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

FOREST OWNER

Vol. 13 April 1, 19'75 No. 2Editorial Committee,

William M. Roden, Chairman ••••••••••••Trout Lake, Diamond POint, N. Y.Lucille Betts Helen VarianDavid H. Hanaburgh William Lubinec

Merle Wilson, Editor•••••••••••• 24 Louisa St., Binghamton, N. Y. 13904

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

***************~ticle PagePresident's eolumn ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2Minutes of the Board of Directors •••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2Timber Harvesting •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3

Timber Sale Contract Form ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 4Letter from Robert S. Jonas •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 6Ward Tree Farm - Howard O. Ward •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 7Report fr~ Conmittee of Education - Alfred Najer •••••••••••• 11Pinewald Society to Meet ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 11Letter from Dave Cook •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 12Letter from Helen Varian ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 12Letter from William J. Jones ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 12Healing Trees •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 13The Society of American Foresters - David W. Taber ••••••••••• 13New Members •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 14

The following directors wereWilliam LubinecVerner HudsonBarbara PittengerRobert Sand

present:Allen BrattonDavid HanaburghJ. Lewis DuMondJohn Ridings

Evelyn StockFrancis RosaLloyd StrombeckErniel Palmer

Page 2-,

PRESIDENT IS COLUMN - Wm. Lubinec

There comes a time when I pause in retrospect with reference to the New York ForestOwners Association and ask myself, what have we done with our organization. I can honestlysay we have accomplished the followinc;

1. Our membership has increased slightly, but not enough~ when one member can bringin twenty new members in one year, this does not speak eloquently of the rest of us. Askyourself, have I honestly tried to get at least one new member? Invariably your answer willbe 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 wayto 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 paperand send your letter to the editor. You may have some good ideas on how to improve our pub-lication, 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 communicatewith 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 cuttingexpenses that can be cut. We will be evaluating the budget on every board meeting so thatwe can put a damper on things that might tend to get out of hand or spark things along thatmay require a prod. We came close to losing this organization onoe and we don't want thisto happen again.

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

Remember this is your organization, and we need all of you heart and soul as we havea tremendous job to do with restoring our woodlands. We as a nation of 6% of the world'spopulation use 30% of the production of the world's production of wood. Currently we areimporting approximately 20% mostly in the form of pulp from canada and some imported woodfrom 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 DirectorsNew York Forest Owners AssociationChenango Country Club, Chenango Bridge, New YorkJanuary 25, 1915

ltlilliamLubinec, President, presiding.

Minutes of the 78th meeting, October 12, 1914, were read by the secretary and uponmotion 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 registra-tion of 36 for the fall meeting the registration fee had nearly paid the expenses. Thisreport was approved.

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

John Ridings reported for the Budget and Finance committee showing the budget items andthe 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 bechanged to the calendar year. Upon motion of Strombeck, seconded by Hanaburgh, this wasapproved 0

Page 3President Lubinec appointed the following committee for the Fall meeting with the pos-

sible location to be Arnot Forest: Verner Hudson, Chairman; Robert Sand, Fred Winch andAlex 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 businessis 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 oneither April 12 or April 19.

Allen Bratton reported that names have been submitted for the Heiberg Award and thatthey 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 listof officers which may or may not be directors.

He also suggested that, "No one may serve more than two consecutive terms of one yearas 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 OFFICERSconcerning the appointment and duties of an Executive Vice President, be deleted.

Another recommendation of the Committee was that, "In order to obtain more participationthe 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 theparagraphs 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 Countyon February 14, 1975, concerning forest assessment and taxation. He stated that the propertyowner should know the new law. It's purpose is to produce value for growing trees with thevalue 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 meetinghave 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-lawsbe changed increasing the single membership from $6.00 to $7.00, and the family membershipfrom $10.00 to $12000.

The Budget committee is to investigate the printing costs of the IIForest Owner" andto 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 bedone 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 heightseach year, however, lets not be tempted by the fast dollar from our timber, that took sev-er~l decades to grow.

Isn't it time you had some professional forester, either State or private go throughyour woodlands if you haven't already done this? Get an inventory of what we have and setup a plan of work for the future year's management. Join the State Forest Practice Act andreceive free service by a state Forester in your management, or hire a private forester ifyou 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 ofmuch "cull " mater ials from our woodlands. Even if'we only realize a "br eak-even" on the fir ewood sales, it's a real "shot-in-the-arm" to the trees left for timber, as growth rates willincrease tremendously when realized.

If' you have saleable timber or wood of any kind to sell, first think, ~how am I goingto ~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)

1. The owner agrees to sell and the purchaser agrees to buy and cut all timber marked for cutting by the owneror 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 atract of land belonging to the owner situated in the Town of County ofState of New York, comprising approximately acres described as follows:

TIMBER SALE CONTRACT FORM(Not A Legal Document - Sample Only)

AGREEMENT entered into this day of , 19 _

BETWEEN _____________ of _

hereinafter called the owner

and _ of _

hereinafter called the purchaser.

WITNESSETH:

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, toskid, 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 fromthe above described land, the location thereof to be by mutual agreement which shall include all necessaryrighrs-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 specifiedlog rule and per standard cord (4' x 4' x 8') for cordwood or pulpwood:

__________ at $ _ per _

__________ at $ _ per _

__________ at $ per _

__________ at$ _ per _

OR

(b) Agrees to pay the owner 1'1 lump sum payment in full of $ for all of the marked timberspecified in this contract.

(c) Agrees to pay for all material included in this agreement prior to removing same from the owner'sproperty and further agrees to remove all such material on ~r before , 19 . Any andall material included in this contract remaining on the owner's property after this date shall revert to the posses-sion 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 hisagents in violation of the terms of this contract. He shall not, however, be penalized for cutting unmarked treeswhen 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 diameterof the tree at the cut.

(c) All sound trees shall be utilized to a top diameter inside the bark of inches for hardwoodsand inches for softwoods; all softwood tops and branches shall be disposed of in accordance with the Con-servation Law, where applicable.

(d) Young trees shall be protected against unnecessary injury; only dead trees and less valuable kindsmay be used for construction purposes in connection with the logging operation and all existing roads shall bekept 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 en-dangering the woodland described in this agreement.

(f) Agrees that this contract shall be void and of no effect unless the purchaser shall secure compensa-tion insurance for the benefit of, and keep insured during the life of this contract, such employees as are requiredto be so insured by the provisions of Chapter 41 of the Laws of 1914 of the Workmen's Compensation Law andActs amendatory thereof. If by reason of partnership status or some other reasons of exemption, compensationinsurance 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 improvementsthat by mutual agreement with the owner are judged to be in excess of reasonable wear and tear in the harvestingof this timber.

C. FURTHER, IT IS MUTUALLYAGREED THAT:

1. All sawtimber will be scaled by the Log Rule based on the measurement of theaverage diameter at the small end of the log, inside the bark, to the nearest inch, except where the Mid-DoyleRule is designated which calls specifically for measurement at the "middle diameter". Said materials are to bescaled 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 assignedwithout 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, oneof whom shall be selected by the owner and another to be selected by the purchaser and in case the two selectedshall disagree, they shall select a third arbitrator, and the decision of the majority of the three arbitrators shallbe final.

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

WITNESS:

___________________ Owner L. S.

___________________________ Purchaser L. S.

LETTffi FROM ROBERT S. JONAS

Page 6find out who the buyers are. The Conservation Department has available, a list of buyerswhich can be contacted, or you may want to hire a timber agent who can do the entire job foryou, i.e. findin~ a buyer, obtaining the best price, writing a contract with the buyer, andmakin« sur e it is adhered to. For these services, a set fee is charged, and this can varyaccording 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 forthi~ 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 obtaina qualified person to advise you if you are not certain of everything. An ounce of precau-tion 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 Ihave, 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. Name and address of buyer and seller.2. Date of instrument and place of execution.30 Items bought and sold; species, specifications.4. Exact location and legal description of the area.5. Provision for marking boundaries.6. Declaration of seller's ownership and right to convey.7. Conditions governing removal.8. Provision for buyer's ingress and egress.9. Care of other property: fences, roads, fields, buildings, young trees, reserved,

timber, telephone lines, wildlife.10. Provision for liquidated damages.110 Fire protection.12. Method and place of Bcalin~ or measurement, lo~ rule, lumber measure, stump diameter

and height.13. Price basis: lump sum, price per M. bd, ft., price per pitece.14. Method and terms of payment.15. Duration of agreement.16. ProviSion for or against renewal option; price of option.170 Clause for arbitration in ,case of disagreement; who pays for same.18. Provision for close utilization: etump height, maximum top diameter, size of lumber

to be sawed.19. Ownership of by-products: slabs, tops, sawdust, stumps.20. Statement of whose loss if timber is destroyed or stolen after execution of the

contract 0

210 Provision for or against assignment of the contract.22. Financial responsibility of the buyer.23. Si~nature6 of both parties.24. Notarization.25. Registration.

TIMBER SALE CONTRACT FORM (included)Harold Tyler, Committee ChairmanTimber Harvesting and Marketing

Dear Sir:

Mr. Merle Wilson, Editor Forest Owner24 Louisa StreetBinghamton, No Y. 13904

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 sour-ces 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 districtsrely on the U.SoD.A. Soil Conservation Service for technical assistance.

Conservation planning assistance is available to landowners and operators through thevarious districts. This is an acre by acre proces8 in which the landowner indicates hisneeds and desires and the planner offers alternative means to achieve them. The resultantplan is a blueprint for future management of the area in question. It reflects the operator'sdecisions based on factual information and suggestions furnished by the S.C.S. or districttechniciano

I am fully convinced that in order to successfully grow any crop we need to know some-thing about the limitations and capabilities of the soil with which we are working. Differ-ent 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 togood woodland management. The best source of soils information is the soil and water conser-vation 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 arebeing made to accelerate soil mapping in the rest of the state. When mapped, soils areclassified according to a national system. After the soil classification is identified onecan 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 readilyrecommend measures which are needed to overcome them. Planning assistance is available, freeof cost, fram every district. A trained technician will go over your forest property withyou. He will help you make a conservation plan for your woodlands based on the capabilitiesof 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 mapoIf 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 experi-enced evaluation of soil characteristics. ;fuen your plan is completed the district will pro-vide technical help in properly installing the measures called for in the plan. Some dis-tricts provide other services, too, at reasonable rates. These may include hauling seedlingsfrom the nursery, tree planting, woodland thinning and pruning, pond stocking, and pond man-agementc

The purpose of this letter is to call attention to one more source of free woodlandmanagement helpo Your soil and water conservation district office is usually located in thecounty seat. It may be listed in the telephone directory under U. S. Government, Departmentof Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service.

I admit to having an "occupational Hang-up" in this matter, having worked for the SoilConservation Service. for nearly thirty yearso On the other hand, I am a charter member ofthe New York Forest Landowners Association. In that capacity, I think that some of our newermembers would be ~short-changed" if they were not informed of this valuable source of help.

Sincerely,Robert S. Jonas

WARD TREE FARM - Howard o. WardCertified Tree Farm

NYFOA Newsletter Editor

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

-~-- .•.. - - -

Page 8I object to this, not because it is a bad practice from the standpoint of timber pro-

duction, but because it is bad for the owner, psychologically. Here's whyoA 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 neversee a harvest. With a harvest only once in a lifetime, and individual is bound to lose in-terest, to say nothing of paying taxes on the land all those years with income from anothersource. (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 hard-woods which will produce a marketable crop every 15 years. This will require thinning on amuch less stringent basis and that primarilly on wolf and cull trees. Spacing would not begiven 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 evenaged 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 re-sults. 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, andhad thinned about 15 acres on the basis of present NY State forest practice. Let's do an-other 15 acres on the basis of sustained production with a harvest eTery 12 to 15 years. Iwould require that I be a member of the team marking this comparatiye section.

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

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

Here's to good, small forests!Howard 00 Ward, 240 Owego Street, R.D. 2, Candor, N.Y. 13743

Board of DirectorsTioga County Soil & Water Conservation DistrictGrand Union Plaza135 Main StreetOwego, N. Y. 13827Gentlemen:

As a former Director of the District, I maintain a high interest in the District activi-ties. Your Vol. 3, No. 2 Newsletter was excellent. As Chairman of the Tioga County Ag Dis-tricts Advisory Committee, I commend you for your article on Ag Districts in this issueo Ihope that more of Tioga County's farmers will take advantage of Ag Districting before thepressure on land development gets too greato

As the operator of one of the 337 Certified Tree Farms in New York State, I urge allfarmers 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 theAssociation recommending a change in forest practice to call for "all agedll farm forests witha regular harvest of timber on a 15 year (plus or minus) basis rather than on the 50 or 60year basis now recommended by State foresters. The primary reason for this recommendationis to keep up the interest of land owner in the management of his forest as an agriculturalcropo If the crop occurs once in two generations, who has the interest to manage the forestproperly?

Page 9I 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 suitablefor the growth of trout but not their propagation. Therefore, perhaps a program of stockingwhich would mix trout and bass (which would propagate) would be advisable. Your advice willbe appreciatedo

Both invited and uninvited fishermen work my pond. Consequently, I've decided that aself-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 ap-plication blanks for pond re-stocking.

In conclusion, I would also like to point out that, as of September of this year, thetax laws of New York State have been revised to protect the Forest Owner from excessivetaxation 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 NewYork Forest Owners Association and should point out to all woodlot owners that there is away 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 resourcesand 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 theba i.t ,

I'd like to meet Ed. All I know about him is that he's a free lance writer and has beenmarried 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 youropponento I'll give Ed an advantage and tell something of myself as it relates to forestryand our discussion.

My Grandfather, O. J. Ward, was a lumberman in Michigan and New York for 25 years eitherside of 19000 In the early 1920's he bought the farm that is now my tree farm for thetimber. After the timber was harvested, my dad, who had graduated from the School of For-estry in (I think) 1914 when it was still at Cornell, used it to pasture cattle. Dad (Ken-neth 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 hadstood completely idle for 7 years because Dad had had several head of heifers rustled fromthere and dared not risk continuing it as pasture. Lloyd and I sold timber from the farmtwo years after we bought it for twice what we paid for the farm. Dad accused me of cheatinghim, 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 myfour 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 todetermine, 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 Super-visor 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 changedto 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'sbirthplace; 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 ·old stick-in-

Page 10

the-mud" conservati~e. In continuation of our exchange, I'm not going to continue the re-ference to paragraphs by number or letter. I think we'~e reached the point of philosophisingwithout that need.

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

Free Market - I'm still convinced that "Yankee Trader" ingenuity is still the best mar-ket control you'll e~er see. I'~e been a contributor to and student of the Foundation forEconomic Education since the late 1940's. I've had some very stimulating and gratifyingcorrespondence 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 inthe 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 agriculmralproduce on the U. S. economy. In other words, the grain brokers who made the deal wereacting in a free market and were smart enough to capitalize on it. Unfortunately, a dealof that size transcends ordinary business because it affects the national economy almostimmediately.

I'd allow Congress and the President to scrutinize such deals before they are finalizedand 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 eventuallydisappear.

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 Bureau-crats manage my business. I think Ed would also object if he were told how much per wordhe'd receive on a freelance article. This type of control would pay the hack as much asthe 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 siltcomes from dirt road ditches, construction sites and stream banks.

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

Clear Cutting Forestry - I said that good forest practice has determined that clearcutting is the best. If Ed had attended the NYFOA school at Cornell last month, he wouldhave heard the arguments for t'lis and the procedures that are followed in re-seeding thearea, either by man or by nature from purposely maintained seed trees adjacent to the cut-over area ,

I will agree with Ed that this is probably not the best method for the small forestowner 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 "allaged" small forest with a 15 year harvest cycle will maintain Owner interest and probablyresult in greater timber production in the long run.

Today (Oct. 26, 1974) I took part in a tour of Tioga County conducted by the CooperativeExtension ~ssociation to show community leaders what Agriculture means to our communityin both economy and land use. One of my major obser~ations was the large numberof acres ofwoodland and the poor quality of those woodlands. I plan to work toward the improvement ofthose woodlands for the benefit of their Owners and the generations which will come afterus. 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 ex-tent 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 ~dvisoryCommittee, I have helped to establish two large Ag districts in the county and expect moreto follow soon.

More, Ed?Howard 0 •.Ward

Page 11REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE OF EDUCATION

Alfred NajerWith 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 locationopposi te the main entrance. The theme of the EKhibi t was: "Money Grows on Trees·t• We hadfor distribution membership brochures, numerous Extension Dept and Conservation leaflets,also from Cornell University, through member Alex Dickson, announcements for the CornellSchool for Forest Owners to be held in Ithaca during September. There were members in at-tendance during the entire weeks run including Director and Mrs. Jens Hansen, Town of ChesterSupervisor and Mrs Houar d Swan, Mr. Sam Starbuck and others.

To expand the activities of the committee I should like to hear from members interestedto 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 childrensuch 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! milesfrom yillage of Richmond ville.

Bring your own picnic lunch or grill l~nch as you wish. Pack in your own water, excel-lent 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 theirgrowth the last 15 years has been far better than the previous 40 years. This forest isNOT involved with any plan - the three generation family is doing ALL of the thinning, trim-ming 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 ofthe 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 Bringcameras. Ed askes one question - is the dead white pine thin-out worth more as 18" fireplace wood for a farmer's cord than as white pine lumber stock? Answer that one in ourpresent energy shor tage , Oh , and take back a trailer load or some in back of your stationwagon and lots of white dead limbs which have been thinned. Bring your hand saw and takesome home - FREE.

Bring old card table and folding chairs for YOUR group. Be sure to write Ed if you planto come as he would like to know because of limited traffic up the road now, but wants notraffic jam. Signs with arrows and PI~aLD will be hung on junction of 10 and BeargulchRoad at top of hill IN VILLAGE of Richmond~il1e and also on Junction of Beargulch Road andFox's Vlie Road - both are RIGHT turns. Do not turn right up hill in village - that goesto Brooker Hollow.

Page 12LETTER 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 lessbranching and a narrower crown. This is supposed to have been brought to Long Island by aQuaker 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 justwest of Schenectady and Hoosic. Another of its peculiar characteristics is that it rarelyif 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 YorkState nurseries, so we presently "forgot" about it.

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

It may well be that shipmest locust is no more than an ecological form that does excep-tionally well on Long Te.Land , But then, Hungarian seed grown at and distributed from theSaratoga and planted on Long Island has done fantastically weIll Whether it will be freefrom 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~lLSo 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,NVARIAN

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

Yours truly,Helen Varian, Marn. Secretary

LETTm FROM WILLIAM J. JONES66 Glenmont DriveRochester, N.Y. 14617

N. Y. F. O.

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

There is no question that I have a strong aversion to snowmobiles, the noise destructionof 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 trackwhich has been used for at least 75 years as access to a large field. In the early springwhen the thaws came the snowmobile tracks had packed and frozen because of a kind of channelunder which the melting water from the area ran. Before I could use the road to the hayfield I found it necessary to disc and drag the road and mulch it in several placeso Thisyear the sno~mobiling trespassers came again thru the same road after cutting wires andremoving temporary barricades. We had a January thaw and this time with heavy snow, andthe snowmobile tracks were like a chute. The water came down the slight slope and overflowed

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

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

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

William J. Jones

HEALING TREESI 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 thefields in order to harvest hayl

My father perceived that he didn't own the most responsive land in the world, and sohe began to plant evergreen trees several decades ago. He continued to farm most of theland in order to make a living •••and send four children through college •••but, after thekids had left home, he planted more and more land to trees. While growing up, I used to goon long walks with him from time to time •••through our own woodlands, and through the syl-Tan splendor of neighboring hills.

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

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

Gordon Conklin, Editor ~merican Agriculturist and The Rural New YorkerRD #2, Trumansburg, New York

THE SOCIEl'Y OF AMERICAN FORFSTERS

FROM: DaTid W. Taber, Public Affairs Officer, SUNY College of Environmental Science andForestry, Syracuse, N. Y. 13210 (Tel. 315-473-8766 - Res. 468-3716)

SUBJECT: Logging Standards Developed

Timber harvesting guidelines for the adirondacks have been approved by the New YorkSection 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 acopy of the logging guidelines With the comment that they would be an appropriaye additionto the agency's efforts.

Dr. Ralph D. Nyland, chairman of the forest practice standards committee for the NewYork Section Society of American Foresters and researcher for the Applied Forestry ResearchInstitute 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 anew era of timber harvesting that will prevent problems from developing and safeguardforest lands from harmfUl side-effects of logging."

The timber harvesting quidelines list things forest managers and harvesting contractorscan do to prevent problems from building up, and to safeguard forested lands against harm-ful side-effects of logging. They are concerned with preventing deterioration of thescenic values of the landscape along major traveled roads. Secondly, they protect streamsand bodies of water from siltation and temperature changes which are detrimental to theecology and fish populationso Thirdly, they are concerned with preventing unnecessary soilerosion along roads and skid trails. In general, according to Nyland, "They call for land-owners, timber harvesting contractors, forest managers, and forest industries to plan care-fUlly their log~ing operations to insure that our forests are kept productive and free ofunnecessary harfUl side-effects of logging.u

BULK RATEU. S. Postage

PAIDBinghamton, N. Y.Permit No. 132'

Page 14Cooperative Extension Specialist in Wood Utilization David W. Taber notes that profes-

sional land use planners in the Catskills and the Tug Hill areas, as well as throughout thestate, are already interested in the application of these standards in their areas. Taberstates that 45 percent of New York is commercially forested, and that the forest industryand 225 thousand forest land owners have a vested interest in proper forest managementwhich provides a naturally renewable resource base forever. Also, he notes, with diminish-ing mineral resources and increasing costs, the consumers of wood products for furnitureand homes should greatly be concerned with effective, efficient, and economical growingand harvesting of timber.

We welcome the following to membership in the New York Forest Owners Association:William P. Hull40 Reservoir St.Cambridge, Mass. 02138

Mr. & Mrs. Stuart McCarty528 Murray Hill Rd.Binghamton, N. Y. 13903

Mr. William VanScoyOwego, N. Y.

Mr. Z01 tan NagyBloomingburg, 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.

J)R. RIC'HARDV. LEA905 WESTCOTT ST.SYRACUSE, N.Y·. 1'210