The New York

FOREST OWNERA publication of the New York Forest Owners Association

September/October 1994

THE NEW YORK

FOREST OWNERVOL. 32, NO.5

OFFICERS & DIRECTORS

Don Wagner, PresidentRD#I.Box203CUtica. NY 13502; (315)733-7391

Bill Minerd,lst Vice President1123 Cold Springs RoadLiverpool.Nf 13088; (315)451-3712

Robert M. Sand, Recording Secretary300 Church StreetOdessa. NY 14869-9703; (607) 594-2130

Clara Minerd, Treasurer1123ColdSprings RoadLiverpool.N'Y 13088; (315)451-3712

John C. Marchant, Executive Director45 Cambridge CourtFaiIport.NY 14450;(716)377-7906

Deborah Gill, AdmlnlstrativeSecretaryP.O.Boxl80FaiIport.NY 14450; (716)377-6060

1995Elizabeth Densmore,Machias; (716)942-6600Richard J. Fox, Moravia; (315) 497 -1078John W. Krehs,HoneoyeFalls; (716) 624-1793Tom Ellison,Manlius; (315) 682-9376

1996Albert Brown.Stow; (716)763-9067Verner Hudson,Elbridge; (315) 689· 3314Peter Levallch,Brooktondale; (607) 539-7049Don Wagner,Utica; (315)733-7391

1997John T. Hastings,Queensbury; (518)798·0248Charles Mowatt,Savona; (607)583-7006Norman Rlchards,Syracuse; (315) 472·3696Elizabeth Wagner,Utica; (315)733-7391

AFFUJATEREPRESENTATIVESCharles Sprague, THRIFT; (315) 788-5920Dinnie Sloman, Catsklli Forest Assoc-; (914) 586·3054

CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVESMark &Joann Kurtis, Allegheny Foohllls; (716)945-6012Tom Hewitt, Cayuga; (315) 497-U66Buzz Gosch, Capital District; (518) 797-3623Bob Sykes, Central New York; (315) 673·3691Bob Howard, Northern Adirondack West; (315)265-7560Herb Boyoe, Northern Adirondack East; (518) 946-7040Bob Colligan, Niagara FronllerGregg Mackey, SE Adirondack; (518) 893-2236Larry Lepak, Southern Tier; (607) 656-8504Don Schaufler, Tioga, (607) 589-'095Eileen VanWIe, Western Finger Lakes; (716) 367-2849

All rights reserved. Contents may notbe reproduced withoutprior written permission from the publisher. NYFOA doesnot necessarily suppa rt or approve procedures. products. oropinions presented by authors oradvertisers.

COVER:Biomass willow and hybrid poplar researchplots at SUNY-ESFs Tully Nursery.

2 NY FOREST OWNER

FOREST OWNERA publication of the New York Forest owners Association

Editorial Committee: AI Brown. Betty Densmore, Alan Knight. Mary McCartyand Bill Minerd.

Materials submitted for publication should be addressed to: R. Fox, Editor, R.D. #3, BoxBB, Moravia, New York 1311B. Articles, artwork and photos are invited and are normallyreturned after use. The deadline for submission for NovlDec is Oct 1.Please address all membership fees and change of address requests to P.O.Box180, Fairport, N.Y. 14450.Cost of individual membership subscription is $15.

Wood Biomass Crops

1 year old willow shoots on older root stock. (See page 4)

Table of ContentsPresident's Message, Don Wagner 3Wood Biomass Crops, Daniel Robison, et al 4Ask A Forester; Ecosystems, C. Mowatt 6The NYFOA Fall Meeting 8Chapter/Affiliates ..............................................................•..•............ 10American Chestnut-Tragicomedy, H. Kernan 12North American Maple ProJect, Douglas Allen 14NYFOA Takes NWOA Pledge 16Legislation, David Colligan 17On Loving and Logging, Jane Sorensen Lord 18

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGECongratulations are in order! I'm the

proud Father of ten baby Bluebirds. In theMay/June issue of the Forest Owner, Idiscussed the importance of clean Blue-bird houses. Apparently, my efforts paidoff and I hope that yours have also. Theinsert photo is a picture of the first house tofledge five Bluebirds. The picture wastaken shortly after the young fledglingsleft the nest. The later breeding is still inthe nest. Every time I take my dogs for awalk, I peek in and see these five littlemouths waiting for Mother to feed them.What a joy.

I apologize. In my last President's mes-sage, I forgot to mention the results of theelection of the Board of Directors. I'mpleased to announce that Charlie Mowattand Norm Richards .were re-elected for asecond term. John Hastings and ElizabethWagner were elected as new members ofthe Board. Each of these individuals bringsa different perspective and will be a valu-able asset to the Association.

In my July/August President's mes-sage, I mentioned that there would be a$5.00 dues increase and that I would con-vey the details as soon as the Board had anopportunity to make the appropriate deci-sions. At the June 25th Board Meeting, itwas agreed that the increase would takeeffect on January 1, 1995 as anticipated.The membership dues are as follows: Indi-

President Don Wagner's Bluebird House - No Vacancies!

vidual- $20.00; Family - $25.00; Contrib-uting $30.00 - $100.00; and Sponsoring -$101.00 and Over. It's important to notethat Individual membership provides theprivilege of one vote, whereas the Familymembership provides for two votes. Thischange was discussed in great detail andreceived unanimous support of the Board.I personally feel this is an important stepforward for NYFOA.

Just a reminder the Fall Meeting beingcoordinated by THRIFT is scheduled for

NY FOREST OWNER

President Don Wagner and "friend" at Piseco Lake. Photo by B. Minerd.

NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 -INFO

Friday, September 30th and Saturday, Oc-tober 1st in Boonville. This should be anoutstanding event with an excellent pro-gram, interesting tours and exceptionalfood. I can personally vouch for the food atthe Hulbert House. Hope to see all of youat this meeting.

From time to time, it is important for theBoard of Directors, Chapter and AffiliateChairs and Newsletter Editors to get to-gether. Because we are a volunteer organi-zation, there is constant and continuouschange in leadership and responsibility. Afew years ago, a Leadership Retreat washeld at the AmotForest that was extremelyvaluable. This year a Retreat with a similarformat is being planned for September 9thand 10th at Dodge Pond, located in theNorthern Adirondacks. I'm confident thatthis will be a successful event with a greatdeal of knowledge disbursed.

Lastly, I' m extremely proud to announcethat l\i'YPOA's membership currently ex-ceeds 1,800. This is a significant increaseand is the highest membership achieved todate. In almost every message I talk aboutthe importallce of an increase in member-ship. Some of you must have been listen-ing and have worked very diligently at thistask. Thank you and keep up the goodwork. If every member were to make acommitment to sign up just one new mem-ber, we could double our membership overnight. Let's make that a goal- just one newmember each.

SEP/oCT 1994 • 3

and poplars (Populus spp.) meet all of thecharacteristics previously described. Taxo-nomically they are in the same family(Salicaceae). For many years tree improve-ment programs have worked to developmore productive poplar and willow clones.In biomass plantations, productivity of thebest clones has ranged from 5 to 13oven-drytons per acre per year (green weight wouldbe approximately twice as much). Theselevels of productivity are 5-10+ times greaterthan in natural forests.

Plantation establishment requires cleantillage (herbicides, ploughing, disking) orconservation tillage of the site to prepare itfor planting and to control competing weeds.Hybrid poplars and willows will not com-pete effectively with old-field vegetation(unlike conifers which usually can attaindominance if given sufficient time). It is notrecommended that existing woodland beconverted to biomass plantations. Withouteffective weed control poplar and willowplantations will fail. Plantations also requirefertilization, at least with nitrogen once eachrotation.

Planting is done in the early spring withunrooted cuttings. Hand planting is easilyaccomplished, however planting machinesare currently being developed. The plantingdesign is a 'double-row' system, with ap-proximately 1 foot between trees within arow, 1.5 feet between rows, and 5 feet

SEP/OCT 1994

SILVICULTURE OF WOOD BIOMASS CROPSAS AN INDUSTRIAL ENERGY FEEDSTOCK

By Daniel Robison,Lawrence Abrahamson & Edwin White

The production of wood to fuel industrialboilers is based on the principle of maximiz-ing biomass growth per acre per year. Thereare no requirements for dimension charac-teristics. Any tree species capable of rapidgrowth at close spacings and short rotationsis potentially suitable. Close spacing facili-tates full site usage, and thus early achieve-ment of crown closure and inter-tree com-petition. These lead to the need for shortrotations.

Species capable of vigorous coppicegrowth (stump sprouting after harvest) arenecessary because a single planting canresult in multiple harvests. Almost by defi-nition, wood biomass crops are grown underintensive management, in agri-forest sys-tems. Agri-forestry is the application ofagricultural practices to the production of aforest crop (often confused with agro-for-estry - the mixing of agricultural and forestcrops).

Successful wood biomass crops are basedon the use of genetically improved trees,proper site/soil selection, and effective weed(and other pests) management. Genetic gainsmade in tree improvement programs, and

Willow sprouts (coppicing) fromroot stocklstump,

4 NY FOREST OWNER

Harvesting willow with modified sugar-cane harvester.Willow i,sonly harvested during the winter.

specific individual tree characteristics aremost effectively used in plantation estab-lishment through vegetative propagation andclonal forestry techniques. In this system,superior trees are cloned such that an unlim-ited supply of genetically identical trees areproduced.

Each clone has its own specific growth,soil adaptability and pest resistance charac-teristics. Each clone is given a unique name,with designations such as SA2, SV1,DN44,NE262, NM6 or NC769. Before a clone isplanted, research should have precisely de-termined which soils it will grow well on,and if it is resistant to specific pests. A cloneplanted on an inappropriate soil will growpoorly or not at all. To minimize the threatof pest problems, several clones suitable forthe site should be planted. This provides adegree of genetic diversity. Clones shouldnot be "bucket-mixed," but rather planted indistinct and identifiable blocks. This per-mits replacement of clones which fail andavoids inter-clone competition. In a bucketmix, clonal failure represents a loss of stock-ing which cannot be replaced.

In New York, research has shown thathybrid poplars and willows have the greatestpotential as biomass crops. Silver maple andblack locust, for example, may also havebiomass potential in NY. Sycamore, euca-lyptus and other species have biomass po-tential in other regions. Willows (Salix spp.)

NYFOA ·1-800-836-3566 • INFO

between each double row. This system wasdeveloped in Sweden, where more than20,000 acres have already been planted andcommercially harvested. The double-rowfacilitates mechanical harvesting withcommercially. developed machines. At har-vest the plantation will look like a thicket25-35+ feet tall, with multiple stems pertree. Individual stem diameter will seldomexceed 3 inches. Harvesters can cut, chipand blow the wood into wagons, or cut andstack the trees.

Harvesting is done in the late-fall orwinter. This is important because it allowsthe trees to translocate nutrients to roots atthe end of the growing season, before har-vest. Healthy root systems in turn producevigorous coppice growth for the next rota-tion. Harvest cycles are 35 years long. Asingle planting should yield 4-7 harvestcycles before the roots are no longerproduc-tive or succumb to stress and pests. Ongoingtree improvement programs will regularlyproduce superior clones to replace old ones(similar to the yearly introduction of newagricultural crop varieties).

Economically, biomass crops for indus-trial bioenergy are not yet commerciallyfeasible. A study currently underway willidentify the opportunities and challenges tocommercializing the system. The extremelyhigh rates of productivity will help to reducethe cost per ton. Pricing may vary betweendedicated wood energy users and powercompanies co-firing wood with coal. Theeconomic impact of wood gasification tomethane, or conversion to liquid fuels suchas ethanol is unknown. Wood biomass fromplantations will not replace the market for

SUNY/ESF HOLDSTIMBER SECURITY

WORKSHOPOctober 12 or 13will be a choice

of days to attend a workshop inBradford,PA sponsored by the North-east Petroleum-Forest ResourcesCooperative and SUNY -ESF. Start-ing at 8 AM and concluding at 4:15PM, the day-long sessions includespeakers, breaks & refreshments,lunch, handouts, and a panel/audi-ence discussion. The SUbjects: Tim-ber Security, Theft, Vandalism, andTrespass; for registration contactESFContinuing Education, SUNY ESF,1 Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY13210-2784 (315) 470-6565.

10 inch willow cutting for hand planting in early spring.

chips from timber stand improvement ac-tivities or wood waste. Rather, it will supple-ment these sources.

Benefits of biomass crops include revi-talization of abandoned cropland and ruraleconomies, enhanced landscape and cropdiversity, and soil conservation and reducedpesticide use (as compared to traditionalagricultural crops). Burning wood instead ofcoal reduces SOx emissions responsible forthe threat of acidic deposition. Burning woodfrom dedicated biomass plantations is con-sidered CO2 neutral, reducing the threat ofglobal warming. It is considered C02 neutralbecause growing trees sequester C02, burn-ing releases it, and with dedicated planta-tions the cycle is balanced.

The Biomass Program at the State Uni-versity of New York College of Environ-mental Science and Forestry is supported bythe NYS Energy Research and Develop-ment Authority, Electric Power ResearchInstitute, Niagara Mohawk Power Corpora-tion, Empire State Electric Energy ResearchCorporation, NYS Electric and Gas Corpo-ration, and the US Department of Energy'sNational Renewable Energy Laboratory andOak Ridge National Laboratory. Other co-operators include USDA Soil ConservationService, Ontario Ministry of Natural Re-sources, and University of Toronto. Scale-up and demonstration biomass plantationsare scheduled for 1995-96.

SUNY ESF Examines Conifer PlantationsA Conifer Plantation Workshop was hosted by the State University of New York

College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESp) on June 14-15, 1994.Funding for the workshop came from the NYS Department of EnvironmentalConservation (DEC)- Bureau of Forest Resources, through the Forest StewardshipProgram of the US Department of Agriculture. State-of-the-art information onplantation culture was presented. Discussions also covered policy, economic andenvironmental issues surrounding plantations. The aging of New York's coniferplantations, the viable marketplace for conifer pulp and timber, the costs of establish-ment, and land use issues were debated. Various aspects of site selection, silviculture,soil, weed, insect and disease management, genetic improvement, and wildlife andlandscape/ecosystem management were covered. In general, the species consideredsuitable for New York were white and red pine, Norway and white spruce, and larch.It was recognized that conifer plantations have a significant role in New York's forestsand forest products economy, that new plantation establishment is often cost limited,and that planning should be done on a site specific basis. In attendance were NYSDEC,industry and consulting foresters. Presenters were from SUNY ESF, NYSDEC,University of Maine, University of Florida, US Forest Service, Empire State ForestProducts Association, Audubon Society, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.

NY FOREST OWNER 5NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994 •

Ask A ForesterECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT MUST INCLUDE THE HUMAN ELEMENT,

...or, how can this be called ecological management?By Charlie Mowatt

U.S. forestry has evolved from agricul-turalland clearing to tree fanning, to mul-tiple use, to new forestry, to stewardship, toecological management of landscapes. Thespeed with which forest managementbuzzwords have recently been displacedreflects the turmoil and uncertain directionwithin the forestry community. The turmoilis understandable in light of our diverse andcomplex management objectives; the dreamswe hold for our forests.

Some of these management schemes havea narrow focus, some broad. The latest, alandscape approach, is so comprehensive inscope that there is no agreement on a defini-tion much less concrete direction. Nonethe-less, since all of these concepts strive tosupply society's wishes or demands, I willcall all of them "supply-side managementconcepts". The latest, in the line, therefore,would be called "supply-side ecologicalmanagement of landscapes."

I firmly believe that no matter how sup-ply-side management is organized, or howcomprehensive it is, or by what name it iscalled, or how loudly it is lobbied by thepublic, it cannot be more than a very shortbridge to the future unless society addresses"demand-side ecology"; the crushing ef-fects of uncontrolled growth of human popu-lations. We have already seen large-scaleinstances of human populations in otherparts of the world that have far outstrippedtheir environment's ability to provide eventhe most bleak existence. Quality of life, byany measure, has dropped off the bottom ofthe scale in these places.

The current world population is 5.7 bil-lion. Each day, there are a quarter of amillion more of us than there were the daybefore. Every year, we are adding anotherMexico to the burden of our small planet

We cannot expect the earth to provide thenecessities of survival, much less environ-mental quality, for an unending populationexpansion. At some point we will have todrop the religious and cultural masks thatequate quantity with quality; that are oblivi-ous to the effects of overpopulation; thatbelieve some divinity will save us, if only we

Memorable Quotes"If the misery of our poor be caused notby the laws of nature, but by our institu-tions, great is our sin." - Charles Darwin

6 NY FOREST OWNER

Tom TolesReproduced with permission from THE BUFFALO NEWS, July 14, 1994

close our eyes tight enough and pray hard For starters, we should:enough; that believe that humans are not *work toward elimination of welfare andcapable of making rational decisions upon tax structures that reward unlimitedwhich the existence of civilization depends. childbearing. It is counter-productive to

We will have to take charge of our des- society's long term needs for a coupletiny because there is no alterative. (woman) to bring more than replacements

I get very sad, then mad, when I see (two babies) into a world that is alreadystories about "large mining companies" rip- overpopulated.ping up the turf; about the cutting of trees *eliminate the cultural pressures andreduced to a "jobs vs the environment" teachings that promote childbearing. Intro-sound bite; about the overgrazing of public duce the idea that there is nothing wrongland by "cattle interests;" about the depleted with the decision to stay childless. At thefish stocks of salmon or haddock or cod very minimum, we should strive to havecaused by "overfishing": as if some big bad children be born only to people who wantgreedy "they" are driving the environment them. There is no place for "Oops" in ourto ruin. While the manner in which these vocabulary of childbearing.industries operate is the subject of much * start teaching about who the environ-legitimate criticism, they are not at the heart mental "bad guys" really are; us.of the environmental problem. *initiate ecological management plans

We must understand that miners, log- thatpromotestrategiesencouragingthelimi-gers, cowboys, commercial fishermen and tation of populations to numbers commen-all the other satisfiers of our hungers and surate with the planet's ability to supportwants do not create the demands for prod- them at an acceptable level of quality. With-ucts of the earth. They create the demands out identifying Homo sapien populationno more than Fanner Brown creates the targets, we cannot begin to build ecologicaldemand for food. No, we create the demands management plans.and there are far too many of us. Pogo wasahead of his time when he said, "We havemet the enemy and they is us."

Charlie Mowatt, retiredDEC forester, serveson NYFOA's Board of Directors.

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994

Letters....No Thunder This TimeBy Dorothy S. DarlingThe Red Maple shudders in the humid air,

The Mock Orange has long left its leaf;A neighbor contemplates his high roof,

And grass circles pansies like a wreath.

Birds are hidden, their chatter subduedAs the sun slides behind the dark cloud,

And where I calmly sit upon the porchA rare hush covers this quiet crowd.

It is all a matter of prelude, of course,As color mounts trees, tinting leaves,

But this time it is a silent storming-Autumn rains overflowing the eaves.

Letters .The Spring Meeting

Norm Richards' "Managing Wild-flowers in Woods and Fields", the last ofthe agenda, ended too late for Jane andI to describe the damage done by the"uncontrolled survival of the fittest" inthe lower Hudson valley.

A copy of the Institute of EcosystemsStudies Newsletter was given to WesSuhr. This lists the invasive plants whichhave eliminated the biodiversity thatthrived before these plants were intro-duced by forest and agriculture person-nel recommendations. Invasive exotics,such as Japanese Barberry spread bybirds; but untouched by uncontrolleddeer populations, has changed the char-acter of the woodland. Weare sufferingwith the results of some of these recom-mendations made in the sixties.

It was well worth the 400 mile roundtrip to attend the annual meeting andprogram in Syracuse. -John & JaneGeisler, Verbank

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~~1tt~Jr~.•••••.••.....•.............Loggers Overeut

Your Jul/Aug issue is especially infor-mative. When coupling the information withcomments made in a recent Binghamton TVbroadcast, "US Farm Report", I am movedto express my observations of the loggingindustry's rationale versus the rationale ofenvironmentalists.

Loggers are motivated to cut every treeof value at the greatest rate possible ... toobtain the most money in the least time.Their attitude is appalling and myopic.

The environmentalist seeks to spread theharvest of large trees over the years, a cen-tury or more, which will permit continuousreplacement.

It is conspicuous that current generationsin the Northwestern and Alaskan timberindustries want to cut forests fast, sell thetimber on the world market, and live in highstyle. The remaining young forests can neveryield enough to support the children of theseloggers in their time. The average diameterof trees in New York appear to me to becomesmaller. Loggers must slacken the rate ofharvest. - Harold Haslett, Greene

II

Nrune---------------ICompany IAdd~s ICity State _ ZIP IPhone II Mail coupon to: I

TREESSENTIALS" CompanyL Box 7097 • st. Paul, MN 55107 15 I----------....1NY FOREST OWNER

© 1994 Treessentials Company

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994 • 7

area since joining ANCA in 1992. Carlholds a BS in Wood Products Engineeringfrom SUNY -ESF, is president oftheLewisCounty Chamber of Commerce, and is a24-year member of the Forest ProductsResearch Society.

NYFOA'S FALLMEETINGThe 1994 fall meeting is hosted by the fourcounty affiliate: Tug Hill Resources - In-vestment for Tomorrow. The Tug HillPlateau is historically and currently rich intimber and forest products. Hulbert House,an 18th century stagecoach inn, is a land-mark for its food and located in the centerof Boonville; it will serve as our head-quarters for the weekend.

Plan to overnight in or near Boonville.Registrants should make their own regis-trations as soon as possible, because Sun-day, October 2nd is the annual "Fall Foli-age Tour" and accommodations will be indemand.

Consider the very popular Lewis CountyFall Foliage Tour on Sunday. Many sitesof small businesses and century farms arepart of the itinerary. The trees are in peakcolors at the time and THRIFT will havethe drive yourself ($1.00) tour maps avail-able.

Further questions and additionallodg-ing sites may be addressed to: HaroldPetrie, N. Camden Rd., RRI Box 117,Parish, NY 13131-9736 (315)625-7526Dick Mark, RD 1, Box 190, Constantia,NY 13044-9776 (315) 623-9476

THESPEAKERS----------Samuel w. Argetsinger ....."Loggers as Environmental Stewards"

Sam is an independent logger fromBurdett in Schuyler County with 14 yearsexperience working with Gutchess Lum-ber, Cotton-Hanlon Lumber, and CoastalLumber. He attended Syracuse Universityand has three children. He has developeda timber harvesting philosophy that futuregenerations will have the same abundantresources that we enjoy today (as prac-ticed by the Seneca Nation, among whomhe has many friends).

Carl Golas ...."My View oj the Primary &Secondary Wood Products Industry"

Carl is manager of the Wood ProductsImplementation Project for the AdirondackNorth Country Association where he pro-vides outreach and technical support tobusiness, as well as industrial recruitment,education, and training to primary andsecondary companies. He has visited over250 wood product firms in the 6 county

John Page ."Hablts far Good Wildlife Management"

John is senior wildlife biologist withNYS Department of Conservation, Re-gion 6, Utica. His specialty is wildlifemanagement. John joined DEC in 1973after working for West Virginia Pulp andPaper. He graduated in 1966 from theRanger School and in 1969 received a BSin Resources Management. He is the trea-surer of Utica Marsh, Inc. and resides inLee Center.

cao •••.'N(. 10l.AORkOW STHUS1000U

I

FOUNDED 1963

NYFOA'SFALLMEETING SCHEDULEBoonville, NY - Hosted by the THRIFf Affiliate

Friday, September 30, 19944:30-6:00PM Registration at Hulbert House6:00-7:30 Buffet Dinner at renowned Hulburt House7:30-9:30 Speakers: John Page, Wildlife Management;

Sam Argetsinger, Logging; Carl Golas, Forest Industry

Saturday, October 18:00-9:00AMBreakfast Buffet, Hulburt House9:00 Tours/Field Trips; Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper Mill Tour,

Lyons Falls Pulp & Paper Woodlands Woodswalk,Lewis County & NYS Woodlands Field Trips.Box lunches will be provided.

Optional Sunday, October 2A self-guided driving tour designed to appreciate the fall foilage.

8 • NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994

III Please complete and mail this form (or copy) before September 18,1994 with your check payableI to THRIFT to: Robert S. Watson, RD1, Box 221, Camden, NY 13316

II Name:

III Address:

I! City:

~ Phone(s)

: Fri. 9/30

II Sat. 10/1

: Sat. 10/1

IIII4 Please note any dietary restrictions so that Hulbert House may accommodate you.." 'All meal prices include tax and gratuity.

IIIII 0IIII 0 Lyons Falls Pulp and Paper Co. Forest Lands 0 0I 0 Lewis County Public Lands 0 0I 0 _ Otter~ree~Horse~rail'::' New York State _~ -=' 0 _

THE TOURS

Registration Form

Zip: _State: _

Buffet Dinner*(includes registration fee):

Breakfast Buffet*:

Box Lunch(2 sandwiches and fruit):

Registration Fee only:

Total

registrants will be honored.)

(For couples, please incfude both first names for name tags.)

$12.50 x __ persons =

$_------

SELECT YOUR PREFERENCES FOR THE TOURS/FIELD TRIPS

9:15-12:30A.M.o

$6.10 x __ persons =

1:15-3:45P.M.o

MILL TOUR OF LYONS FALLSPULP AND PAPER CO.

This tour option will emphasize envi-ronmentally beneficial chlorine-free pa-per making. Due to safety precautionseach tour is limited to 15 people. Be sureto make your choice on your registrationform and remit early.

THE LODGINGS

$5.40 x __ persons =

$5.00 x __ persons =

Mill Tour - Lyons Falls Pulp and Paper Co.(Limited to 15 persons per tour. First received

LYON FALLS PULP ANDPAPER COMPANY'S FORESTS

LFPP will also provide a tour of itswoodland operations, showing diversityin site and habitat conditions and associ-ated harvesting methods. Pickup truckpooling can be arranged with THRIFTmembers.

Headwaters Motor LodgeHulbert House, & NYFOA Hdq.Black River Bed & BreakfastBrown Barn CampgroundsRiver Front Efficiency CampsFor Other Lodgings:NY FOREST OWNER

BoonvilleBoonvilleBoonvilleBoonvilleBoonville315-942-4318

315-942-4493315-942-4318315-942-3571315-942-4749315-942-4212/942-4811

OTTER CREEK HORSE TRAILSPublic land use can be seen by visiting

this system: the trails are on NYS landspartly on forest preserve and partially ontwo state forest units. Stops on this tourwill provide a look at integrating timbermanagement with recreation contrastingthe forest preserve and state forest man-agement styles.

LEWIS COUNTY FORESTSThese woodlandsconsistof3, 000 acres,

mainly in pine plantations. For compari-son, we will visit recent harvest sites, bothwhole tree chipping and selective harvest-ing operations.

SEP/OCT 1994 • 9NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 -INFO

the locality. We discovered another truth:that is, mosquitoes show no special respect;an observation made with frequency byDave Taber.

CHAPTER/ AFFILIATESTIOGA

On July 23 we held a, woodswalk atCotten-Hanlon's Allen lot near MontourFalls. About 20 people took part; two Cot-ton-Hanlon foresters guided .the walk. Wesaw some beautiful. prober including someof the largest white oak and white pine in thisarea. Timber has been harvested regularlysince the woodlot was purchased in 1951.The current volume of standing timber isvirtually the same as when the lot waspurchased, demonstrating once again thefact that trees do grow over time. After apleasant lunch we travelled to SugarhillState Forest and climbed the lookout towerfor one fine view. A good time was had byall.

Niagara FrontierOn .July 9 ten members met at Beaver

Meadow Audubon Center for a conductedwoodswalk through the arboretum. Thisarboretum was an idea of the late KarenAnderson. She would pe proud to see theprogress and dedication it has received. Wealso had a walk through a nearby attractive,mature forest.

On September 10 at 10:00 A.M. we willmeet at Letchworth .State Park for a con-ducted woodswalk on the less traveled east-ern side of the park. We will see a mature redpine planting done by the CCC in the 1930s,plus.natural reforestation with older growthtrees in two different locations.

Allegheny FoothillsJuly 9 was a beautiful, sunny day and 50+

members of the AFC met at the property of. Audrey & Bob Childs for our annual picnic.It was more like a family reunion withpeople of all ages, from babes in arms tosenior citizens, present. We had a leisurelywoodswallc to admire the Childses new

. woodsroads. There were several new mem-bers present and lots of kids. Since everyonebrought a dish to pass, there was lots of greatfood. Too many good cooks in the AFC!

The AFC is planning its annualfundraiser ....gathering cones and nuts (treeseed) for nurseries and the DEe. August 18a harvest of balsam cones was conducted onthe Mowatt farm near Franklinville. We arealso gathering red pine cones, hemlock conesand butternuts and walnuts. We hope tomake this our biggest year yet.

NACOn July 9th & 10th we held a display

booth at the Tupper Lake Woodsman'sField Days. Severe thunderstorms damp-ened our hopes of a successful turnout asthey would pass through the smallAdirondack Village every couple of hours.Our booth had a tarp over the exhibit and wedid attract a lot of visitors at those times aswe had one of the few areas where attendeescould get out of the rain. Although, areheads were protected are feet were not as thefield became a virtual swamp throughoutmost of the weekend. We appreciate all oftheNAC volunteers who braved the weatherwith us.

We will be hosting a training seminar for.all of the NYFOA. Chapter leaders andnewsletter editors on September 9th &10th at Dodge Pond in the Town of Fine.Dodge Pond is operated by the St. LawrenceCounty ARC and is operated as a youthcamp and convention center throughoutmuch of the year. It has a rustic, but comfort-able lodge located on a small pond back inthe woods, a suitable location for a NYFOAevent.

October 8th 'will be our next chapterwoods walk. Dave Daut ~9 Gerald Smithwill be conducting a tour of the geology andsoils from Lake Champlain to theAdirondack Mountains and how it will re-late to forest sites.

THRIFTOn July 14th, 20 THRIFT members and

friends gathered at the DEC Office atDadville. We shared a picnic suppet to-gether, and were then treated to a lectureabout "Desirable outcomes from ForestManagement Decisions," by David W.Taber. Dave, Senior Cornell CooperativeExtension Associate, is always an informa-tive speaker.

Bernard Davies gave the history and thework involved on the experimental treenurseries, the development of a wetlandsand a fish pond. This is on the 80 acre stateland parcel which was formerly a N.Y.S.Tree Nursery ..

At about 7:00 p.m. we started on a walk-ing tour of their work. It was interesting tosee that professional people also have diffi-culty growing species that are not native to

Catskill Forestry AssociationWe've been very busy atCFA this spring

and summer. Since March we have con-ducted at least one landowner program eachmonth. Topics for workshops and seminarshave included tree planting, ginseng, andapple grafting. Doc and Laurie Scranton(both Master Forest Owners) hosted awoodswalk inJ une at theirproperty inBovinaOver 20 people came to learn about a varietyof topics on woodland management, includ-ing the 480a Tax Law, precommercial thin-ning, accessing property with roads andtrails, and pruning small walnut and olderapple trees.

On Saturday, July 16, over 40 landown-ers and others converged on the Tree Farmof Jerry Gotsch near Grahamsville. SullivanCounty for a Stewardship Incentives Pro-gram/practices Woodswalk (includingCharlie and Marion Mowatt). Jerry hasImplemented several SIP practices through-out his property (in his family for almost 100years), including thinnings, seep develop-ment, wildlife openings, trail construction,and permanent food plots. The goals of theprogram were to learn more about SIP andobserve the completed practices. TomBackus of DEC Region 3 in New Paltzpresented an overview.of the SIP program aseveryone ate lunch under an apple tree inJerry's yard. The group then was led on a.tour of the property with Jerry, Tom, andconsulting forester Paul Kowalczyk dis-cussing the various practices and answeringquestions.

CFA is participating with a number ofother groups in the region, including NYS-'DEC,NYCDEP ,areaForest Practice Boards,the Forest Service, and area timber harvest-ers in a Watershed Education Committee.The Committee's purposes are to identifylapses in the use of Best Management Prac-tices (BMPs) throughout the watershed andgaps in training or knowledge of landown-ers. foresters and timber harvesters.

Our Annual Meeting is scheduled forSeptember 10at Norm Richard's Tree Farm.Details of the meeting are forthcoming. Formore information please call our office at914-586-3054.

PeopCe ana 'Irees, Partners in Time,10 NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994

Capital DistrictThe Capital District Chapter sponsored a

woodswalk: on Sunday, June 12, 1994, at theCornell Farm in Johnsonville, RensselaerCounty. Thirty - four people toured sectionsof the 200 acre farm under the able guidanceof John Clancy and Bill Shongar, two DEC .foresters. The group saw recent plantings of100 each of black walnut, cherry, and redoak; an excellent example of a careful andproductive timber harvest; and the naturalregeneration of a major blowdownareacaused by the devastating October 1987snowstorm.

Thanks go toDennis Colliton ofDelanson,who served as chapter chair, for his abledirection and always accessible wit andwisdom. Buzz Gosch of Westerlo is the newchair, with Jill and Barry Cornell serving asthe vice chairs. Additional, emphasis will beplaced on the expansion of the membership ,and activities of the chapter. '

Finally, the Capital District Chapter isexceptionally honored and pleased to haveas our major resource person, Mike Greason,as Associate Forester for NYS DEe Divi-sion of Lands and Forest'in the CentralOffice in Albany. Mike was last year'swinner of the Heiberg Award and was re-cently honored as "Forester of the Year" bythe New York Society of American Forest-ers at their annual meeting in Cortland.Readers of this publication also enjoyedMike's article entitled 'The Amazing Ama-zon" in the July/August 1994 issue.

Currently, plans for a number of Fall andWinter events are being made and will beannounced upon final confmnation.

Central New YOI:kWeare still resting up after Family Forest

Fair. Our Summer Chapter Picnic was heldon August 3rd at Vern & Marj Hudsons'.The weather was cooperating with us again,43 people attended including 3 new mem-bers and their families, and several guests,volunteers who helped at the Family ForestFair. Next CNY chapter event is a meetingSeptember 29th at 7:00 PM in the LiverpoolLibrary Community Room, We are workingon a program of interest to both membersand their children,

Southeastern AdirondackSAC has scheduled a sawmill tour of

Adirondack Forest Industries in HagedornMills, NY for Saturday, Sept 10 at .9AM.This is a modem, production mill sawingpredominantly hardwood lumber. Please joinus; this is a great opportunity to learn aboutthe manufacturing utilization of our woodresource.

NYFONSAC has been invited to par-ticipate in the second annual Forestry Expoat the Adirondack Balloon Festival on Sept.IS·& 19 at the Warren County Airport inGlens Falls, NY. We will have a boothinside the Forestry Expo tent to pass alonginformation to the public. 'this is a goodchance to get the word out about NYFOAand good forestry; an estimated 50;000people will attend theballoon launches, andthe Forestry Expo is 1M. entertainment be-tween the morning and afternoon launches.Call Gregg at (518) 893-2236 or John at(518) 798-0248 for more information.

LANDOWNERSMaples, Cherry & Red Oak are in strong demand, if you are

interested in selling some of your standing Timber consider ...Each tree to be sold is marked according to YOUR specifications.We send notices.to reputable log producers & exportersSealed bid openin~ determines the highest bidderPayment is made In advance to any harvest operationAll harvest operations are supervised by our foresters ..We retain a security deposit until owner is completely satisfied.Guaranteed to net YOU the highest price for your timber.

WrHe or Call For A Free Pamphlet ' ,Robert Synowlez • Professional Forestry Consultants

timbe~londBox 498, W ..Beecher Hill Rd., ONego, NY 13827607/687·0460

CNY-NYFOABBS on Internet

The Central New York Chapter's elec-tronic bulletin board (BBS) is nearing itssecond year of operation. Over the past sixmonths two significant changes have takenplace that continue to broaden-access to 'any memberwho would like to participate.

The first addition to the BBS was amembership in aworld wide network calledFidoNet (yes, like BOW WOW). FidoNet .is operated.by-independent BBS sysop's(acronym for system operator) who volun-teer their-time and money to provide tollfree public access to this network. Thereare over 26,000 systems connected to thenetwork world wide serving tens of thou-sands of users at any given time. FidoN et' sservices include E-rnai.L conferences on avariety of topics and computer file trans-fers.FidoNet has also provided a gateway to

the Internet that repsesents the secondmajor change in CNY-NYFOA BBS op-erations. Yes, the Internet, the venerableinformation highway that you have beenhearing about in the media. It is currentlyestimated that over 8 million users are onthe Internet. The' gateway that we have tothe Internet is linftted to E-mail only. Nowthe plot thickens. If you are a member ofCompuServe or America Online you haveaccess to both FidoNet and Internet thatdirectly connects to CNY-NYFOA BBShere in Syracuse.These network connections provide

NYFOA members the unique opportiicityto acquire and share information with eachother. In every chapter we must have aperson with a computer/modem who canshare information regarding chapter events,news or acquire information for a localchapter member. How much will this costyou? Maybe nothing! As I mentioned thereare 'probably several BBS's in you areacode that will allow you to send and re-ceive messages over FidoNet free of charge.If you need help in getting started contactme at the address below. On request, I willsupply a list of BBS's in your area code.Let's take a step into the future together.

You can send me E-mail at:Fidonet: bill minerd 1 :260(347Internet:bill-minerd@f347.n260;zl.fidonet.org,

. or write or call:Bill .Minerd, 1123-Cold SpringsRd,Liverpool, NY 13088, (315) 451-3712·

NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO S£P/OCT 1994' 11

The American Chestnut -A TragicomedyBy Henry S. Kernan

For a species that has disappeared fromour woodlands as a source of timber, food,and beauty, the American Chestnut com-mands an extraordinary amount of atten-tion. Most of us know the chestnut tree, if weknow it at all, as hardly a tree; but as a smallscattered component of the understory of theAppalachian hardwood forest Those slen-der, short-lived sprouts have little to suggesta dominance once held from Massachusettst6 Georgia. Past, present, and future, thechronicle of this one species has the dimen-sions of a cosmic tragedy, or even a comedy,if we take the word in the divine sense of ajourney through darkness into the realm oflight. Present is a haunting, nostalgic memoryof pioneer days - of rail fences, log cabins,wild food from the nearby forest, and nutsroasting by a wilderness fire. Such memo-ries of a Golden Era once haunted the Ro-mans, an age of honey dripping from trees,of wild food harvested without limit oreffort.

Isolation in the Caucasus range probablysaved the chestnut from the glacial on-

slaughts that so reduced the composition ofthe European forests. From there the Ro-mans, a practical farming people, carried thetree to wherever they needed poles for theirvineyards. Today old vineyards within theboundary of the former Empire are likely tohave chestnut trees nearby. In the eleventhcentury a Benedictine monk discovered theextra large sweet nuts called marrons. Allchestnuts grown in Europe for harvest andexport are grafted marrons.

The genus Castanea has eight species, allof which cross-pollinate readily and all ofwhich are susceptible to the blight,Cryphonectriaparasitica. IfAmerican chest-nut trees were even close to descriptions ofthem before the blight, we could well haveleft super-excellence alone! However, com-pulsive meddlers such as Thomas Jeffersonwere soon at work. By 1900 at least tenfarmers were growing chestnuts as a com-mercial crop and eleven nurseries were sell-ing seedlings of both European and Asianextraction.

The discovery of the blight on chestnuttrees in theBronx in 1904might have stopped

A LOTTERY WINNERIn the spring of 1990 Hugh Brazee of

Auburn purchased two 1 year old Ameri-can Chestnut seedlings (Wexford County,Michigan strain) from the Cayuga CountySoil and Water Conservation District.Because one of the trees had attained aremarkable height of ten feet and wasextravagantly in bloom, Hugh contactedthe Cornell County Cooperative Exten-sion Office. Through the Master ForestOwner Program, Dick Fox was contactedby Hugh on July 13.

Coincidentally, our 1994 NYFOAAwardee, "Lfee" Signor had discoveredhis native American Chestnut trees werein bloom for the first time. Therefore, thevery next day, July 14th, an effort topollinate the Brazee Michigan chestnuttree with male catkins from the Signornatives was atterr.pted, albeit, a little lateand a lot uncertain (see the NY FORESTOWNER, Sep/Oct '93).

When Hugh purchased the tree seed-lings, he fully appreciated the probabilityof blight infection and the inevitable out-come. However, he had some space in hiscity backyard; and just maybe .

Hugh has enjoyed watching the trees

The Brazee Chestnutgrow, particularly the one which is fivetimes the size of the other. There may evenbe a fall bonus - if the tree was fruitfullypollinated and the resident squirrel popu-lations know less than we do.

12 NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA· 1-800-836-3566 -INFO

the moving of chestnuts around the country.Instead the wide distribution of hybrids wasstimulated. Within fifty years the chestnutas a timber tree was gone: hybridization hadnot produced a replacement. By 1960 theDepartment of Agriculture had dropped outof the search. Today, in the allocation offunds for research on exotic tree pests, thegypsy moth receives 85%. Even the beechand butternut receive far more than thechestnut.

Nevertheless the comedic ascent out ofdarlcness has begun - the recovery of thechestnut as a forest tree. We brought theblight from Asia; but we also brought theresistant genes. Both by chance and designthey are moving into the native stock. Thelarge flowering and bearing chestnut trees,in the east are almost invariably either Asianor hybrid. If an American tree reaches largesize, it is not more resistant to, but moreisolated from, infection. Two very strongfavorable factors are the habits of floweringat a very young age, even in the second year,and flowering late in the season after thedanger of frost.

We need not wait on the slow workingsof natural selection. At hand are scientifictools to speed the process of selection andthe determination to use them.

The American Chestnut Foundation'sMeadow, Virginia farm has alreadyoutplanted seedlings which are one six-teenth Asiatic and 15/16th native. On theforeign side is resistance; on the Americanside will be the qualities of a dominant foresttree. Now, genome mapping can detect thepresence of resistant genes in a seedling andsave years of waiting. Genetic engineeringhas the possibility of destroying the viru-lence of the blight fungus. Somatic embryo-genesis is working to transfer resistant genesto seedlings early in development.

Healthy within the natural range, theAmerican chestnut can outgrow and outseedoaks, hickories, and others. Yet even with asuper-resistant forest tree, the task of bring-ing such a tree to dominance over the 200million acre range is enormously difficult.Members of the beech famiiy, Fagaceae, arenotoriously difficult to propagate vegeta-tively. Research is under way at the Univer-sity of Nebraska.

In Europe a virus disease of the blightfungus has saved the species, sativa, and thenut harvest from what has taken place in thiscountry. The name of the disease,hypovirulence is confusing; because hyper-and hypo- mean exactly the opposite. Thehypovirulent disease so weakens the blight

SEP/OCT 1994

Photo by John Herrington, Exectutive Director, American Chestnut Foundationfungus that the host tree's defense mecha-nism of traumatic growth can contain thefungus and allow the life of a normal tree.Hypovirulence can be injected into a viru-lent fungus; it can also spread spontane-ously.

Hypovirulence has controlled the blightin Europe; partly because, there, the chest-nut is mostly an orchard tree; and becausethe blight has less genetic variation thanhere. We have native strains ofhypoviruJence; but under forest conditionsthe spread is slow and uncertain with variousdegrees of compatibility among them.

The pioneer waves of forest clearing,cultivation, logging, and fire, all favored thechestnut. An aggressive seeder and rapidgrower, the chestnut took over open land leftto spontaneous regeneration of forest. Popu-lations almost entirely of this species doexist even though blighted. In full sunlightthe sprouts are vigorous; some even grow to

NY FOREST OWNER

flowering and bearing age before infectionand dieback.

The species, Castanea dentata is notextinct nor doomed to extinction, nor evenrare. Almost never in the recorded history ofpathology has any pathogen wiped out anentire species. Millions, perhaps billions,are growing within their natural range andmany thousands beyond.

Europe and the Near East can easilyproduce all the marrons we easterners careto purchase and eat. But we are not yetresigned to a magnificent forest tree becom-ing and remaining a short-lived, understoryshrub. We are confident that by the year2004, the American chestnut, Castaneadentata, will be well on the way to what itwas in 1904, the year of the blight recogni-tion.Henry Kernan is a frequent contributor toNYFO, versed in world forestry and a veryactive Master Forest Owner.

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO

About TheInformation Database:What is NYFOA's 1-800-836-3566 In-

formation Database all about? And howcan it help you?The Database is a compilation of data of

interest to private woodland owners. Itcontains the names, addresses and phonenumbers of: New York's Timber Harvest-ers, Private Consulting Foresters, Saw-mills and Timber buyers, State Foresters,DEC Offices and all Cooperative Exten-sion offices. It also contains a vast listingof reference material from many states.If you are going to sell timber, a call to

the 800 number can give you a list of manyof the harvesters and timber buyers in yourarea. If you are looking for a forester tohelp you set up a management plan ormark your timber, or whatever, a call cangive you all the information you need toselect the right one for you ....including alisting of the services each offers.The information is searchable; which

means if you want to sell a certain speciesonly, the specific information of buyerswho deal in which species is available.Also whether they buy delivered, stump-age or roadside. All categories have lots ofinformation that can be isolated for specif-ics.The reference material, while it ranges

from tree diseases and pests to wildlife tosongbirds to marketing your own timer, isa clearing house for information, a searchfor topics which results in available titleswith costs and an address where you mustwrite to obtain the reference material de-sired. Our Administrative Secretary,Debbie Gill, would be buried if we actu-ally had all the material listed in theDatabase. Still, it is easy (and in mostcases, inexpensive) to secure the desiredtitles.

When you call about reference mate-rial, Debbie not only does the topic search,she can give you the cost of various mate-rial, the number of pages in the bookletsand she will send you a print-out. Youhave just been given thousands of reasonsto use this service; how about one more?Starting August 1you will be able to get

current stumpage prices as reported by theDEC. Current stumpage prices for allspecies of sawlogs in your specific areathat includes the most common price andaverage price range, are available for afree phone call.So why not start using the Database?

SEP/OCT 1994 • 13

THE NORTH AMERICAN MAPLE PROJECT -Keeping an Eye on Sugar Maple

By Douglas AllenIn the May issue of "Woodland Stew-

ard", Wes Suhr emphasized that ~saccharum is valuable for many economicand aesthetic reasons. Its persistence anddominance on a variety of sites and in-manyplant communities throughout the northeastreflects on its ecological importance as well.Broadly speaking, the health of this speciesreflects the overall health of much of NewYork's forest land.

THE NORTII AMERICANMAPLE PROJECT (NAMP)

Apprehension about the health of sugarmaple arose during the late 1970s and con-tinued throughout the 1980s. As a result, theUnited States Forest Service and the Cana-dian Forest Service initiated a long-termproject in 1988 to monitor and evaluate thecondition of this northern hardwood.

The cooperative effort currently involvesten states and four provinces; a total of 233different stands and over 14,000 sugarmaples. NAMP objectives are i) to detectand monitor annual changes in sugar maplecrown and bole condition, ii) to determine ifobserved change in condition varies with

NEW YORK'S PARTICIPATIONThe 27 plots in our state are well dis-

persed and cover a range of geographiclocations. Most were selected and estab-lished with the much appreciated coopera-tion of several forest owners (Table 1) andDEC foresters. Additional plots are locatedon state forests in Lewis, Otsego andSchoharie counties. Each year a field crewreexamines every tree in each of four canopypositions (suppressed, intermediate, codorni-nant, dominant) on each plot. This includesapproximately 600 sugar maples insugarbushes and 1()()()sugar maples in standsthat are not actively managed for sap pro-duction. A plot is visited a minimum of twotimes each growing season to check forinsect defoliation, evidence of late springfrost and other types of stress.

Figure 1. Evidence of crown dieback.

levels of sulfate and nitrate wet deposition,stand management (active sugarbush vsnonsugarbush) or initial stand condition andiii) to identify possible causes of poor crowncondition.

Table 1. Name and Location of New York Landowners Associated with theNorth American Maple Project (NAMP).

Name Township

Harold Moore PitcairnWes Suhr FineTed Smith CroghanGlenn Altmire CroghanDan Durow NapoliBoyce McDivitt OleanVan Munson AlleganyRichard Frame RandolphEvelyn Root ConewangoBob Adams NapoliDavid Emery VictorJean Gillis VictorJohn Hicks HopewellCommunity College of Hopewellthe Finger LakesAlbert Lipman East BloomfieldArnot Forest Van EttenHeiberg Forest Preble

14 NY FOREST OWNER

County

St. Lawrence

Lewis

Cattaraugus

Ontario

SchuylerCortland

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO

ADVANTAGES OFANNUAL MONITORING

Repeated observations of permanentlymarked trees is necessary to reliably at-tribute changes in tree health (i.e., crownand bole condition) to the occurrence ofdifferent disturbances. Further, to assessaccurately the impact of events such asinsect defoliation or drought, one must ac-count for the prior condition of the tree. It isonly through a program such as NAMPwhere crews are trained and are required to

SEP/OCT 1994

Figure 2. Example of high crown transparency. This is a red maple with a heavy seed crop.

follow standard evaluation procedures thatwe can obtain reliable background infonna-tion on individual trees. The type of moni-toring and evaluation done by NAMP alsoallows us to determine both the short andlong-term effects of a stress or combinationof stresses.

INDICATORS OF 1REE HEALTHThe Program examines a variety of tree

and site features in each plot. The observa-tions that reflect tree condition most mean-ingfully, however, are extent of crown die-back, crown transparency, bole condition,and a general evaluation of tree vigor thatfactors in these three variables plus overallcrown size and appearance.

DIEBACK refers to the occurrence ofbranch mortality that begins at the ends ofbranches and, over the course of a few years,may progress towards the base of the branch.Dieback usually begins in the upper crown(Fig. 1) and is estimated as a percentage ofthe whole crown.

TRANSPARENCY estimates the per-centage of light passing through foliatedportions of the crown (Fig. 2) and reflectschanges in leaf size and foliage abundance.High transparency indicates a "thin" crown.

For our intents and purposes, we considerlevels of crown dieback greater than 15%and crown transparencies greater that 25%as high. That is, they may be indicative of atree under serious stress.

BOLE DAMAGE can be caused by anumber of insects, micro- organisms andhuman activities.

NY FQREST OWNER

INTERPRET AnONBoth dieback and high transparency are

symptoms of stress. Whether or not a crownrecovers depends on the extent, duration andnature of the stresses to which the tree isexposed. Dieback and increasing transpar-ency represent the nonnal resvonse of a treeto stressful conditions. The latter may resultfrom a variety of biological (e.g., defolia-tion), physical (e.g., drought) or humanimposed (e.g., skidder damage) events. Avivid example of a biological event thatmakes crowns look "thin" and generallyunhealthy was the heavy seeding that oc-curred on red maple this summer throughoutmuch of the northeast. Crowns of this spe-cies looked very sparse (that is, they werevery transparent), offcolor and generally oflow vigor (Fig. 2). This is a condition thattypically occurs when this species producesabundant seed. Most of these trees will lookfine next summer, assuming that they do notproduce another bumper crop. Heavy seedproduction by sugar maple results in similarchanges in crown appearance. Careful ex-amination and monitoring of tree conditionallows us to attribute changes such as thoseobserved on red maple this summer to thecorrect cause and avoids speculation.

This article is 16th in the series of contribu-tions provided by Doug Allen, Professor ofForest Entomology at SUNYIESF. Part IIofthis article will focus on the results of theNorth American Maple Project inNew York.

NYFOA -1-800·836-3566 -INFO

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SEP/OCT 1994

NYFOATAKESTHEPLEDGEOn June 25, 1994 the New York Forest Owners Association at the 198th Board of

Directors' Meeting in Room 214 Marshall Hall, State University of New York, Collegeof Environmental Science and Forestry did adopt the following Private Property Pledge:

The NWOA Woodland Responsibility CodeA Pledge of Private Property ResponsibilityAs Woodland Owners we agree to:

1. Follow Best Management Practices when harvesting trees.2. Show, by deed, a practical concern for other resources, including water, wildlife,

soil, and natural beauty.3. Share our knowledge of good forestry with others.4. Use only "certified loggers" when available.5. Open our land to hunting and other uses by the public, either for a fee or at no cost,

when it is practical and at our discretion.6. Manage our forest resource in a way that benefits many people, including that

segment of society that makes a living harvesting and making products from trees.In return, we expect

1. Fair timber taxes, at the federal, state, and local levels.2. Self-policing among mill owners against buying undervalued or improperly

harvested wood.3. Loggers to be the best they can be.4. Professional forestry advice and educational opportunities from many sources.5. Respect for private property rights.6. A fair chance to compete in a free market. !fJNATIONAL

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Each year for the past eight years the NATIONAL WOODLAND OWNERSASSOCIATION had conducted a nationwide poll among its 27 affiliated state woodlandowners associations to identify and rank the ten issues that influence their private forestrydecisions.

The other issues making the TOP TEN PRIORITIES include: 4) The promotion ofBEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, 5) LANDOWNER LIABILITY stemming fromallowing hikers and hunters on private woodlands, 6) the ability to MANAGE WET-LANDS FOR FORESTRY (including a reasonable definition of what is a wetland), and7) continued support for the FOREST STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

16 • NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO

TREE PROTECTORSWhich is best?

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to think of all of the benefits youcould enjoy from having a pond ora lake on your own property. Thisidea could become a reality if theright conditions prevail. From ourexperience it no rm all y requiresfavorable watershed conditions,good site conditions, owner-commitment to stewardship forenhancement of forest land values,appropriate engineering planningand design, and good constructionpractices.

PONDS UNLIMITED CANEVALUATE the site of yourchoice. We can provide all of theengineering services needed to plan,design and oversee the constructionof a dam to create a handsomepond or lake on suitable property.You can get additional informationby calling 315/422-POND orsending a letter of inquiry to:

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SEP/OCT 1994

LEGISLATIONBy David J. Colligan

A major revision of Section 480-a ofthe Real Property Tax Law was almostpassed by the New York State Legisla-ture in its recently-concluded regularsession. This law may come up again inthe extraordinary session tentativelyplanned for early Fall. If so, now is thetime to write your State Senator andyour New York State Assemblypersonto offer your opinions and view regard-ing the proposed revisions.

Several aspects of the existing Sec-tion 480-a Law are objectionable andhave caused the law to become verycontroversial. A new 480-a law has beenconsidered with numerous proposals to"cure" the defects in the existing 480-alaw. Asyour legislative liaison, I stronglyurge that you write your State Senatorsand State Assemblypersons to informthem as to whether you favor a new 480-a law which would contain one or moreof the following provisions: 1). Statereimbursement of local assessment dis-tricts, including school districts; 2). Eli-gibility for woodlots smaller than 50acres; 3). Relaxation of some of the"micro management" requirements sothat broader forestry and stewardshipobjectives can be met; 4). Simplify over-sight requirements; 5). Allow for recre-ational leasing and other non-conflict-ing uses of the property; and 6). Yourfeelings towards codifying open spacerestrictions similar to conservation ease-ments as a requirement for subscriptionunder the new program.

A 480-a law debate is a complex one.However, as landowners, we cannot al-low the State Legislature to pass a lawwithout our input. Clearly, the opportu-nity exists for a fair and equitable newlaw which would foster the goals oflandowners, local municipalities, andState public policy while reducing theoverhead costs of owning our proper-ties. Please write today and let yourlegislators know your position regard-ing this important piece of legislation.

NY FOREST OWNER

Special TreeFarm News

Although 1993 NYS Outstanding TreeFarmers of the Year Erwin and Polly Ful-lerton of NYFOA's SoutheasternAdirondack Chapter were nudged out ofrepresenting the Northeastern Region forthe National Outstanding Tree Farmer ofthe Year, they were deservedly recognizedas First Runnerup for the region as an-nounced by Robert S. Simpson, Director,American Tree Farm System. Congratula-tions!

The New York State Tree Farm Com-mittee will cosponsor the first year's mem-bership of a certified Tree Farmer to joinNYFOA as announced by Sue Kiester,Chairperson. Thank you!

Wood Duck

Nolan'sSporting Supplies

Outdoor EquIpment SpecIalIst

37 • 47 Genesee StreetAuburn, NY 13021

GREATXMAS GIFTS

TREE FARM TREATS Cookbookswill be available at appropriate meetingsfor $6. 50. They may be ordered directfrom the following for $8 (please makechecks payable to the N. Y. State TreeFarm Committee.):Valerie A. Luzadis, c/o ESFPA, 123Statest. Albany, N.Y. 12207Harriet Hamilton, 8785 Schribner Rd.,Wayland, N.Y. 14572Audrey Childs, 3208 Cooper Hill Rd.,Hinsdale, N.Y. 14743

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30+ Years Experience

315/252-7249

ROBERT DEMEREEProfessional Forestry Consultant

Timber Sales· Management PlanningTax Law· Tree Planting

3987 Northway DriveCortland, NY 13045-9317

Telephone:(607) 753-0497

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO

PATRICK J. McGLEW(!!O7) 699-3&'e

P.O. Box 104Nichols. NY 13812

_~ CLEAR CREEK"'~~ CONSULTING·

Prof.salona! For.suy Services

Tlmber AppraJula • TImber MwtUng •TImber Trespas... • FOI"Ht Management Plans

And Otner Forastry SeMces

SEP/OCT 1994' 17

which means "tall timber". He told me Icould live off my land by eating only theplants and trees and showed me many. Hefired my interest in herbs and medicinalplants.

One time after my skidder ride, while wedrank and sat on a log at the landing. I toldhim I wanted to sing him a song. His eyescrinkled and twinkled in amusement as Isang; and, when I finished, he exclaimed,"Jane, I don't know a logger who doesn'tlove that song. You are almost as good asOdetta And I've never heard it on a worksite! Thanks!"

"Yeah, Dick. It's a song. It's called "TheFrozen Logger". Wanna hear it?" He nod-ded.

ON LOVING AND LOGGINGBy Jane Sorensen Lord

"Yeh, here it is!"Gordon and I had arrived and settled at

Dick Fox's house the Friday before theNYFOA Annual Spring Meeting. We hadnot received our issue of the magazine [THENY FOREST OWNER, May/Jun '94; 18];so Dick handed Gordon a copy which heopened immediately. .

"Dick, this isn't a poem. It's a song;Jane knows it" My husband handed me themagazine and I scanned the page and readthe verse.

I first heard Odetta sing it while atSkidmore in a cafe in the fall of 1960, Ibought the album, have it still. "Odetta andLarry" sing on a clear red thirty-three. ButOdetta sings this song alone. And the dustcoyer explains that the song ".... has greatsociological impact Banned from the net-works for political reasons controversialimpeachment of the government bureau-cracy." M-mmmm.

The song reminds me of my father. Heloved to sing, formally in public, aroundcampfires, and in the car on trips in hisstrong, clear tenor voice. He sang (and hetaught us) songs about Dartmouth and edu-cating the Indian, about America, the land,her people, and their work on railroads, inthe fields, and on the rivers, We sang hymns,ballads, and show tunes. I don't know whyhe didn't know this song. It fits in with somany others.

When our Tree Farm was harvested fortimber, I met my first logger. Walt, the headof the crew, intercepted me and two friendswho were visiting from Boston. We hadbushwacked up the hill towards the soundsof saws and crashing trees in order to see thecrew at work . After a gigantic boom, westopped down grade and sat on a freshstump.

Walt was hauling a load on the skidderand stopped short when he saw us.

"Are you crazy? What are you doinghere? You could get killed from flyingbranches; this is a hard hat area!"

"We just wanted to see you cut down atree," I meekly offered.

He jumped out of the cab and took out thebiggest chain saw I had ever seen.

"Stand over there." He cut a notch anddropped a 20"dbh-oak. And then another,and yet a third.

"That will be my first haul on Monday.I'm carrying my last hitch, now. Get on the

18 • NY FOREST OWNER

skidder and I'll drive you down."He lowered the blade, then raised it and

my friends to the hood where they hung onto the front supports and I rode half in and outof the cab, hanging on for dear life. Wesurvived.

After that every Friday when I went to myland to see what was happening, Walt con-ducted me around the land, smushed insidethe cab behind the skidder seat while proudlyshowing me what they had done. He wouldstop here and there and make me get out andlook at things of interest-views, exceptionalstumps, strange mushrooms, or rare plants.He was a sixth generation logger and partIroquois with the family name Warmoth

As [ sat down one evening, within a small cafe.Aforty year old waitress to a man these words did say:

"I see that you're a logger and not just a common bum,'cause nobody but a logger stirs his coffee with his thumb."

My lover was a logger; there's none like him today.If you'd pour whiskey on it, he would eat a bale of hay.

Now he never shaved his wJP.skersfrom off his horny hide,He'd drive them in with a hammer and bite them off inside.

My lover came to see me upon one wintry day.He took me in his firm embrace and broke three vertebrae.

He kissed me when we parted so hard that he broke my jaw.[ could not speak to tell him, he forgot his mackinaw.

And so my lover left me, and homeward he did go,just sauntering bravely Northward at forty-eight below.

Now the weather it tried to freeze him; it tried its level best.At a hundred degrees below zero, he buttoned up his vest.

Now it froze clear through to China. Itfroze the stars above.At a thousand degrees below zero, it froze my logger love.

And so my logger left me. And to this cafe [ come.And here [wait 'til [ see someone stir his coffee with his thumb.

Dick was sitting on my left so I could notsee his face. Gordon said he was smiling andthat his eyes twinkled.

Jane is a Tree Fanner, a Master ForestOwner, and serves as the CommunicationsLiaison to the New York State Tree FarmCommittee.

NYFOA -1-800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994

The MarketplaceATTENTION small woodlot owners/part time loggers - ForFARM! winches, VALBY chippers, choker chains, handtools, or equipment you have always wanted and did not knowwhere to find, write Hewitt's Hill Haven, Locke, NY 13092 orcall (315) 497-1266 (Before 8AM or after 6PM).

NYFOA SPECIALSThe following promotional items especially designed for

NYFOA may be obtained from Deborah Gill, AdministrativeSecretary; PO Box 180, Fairport, NY 14450; (716) 377-0391 ordirectly from and with support for your local chapter:Shoulder Patches $2.00 50% Cotton T-ShirtsWmdow Decals 0.50 100% Cotton T-ShirtsMember Sign 2.00 Long-sleeved ShirtsPewter Lapel Pins 4.00 Sweatshirts

$8.009.0013.0016.00

FORECON, INC.

JAMESTOWN, NY OFFICE100 East Second StreetJamestown, New York 14701(716) 664-5602(716) 664-6648 Facsimile

ADVERTISINGRATES

Per Insert:Display: $210 - perfull page or30 col. in.;$7 per col. in.Marketplace: $10minimum for25 wordsor less, 1Oceach ad-ditional word.Contact: R.J. Fox, Editor

RD 3, Box 88,Moravia, NY13118Fax/Phone:

(315) 497-1078

Circulation 1850.

SPECIALIZING IN:CORTLAND, NY OFFICE11 North Main StreetSuite 202Cortland, NY 13045(607) 753-3113(607) 753-9170 Facsimile

• Timber Sale Administration

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TIMBERLAND REALTY OFFICE100 East Second StreetJamestown, NY 14701(716) 664-5602(716) 664-6648 Facsimile

• Timber & Timberland Appraisals

• Timber Taxation Planrunq

FOrestry - Recreation - Ecology - CONservation

NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA ·1·800-836-3566 -INFO SEP/OCT 1994' 19

RJ. Fox, EditorRD#3, Box 88Moravia, NY 13118FaxIPhone(315) 497-1078

-- VOSS SignsDcpt. NYF. Box 553. Manlius. N.Y. 13104

Ph. (315) 882-6418lMon.· frf. 9- 51

For Information OnWho does what: loggers, sawmillers,

foresters, merchants, gov't agencies .Call our FREE information Database

and Debbie will get the answers for you.INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

1-800-836-3566

20 • NY FOREST OWNER NYFOA ·1·800·836·3566 • INFO

Non-ProfitOrg.us. POSTAGE

PAIDMoravia, N.Y.

13118Permit No. 21

FOUNDED 1963

WOODLOTCALENDARSep 10: CFA; Annual Meeting: NormanRichards TreeFann,40 years (914) 586-3054

Sep 10: NFC; lOAM; WoodswalkLetchworth State Parl<.;(716)632-5862

Sep 17,18: SAC: 2nd Annual ForestryExpo; Warren Co. Airport; N. GlensFalls; (518)893-2236.

Sep 24: WFL; lOAM; Woodswalk (716)367-2849 eve.

Sep 29: CNY; General Meeting;Liverpool Library; (315)673-3691

Sep 30: Oct NYFOA FALL MEETING;BOONVILLE, NY; See Page 8

Oct 8: NAC; Soils Tour, Dave Daut &Gerald Smith; L. Champlain west to theAdirondack Mountains.

Oct 12,13: SUNY-ESF; Timber Secu-rity Workshop; Bradford, PA; contactSUNY -ESF ( 315)470- 6565

SEP/OCT 1994

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