost bring the gentle train, name of Spring.

And in thy reign of blast and storm Smiles many a long, bright summer day When the changed winds are soft and warm

And heaven puts on the blue of May. -Bryant

SPRING What did Spring-time whisper? o ye rivulets, Waking from your trance so sad, Pleased to welcome fisher-lad With his little nets, Speed, for summer's in the air, Prattle, for the breeze is warm, Chatter by the otter's lair. Bubble past the ivied farm; Wake the primrose on the banks Bid the violet ope her eyes Hurry in a flood of thanks. Underneath, serener skies! What a revel's coming soon. Fairies trooping o'er the leas, Making magic by the moon, Crowned with wood anemones! What a haunted heart the thrush Nurses in the blackthorn bush, Full of splendid songs to sing, Cheery welcomes of the SpringSpring is come!

The Foundation's Tree City USA program is sponsored in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The program provides guidelines which help communities establish a comprehensive care program for their trees. Winning cities receive a Tree City USA flag, plaque, and signs to place at community entrances. To be named as a Tree City USA, a community must have a Tree Board or department; a city tree ordinance; a comprehensive community forestry program; and an annual Arbor Day observance. Many participating communities have found a significant improvement in public support for their tree programs.

MARCH' The stormy March is come at last With wind, and cloud, and changing skies; I hear the rushing of the blast That through the snowy valley fliei/.

-Norman

Gale

APRIL The celebration of Arbor Day is one of the best ways to call attention to the importance of tree planting. The Foundation promotes Arbor Day through Public Service Advertising and provides ideas to schools and communities so they can better observe the tree planters' holiday.

"Oh, how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day! Which now shows all the beauty of the sun and by and by a cloud takes all away." - Two Gents of Verona Shakespeare


Page 11

New York Forest Owner

ACID SNOW MAY HAVE MORE TOXIC EFFECTS THAN ACID RAIN

MAPLE SYRUP ...

The First Sign of Spring

How it All Began The first settlers in New England found that the Indians had a festive season in which they collected maple sap. They cut a gash in the tree and gathered the sap in bark receptacles The sap was then poured in wooden troughs where the water was steamed off by dropping heated stones into the sap. The northern colonists were quick to utilize the maple as a source of sweetening. and it was often the only sweetening available.

Range of Production The production .of maple syrup is confined to the northern range of the sugar maple tree - northeast United States and the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario. In the United States. New York and Vermont are the leading producers - New York State has led in production in ten of the past thirteen years.

Amount of Syrup Produced Weather conditions during the spring sap-flow season influences to a very significant extent the amount of syrup that is produced. In the United States there is approximately one million gallons of syrup produced each year. The value of the syrup exceeds ten million dollars. New York State leads all states in production. producing approximately 30% of the annual national production.

The Tree All native maples have sweet sap. but almost the entire production comes from the sugar maple. Other species such as red. silver. and big leaf maples have low yields of sap and the sap is low in sugar content. Some sugar maple trees produce more sap than others and the amount of sugar in the sap varies from tree to tree. The trees that prod uce the sweetest sap are often the trees that also produce the largest quantity of sap. Large trees with large crowns having dense foliage are the best producers. Trees that grow in the open with full exposure to the sun generally have such a form and are good producers. Heredity in regard to sugar content seems to be. important also.

Maple Sap Maple sap is a dilute solution of water and sugar along with traces of other compounds. The sugar that is present in the sap is manufactured in the leaves of the trees during the summer months.

By David Stewart

The process involves the chemical action of water supplied by the soil. carbon dioxide from the air. and chlorophyll. which occurs in the structures called plastids inside the leaf cells. It usually requires between 30-40 gallons of sap to produce a gallon of syrup.

Maple Syrup It is the boiling process which develops the characteristic flavor and color. Syrup with a clear. light amber color. free of cloudiness and with a mild maple flavor is considered to be the highest quality product: however. many individuals prefer the dark syrup with the stronger maple flavor. Maple syrup is obtained from the sap when sufficient water has been removed from the sap through the boiling process to concentrate the sap to a point when its specific gravity is 1.32 and of the solids 95% is sucrose. Maple syrup of a standard density is obtained when the boiling point is 7 degrees above the boiling point of water. Maple sugar is produced by continued boiling beyond the syrup stage. Pure maple syrup has approximately the same calcium content as an equal volume of whole milk. according to Forest Manager. John H. Engleton at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry Forest Experiment Station on Lafayette Road in Syracuse. Maple syrup may be purchased there. For information call: (315) 469-3053.

MAPLE SYRUP PRICES 1980 According to the New York Crop Reporting Service of the Dept. of Agriculture and Markets at the State Campus. in Albany in their November 18. 1980 Bulletin the average value of the 1980 maple syrup crop in New York was $15.30 per gallon equivalent for all sales. This was $1.80 per gallon higher than the preliminary estimate in May and $2.20 more than the final average for the 1979 crop. The average retail price for syrup in gallon containers was $16.30. up $1.95 from last year. This is $4.54 cents higher than the 1976 price.

TORONTO - Adirondack Mountain snows may please skiers. but for fish in mountain lakes these snows may be even more toxic than acid rain. according to preliminary research findings from Cornell University. Acid rain is precipitation polluted by large amounts of sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted from industrial and power plants. automobiles. and other manmade sources. Acid snow is its frozen counterpart. Prevailing winds carry the pollutants from large industrial areas in the midwest to eastern North America where they mix with precipitation to form acid rain and acid snow. Scientists agree that this acid precipitation has caused substantial damage to aquatic life in New York State's Adirondack Mountains region by raisinq the acidity in lakes to toxic levels. New research shows that acid snow may be at least as damaging as acid rain. particularly when the spring melt and run-off reach a peak. The Adirondack watershed study is being carried out for the Electric Power Research Institute and the federal government. Investigators from Brookhaven National Laboratory. Colgate University. Dartmouth College. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Smith College. Cornell University. and the University of Virginia are participating. along with Tetra Tech.. a consulting firm. and the U.S Geological Survey.

A MAN WHO had just been promoted to vice-president boasted so much about it to his wife that she finally retorted: "Vice-presidents are a dime a dozen. Why, in the supermarket they even have a vicepresident in charge of prunes." Furious, the husband phoned the supermarket in the expectation of refuting his wife. He asked to speak to the vice-president in charge of prunes. "Which kind?" was the reply. "Packaged or bulk?"

QUOTABLE QUOTES Anyone can easily make a slip or even a mistake. But do not make the same error once more, not to mention time and again.


New York Forest Owner

Page 12

Non profit org bulk rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID Camillus, N.Y.

13031 Permit No. 57

Evelyn A. Stock Editor 5756 Ike Dixon Rd. Camillus, N.Y. 13031

ASK A FORESTER By AI Roberts

Question: I have heard various opinions about section 4S0-A of the Real Property Tax Law. Do you feel it would be a good deal for me to sign my property up under it? Answer: My answer would be an unequivocal yes, and no. In case that doesn't answer your question I will elaborate. First, you might not even be eligible. I had one man who had me out to look over his 100 acre property relative to signing him up under 4S0-A and I had to tell him he was not eligible. He had 40 acres of brushy pasture, 30 acres of hay field and 30 acres of woods. The requirement is, in general terms, that you must have at least 50 acres of woods. He could have made himself eligible by planting trees on his 30 acre hay field, but he did not choose to do this. Assuming that you are eligible, here are some of the "ifs'' .... If your proper-

ty is in the southeastern part of the state you would have a strong economic incentive to sign up, as the land tax rates there are practically confiscatory. If you are paying $30 per acre per year and you can save approximately SO% of your taxes you tend to overlook some of the severe disadvantages of the law. I will spell these out later. If you are temperamentally, philosophically and psychologically able to contend with the state dictating very closely how you will manage your land, then you also might sign up. If you have a considerable amount of mature timber I would recommend not Signing up .... at least not until after you have cut the timber, since there is a 6% severance tax on all products harvested from the property once you have signed up (except on a small amount of wood cut annually for your own use).

The following are the disadvantages I mentioned. They are in no particular order of importance, as that would vary with each individual case. If you look into the law in detail you may even think of some I have missed. 1. You will probably have to hire a consulting forester to draw up a fairly complicated and detailed management plan. This is required by the D.E.C which administers the program. 2. You must carry out the plan, which will require that all stands receive their optimum treatment to the minimum extent of 10 acres per year. If you were unable to do the work yourself. it would cost up to $50 per acre to hire it done. Fifty percent Federal cost sharing, if available, could lighten the burden. 3. You must harvest any timber which is considered mature by the D.E.C, and pay 6% of the stumpage value in lieu of taxes. 4. You must not cut any timber unless it is approved by the D.E.C in your management plan. 5. Any failure on the owners part to follow the management plan will result in a penalty amounting to 2lj2 times the amount of taxes you would have paid if your land had not been under 4S0-A. Now, does that answer your question? If not, see your closest D.E.C office for details.

Do you have problems or questions about your trees or woodlot, or a woodlot you would like to have? Contact Al Roberts, our "Ask A Forester" columnist. His address is R.D.#3, Cortland, NY 13045.


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