The New York FOREST OWNER

A publication of the New York Forest Owners Association

NovemberlDecember 1997

OSHA's Danger Tree Regulation Just Say No To Highgrading GypsyMoth-Down & Out?

Volume 35 Number 6 THE NEW YORK FORESTOWNERS FOREST OWNER ASSOCIATION A publication of the New York Forest Owners Association Editorial Committee: Betty Densmore, Chair, Alan Knight, Mary McCarty, Jim Minor, VOL. 35, NO.6 Bob Sand, and Eileen VanWie. Materials submitted for publication should be addressed to: R.J. Fox, Editor, R. O. 3, Box 88, Moravia, New York 13118. Articles, artwork and photos are invited and are normally OFFICERS & DIRECTORS returned after use. The deadline for submission for JanlFeb is December 1. Please address all membership fees and change of address requests to P.O. Box Jill Cornell. President 180, Fairport, N.Y. 14450. Cost of individual membership/subscription is $20. 703 Johnsonville Rd. Johnsonville. NY 12094: 518/753-4336

Robert M. Sand, Recording Secretary 300 Church Street A SILVICULTURAL TOOL Odessa. NY 14869-9703: 607/594-2130

Don \Vagner, Treasurer 5330 Graham Road. Utica. NY 13502: 3 I 51733-7391

Deborah Gill, Administrative Secretary P.O. Box 180 Fairport. NY 14450: 716/377-6060

1998 Jill Cornell. Johnsonville: 518/753-4336 Elizabeth Densmore. Machias: 7J 6/942-6600 Robert Sand, Odessa: 6071 594-2130 Bob Sykes. Elbridge: 3 I 51 673-3691

1999 Harry Dieter. Honeoye Falls. 716/533-2085 Thomas Ellison, Manlius. 315/682-9376 Richard Fox. Moravia: 315/497-1078 David Swanson, Mount Morris. 716/658-4601

2000 Hugh Canham. N. Syracuse: 315/457-4972 John Hastings. Queensbury: 5181798-0248 Ronald Pedersen: Latham: 5 I81785-6061 Betty Wagner: Utica: 3151733-7391 A NYS DEC controlled burn on State Forest #37, off Kendrick Road, Town of Sherbourne, Chenango County. Photo by Gary Cole.

CHAPTER REPRESENTATIVES Charlie Mowatt, Allegheny Foothills; 7161 549-5025 Stephen Davison, Cayuga: 3 I 5/496-2392 Joan & Hans Kappel, Capital District: 518/861-8753 Tom Graber. Central New York: 315/255-3662 Table Of Contents Elizabeth Nichols. Lower Hudson: 914/831-3109 Don O'Shea. Northern Adirondack. 315/393-5137 Rita Hammond. Niagara Frontier: 7 I 6/652-2857 James Durller, SEAdirondack: 518/747-5958 President's Message, Jill Cornell 3 Larry Lepak. Southern Tier: 607/656-8504 OSHA "Danger Tree" Rule, A. Egan & C. Alerich 4 Don Schaufler, Tioga. 607/589-6095 Western Finger Lakes; Growing Ginseng Workshop, Jill Cornell 7 Just Say No To Highgrading, P.l Smallidge & M. Greason 8 Legislation, David J. Colligan 10 All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced with- (Jut prior written permission from the publisher.NYFOA Forest Management in NY, Ella Elman 11 does I10T necessarily support or approve procedures. prod- LETTERS, 12 ucts, or opinions presented by authors or advertisers. Willow Biomass For Renewable Energy, Stacie Edick & Tim Volk 14 Managing A Woodlot Timber Sale, D. Schaufler & D. Chapman 16 A Bit OfIrish Forestry, Henry Kernan 18 Cover: Gypsy Moth-Down And Out?, Douglas Allen 20 Log Drive in the Hudson River near Glen Holy Herbs, Flowers And Fate, Jane Sorensen Lord 22 Falls, probably late 1800'sji-om US For- est Service files at ESF Moon Library Ar- chives. Photo provided by Professor Norman Richards.

2 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566· INFO NOVIDEC 1997 President's Message . Association and People Jill Cornell,NYFOA's President, has By Jill Cornell been named the new Regional Vice Presi- ver the summer Ron Pedersen and dent and chair of the Northeast Woodlands I met with different chapters across Committee of the National Woodland Othe state to get their ideas and sug- Owners Association (NWOA), according gestions for long range planning for to an annoucement by President Keith NYFOA, and to find a name for our inde- Argow. penden t tax ex em pt organ ization. Jill replaces former NYFOA Executive NYFOAns are a bright, enthusiastic and Director, John Marchant, who has served creative group; the end result was a 12 page NWOA as Northeast Vice President since list of ideas! 1990. The name for the tax exempt organiza- John Marchant was the recipient of the tion is New York Woodland Stewards, 1997 Lifetime Achievement Award granted Inc. The incorporation papers have been by the National Association of State For- sent to the state, and are expected back esters (NASF). The NASF represents the shortly. Then the review process with the State forestry directors of all fifty states, IRS will begin. Hopefully by spring of98, seven U.S. territories, and the District of it will all be in place. Columbia. Our Reciprocal Organizational Mem- berships have been warmly received. This vehicle enhances communication with Jill Cornell other landowner and related groups through ral resources and forestry, and was Presi- exchange of publications, while eliminat- dent of the Pennsylvania Forestry Associa- ing dues and board seat exchanges, and re- tion in the '70s. fraining from automatic policy endorse- Our packet of information for new ments. To date ROMs have been set up with NYFOA members has been enlarged to Cycles VT, NH, NJ, PA, MA, Catskill Forestry include a glossary of forestry terms, and a Assoc. (CF A), and the Empire State Forest checklist for timber sale contracts. Any- By Dorothy S.Darling Products Assoc. (ESFPA). one wishing to receive a copy can call I thank Bob Sykes for finalizing our Debbie Gill at our 800 number. It begins as a whisper, membership survey questionnaire. Every- If you were not at the Fall Meeting at a shivering of leaf and grass one will receive a copy either with your Tully, you missed an interesting, informa- in the hour neither day nor night, renewal or separately. While I hope that tive program, and all the camaraderie of recalling the past to my mind, you will answer all the questions, please nice tree people. There is a good possibil- the whisper growing, breathing its omit any that you feel are too personal. We ity that Jim Peek, an excellent woods pho- coolness will use the address, phone, fax and e-rnail tographer from western NY, will partici- into autumn's bright face information to produce a membership di- pate at our Annual Meeting Program in as it lay down its orange and gold rectory. The acreage amounts will be used April, 1998 in Syracuse. He will explain to with seasonal grace. as a collective number to increase our clout us how to capture our woodlots at the best on legislative issues. The remainder of the time, and what we can learn from our pho- Whisper into breeze transports information will be used to identify issues tos. dry, curling leaves, . and interest areas for programs, etc. There is still time for any of you who've spreading them on bush and There is a good possibility that our first found "pot" growing in your woods, either lawn, NYFOA notepaper card series of eight in the ground or in containers, to send me turning my restless thoughts to a time cards will be available for holiday gifts. a description of what you experienced, so (See preview photos, page 19.) when small wonders were my an article can be written on the subject for song. A Forest Travel Tour, similar to those THE FOREST OWNER sponsored by NYFOA in the 80's is being NYFOA is too well kept a secret! Bring As breeze turns to wind, considered. Probable destination would be a friend to the next woodswalk or program night comes in, covering Seattle, WA with trips to the Olympic Pen- at your chapter! And loan a copy of THE autumn's glow, insula, Vancouver, and the Cascades. Any FOREST OWNER to a potential member. and I am lost in long ago ventures suggestions or woodlot owner contacts in Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy celebrat- that transcended the mundane that area are most welcome. ing trees and forests as you celebrate the with prolific pretending of the In August, I met with the new Deputy holidays-apples, nuts, citrus, turkey, veni- mind, Commissioner of Natural Resources at son, evergreen wreaths and trees, the tables and suddenly I succumb to envy DEC, Peter S. Duncan. We New Yorkers that hold your feasts, and the fires in your before the cycle of seasons are very fortunate to have Pete in that po- woodstoves and fireplaces. unaltered by time. sition. He has a strong background in natu- Happy Holidays!

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 3 The OSHA "Danger Tree" Rule: Does it Affect You? By Andrew Egan and Carol Alerich ~~------~------,pulling down a severed tree that the ecognizing the hazards in feller had lodged in a nearby support- volved in the timber harvest- ing tree. Ring industry, the Occupa- In the process the feller, an em- tional Safety and Health ployee of an independent logging Administration's (OSHA) current contractor, alleged to be injured by Logging Safety Standard (published the snag and has sued both his em- on October 12, 1994) includes spe- ployer and the company that owned cific requirements for work around and managed the land. The focus of potentially hazardous trees and for the plaintiffs complaint was that the safe manual felling techniques. Ef- forest management company did not fective as of February 9, 1995, and provide a safe working environment, revised on September 8, 1995, this as required by OSHA's General Duty document defines a "danger tree" as Clause. "a standing tree that presents a haz- The snag that struck the injured ard to employees due to conditions logger, they claimed, should have such as, but not limited to, deterio- been removed by the forest manage- ration or physical damage to the root ment company before beginning the system, trunk, stem or limbs, and the logging operation. The plaintiff cited direction and lean of the tree." a paragraph in the 1970 OSHA pulp- Because of the inherently hazard- wood logging standard (in effect at ous nature of logging, on-the-job the time of the accident) that states: safety has been the subject of con- siderable concern and discussion. In Dead, broken, or rotted limbs or particular, the issue of responsibil- trees that are a hazard (widow mak- ity for potentially dangerous ers) shall be felled or otherwise re- preharvest forest conditions is of im- moved before commencing logging portance to landowners, forest man- Almost all logging jobs, including this Pennsylvania tornado salvage, are affected by the current OSHA operations, building roads, trails or agers and logging contractors. landing, in their vicinity. Obviously, given the OSHA "Danger Tree" rule. guidelines, the number of "danger The 1970 OSHA pulpwood stan- trees" encountered in the preharvest forest ing trees is responsible for nearly one quar- dard stated that these trees must be felled environment has implications for logging ter of all logging injuries. Falling objects or removed before work is begun in their safety, practice and costs. account for most logging fatalities with vicinity. The 1994 OSHA standard speci- The purpose of this study was to estimate falling trees accounting for more than two- fies that: the number of "danger trees" in the forests thirds of the struck-by-falling-object of four contiguous northeastern states for deaths. Each danger tree, including large trees which data were available: New York, oor felling technique has been im- and snags, shall be felled or removed us- Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia plicated directly in about 15 percent ing mechanical or other techniques that (Figure 1). Specifically, those trees that P of felling fatalities. And high fatal- minimize employee exposure before work showed evidence of conditions that may be ity rates in logging and their association is commenced in the area of the danger the cause of the most common logging fa- with tree felling are not peculiar to the US. tree. If the danger tree is not felled or re- tality-a falling object accident-were in- Information available from other countries, moved, it shall be marked and no work shall vestigated. These dangerous tree character- including Canada, New Zealand, and Aus- be conducted within two tree lengths of the istics included broken tops, dead tops and tralia, indicates both similar trends in and danger tree unless the employer demon- dead trees. The results of this study help to causes of logging fatalities. strates that a shorter distance will not cre- clarify the scope of the "danger tree" phe- Ongoing litigation in the northeastern ate a hazard for an employee. ..~ nomenon in forests of central Appalachia. United States is testing the question of who Background Information from the Bu- is legally responsible for potentially unsafe The case of the injured West Virginia reau of Labor Statistics indicates that 53 conditions on logging jobs. Recently, a logger was recently settled out of court. percent of logging injuries take place at the feller in West Virginia claimed to be struck stump during felling, delirnbing, and top- )y a snag that was accidentally tipped in Methods ping activities. Moreover, the act of fell- his direction when the skidder operator was Data collected by the US Forest Service

4 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA· 1·800·836·3566· INFO NOVIDEC 1997 19 percent were live trees with either bro- ken or dead tops and over 15 percent were Figure 1: Regional Forest Coverage dead trees with intact or broken tops. In- spection of the results suggests some con- sistency in trees per acre within each con- dition class among the states included in the study. Overall, 12 percent of the trees studied in the four state region were "danger trees". As a percent of trees in each species group, there appeared to be little difference in "danger tree" estimates between hardwoods (12.0 percent) and softwoods (11.9 per- cent). Red spruce (17 percent) showed evi- dence of the "danger tree" characteristics studied more often than other major soft- • Forested Area wood timber species. However, it is impor- tant to note that red spruce is considered D Non-Forested Area "rare" by the US Forest Service in most of the four state region studied (i.e., it ac- counted for only 0.05-0.49 percent of all trees). Yellow birch (almost 18 percent) led all major hardwood timber species with for the states of New York, Ohio, Pennsyl- snag with broken top. In the four-state re- "danger tree" conditions. Yellow-poplar (6 vania, and West Virginia were analyzed to gion, approximately 20 trees per acre were percent) had the smallest number of hard- estimate the number of trees considered to determined to be "danger trees" (Table 1). wood trees and eastern hemlock (7 percent) be hazardous as described in the most re- On a per-acre basis, Ohio had the fewest the smallest number of softwood trees with cent OSHA guidelines for the logging in- such trees (almost 16 per acre) and Penn- these conditions. dustry. All trees 5.0 inches diameter at sylvania the most (almost 22 trees per acre). Inspection of the results indicated that breast height (dbh) were evaluated on a Two thirds of the "danger trees" (approxi- there was some variability in percent of region wide sample of permanent plots. mately 13 trees per acre) were snags, while "danger trees" per species among the states hose hazardous tree conditions that could be assessed both objectively Table 1: Number of affected trees in the four- state region Tand practically were evaluated. Live Trees Dead Trees Snags These included trees with broken or dead tops, standing dead trees (i.e., dead trees broken dead intact broken intact broken TOTAL with no signs of advanced decay) and top top top top top top snags. Those trees described as hazardous New York by OSHA due either to deterioration of the root system or to direction or lean of the number of trees 46,929 32,786 25,892 12,913 53,785 149,438 321,743 tree were not investigated. Not included in trees/acre 3.05 1.89 2.13 0.84 3.49 9.70 21.10 the original sampling protocol, damage to the root system is difficult or impossible to Ohio assess during large-scale region wide stud- number of trees 14,751 10,181 13,955 3,763 35,163 43,560 120,373 ies and would require excavation of root trees/acre 1.95 1.35 1.84 0.05 4.65 5.62 15.91 systems of each tree to definitively deter- mine deterioration. Hazardous tree direc- Pennsylvania tion and lean would have required subjec- number of trees 34,492 22,461 38,625 13,762 94,198 144,756 348,294 tive determinations on the part ofthe field trees/acre 1.42 crews that might have lead to inconsistent 2.17 2.43 0.87 5.93 9.12 21.94 results for this category of hazard tree. West Virginia number of trees 21,711 11,169 35,921 Results and Discussion 11,049 45,349 91,267 216,466 Results of the region-wide inventory in- trees/acre 1.82 0.94 3.01 0.93 3.81 7.66 18.17 dicated a substantial number of trees fit- ting the six conditions studied for "danger Region trees": alive with broken top, alive with number of trees 117,884 76,597 114,393 41,487 228,494 428,021 1,006,876 intact dead top, dead with intact top, dead trees/acre with broken top, snag with intact top, or 2.03 1.51 2.25 0.82 4.50 8.43 19.54

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 . 5 studied.The species with the most Wildlife Management Institute, the Soci- state-to-state variability appeared to be red ety for the Protection of New Hampshire spruce, showing none of the "danger tree" Forests and the Forest Trust petitioned Bruce E. characteristics in Ohio, whereas more than OSHA to change the rule, calling for it to 26 percent of West Virginia's red spruce be made "more flexible and responsible to Robinson, displayed "danger tree" signs. differing circumstances." The coalition is It should be noted that the study esti- calling for OSHA to give loggers "more mated only 167,000 red spruce in Ohio, the discretion to use their common-sense judg- Inc. smallest species group in any state. In West ment" in deciding which trees they will cut FORESTRY Virginia, red spruce is also considered and which they will leave. "rare" and generally grows in high, more What is the scope of the "danger tree" CONSULTANTS exposed elevations where damage by wind situation in the region's forests? and desiccation is likely to cause many of This research has shown that, in the four- • FORESTPRODUCT MARKING & MARKETING the "danger tree" characteristics described. state region studied, approximately 20 trees • TREE FARM MANAGEMENT per acre fall into one of the following six •URBAN FORESTRY & ~~ COMMUNITYMANAGEMENT Conclusions categories: alive with broken tops, alive • TIMBER APPRAISALS The question of how to define "safe with intact dead tops, dead with intact tops, ~ • ACCESS ROADDESIGN working conditions" in the context of the dead with broken tops, snags with intact & SUPERVISION • TREE PLANTING natural forest environment is still unclear. tops, or snags with broken tops. Approxi- • TREE SHELTERDISTRIBUTOR The current OSHA standard for logging has mately two thirds ofthe "danger trees" in- • SUGAR BUSH MANAGEMENT • BOUNDARY MAINTENANCE attempted to describe tree conditions that ventoried were snags. • CHRISTMAS TREE MANAGEMENT it considers potentially hazardous. Several It seems safe to assume the presence of • FORESTMANAGEMENTPLANNING • FOREST RECREA nON PLANNING of these conditions, especially those related more than 20 "danger trees" per acre in the • WOODLOT IMPROVEMENTS IN to the condition of root systems, are diffi- region, since some danger tree categories IMMATURE STANDS cult to evaluate. were not investigated (e.g., trees with "de- • WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT •FOREST TAXATION PLANNING Other conditions, e.g., broken or dead terioration or physical damage to the root tree branches and tops, are assessed more system"), and only trees greater than five (716) 665-5477 practically and objectively. Accident sta- inches dbh were included in the study. Un- 1894 CAMP ST. EXT. tistics and anecdotal evidence suggest that fortunately, the practical question of how JAMESTOWN. NY 14701 this latter class oftree conditions accounts to deal safely with these trees, remain in for many falling object accidents, causing compliance with OSHA guidelines, and most U.S. logging-related deaths. leave snags for wildlife habitat after log- Moreover, the negative impact on wild- ging is not addressed by the OSHA stan- life habitat of clearing standing dead trees dard. FOUNTAIN and snags-82 percent of the "danger trees" However, from the standpoints of both studied-also requires careful consider- personal safety and liability, loggers, for- FORESTRY ation.The option of removing potential esters, and landowners should be aware of wildlife habitat trees prior to harvesting the "danger tree" elements of the OSHA Quality Management may be inconsistent with the recommen- guidelines. of Land & Timber dation of some wildlife biologists to leave Although sanitizing the forest of all po- two to four large snags per acre. tential hazards is impossible and, perhaps, (518) 359-3089 Alternatively, retaining such trees while undesirable, training in the recognition of following OSHA's guidelines for maintain- these hazards is critical-and is now re- • Timber Sale Administration ing a safety zone of two tree lengths around quired by OSHA. Assessing "danger trees" • Timber Sale Marking the tree, within which "no work shall be in the felling area should be one aspect of • Forest Management Plans conducted," is also problematic. For ex- this training. .•. • 480a Management Plans ample, leaving a circular safety zone with • Wildlife Habitat Management a radius of two tree lengths around a re- Andrew Egan is Assistant Professor ofF or- • Timber Appraisals tained "danger tree" that is 60 feet tall, pre- est Harvesting, Division of Forestry, West • Expert Testimony cludes logging activity on an area of over Virginia University, Morgantown, wv. • SAF Certified Foresters one acre around this tree. Carol Alerich is Research Forester, United Although the OSHA standard suggests States Forest Service Northeast Forest Ex- FOUNTAIN FORESTRY, INC. that a safety zone of two tree lengths does periment Station, Radnor, PA. This paper 21 Cliff Ave., P.O. Box 1002 not need to be maintained if"the employer is excerpted from a manuscript to be pub- Tupper Lake, NY 12986 demonstrates that a shorter distance will not lished in the Journal of Safety Research and create a hazard for an employee," OSHA was reprinted here with the permission of Please visit our Web site for fails to suggest ways in which this excep- Eric Johnson, Editor of the Northern Log- complete information: tion may be justified by an employer. ger and Timber Processor, wherein (Au- www.tiac.netfusers/fountforlindex.htm Recently, a coalition of groups includ- gust 1997) this article formerly appeared. E-Mail: [email protected] ing the National Wildlife Federation, the

6 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 Ginseng Growing Workshop September 13-14, 1997, Ithaca, NY By Jill Cornell inseng, (panax quinquefoliumj and unsold ginseng must be certified by Louise Buck, Coordinator of the Cornell subtitled "the king of herbs" is also DEC before April 1st following harvest. University Agroforestry Group, discussed Gnicknamed "green gold", by W. Harvest season starts September 1st, and the research being done in cooperation with Scott Persons, DEC, Agricultural Re- because of the search Service, Sylvan .. $300-400.1 Botanicals and others . pound price it Their preliminary con- commands clusions are that "spe- when dug in the cific soil characteristics wild. The mar- or microclimatic factors ketable root has are likely to be more an 8 to 10 year important than climatic growing cycle, region, slope aspect or and is found canopy dominant for growing natu- successful establish- rally in NY mentofthis endangered woods. Indica- herb". She also com- tor plants for a mented that one site probable site in- abounded with ginseng clude: cohosh, after a logging opera- bloodroot, tril- tion. Security from I I U m poachers is a problem, baneberry, and mice are known to jewel weed, like the seeds. Jack-in-the-pul- pit, May Apple, A 4 year plant with berries. Photo by Dick Fox. For more information foam flower, contact: maidenhair fern, preferably under sugar maples. closes November 30th. Harvesters (shang Bob Beyfuss 518 622 9820 Properties ascribed to the use of ginseng diggers), are required to plant the seeds Cornell Cooperative Extension include increased energy levels and stress from the harvested plant within 50 feet of HCR3, Box 906 reduction.The active ingredients are called the dug root. Cairo, NY 12413-9503; ginsenocides. It has been used in the orient Steve Roth of North American Ginseng Mike Birmingham 518-457-7370 for over 5000 years, and was exported by Association opened the workshop with an NYS DEe American colonists during the 1700's. To- overview of ginseng's uses and varied cul- 50 Wolf Road day there are myriads of products produced tivation practices in this and other coun- Albany, NY 12233; in this country, from teas and ointments to tries. Louise Buck soaps. W.Scott Persons, author of "American Dept. of Natural Resources High prices have encouraged experimen- Ginseng: GREEN GOLD ". described suit- Cornell University tation with cultivation, both here and in the able growing sites as hardwood forests with Ithaca, NY 14853; orient. The commercially grown herb can humus soil and good drainage. First year Scott Harris 607 264 8455 be recognized by its smooth appearance, plants have three leaves, 2nd year plants Sylvan Botanicals as contrasted to the wrinkled, annular- have 2 triple leaves, 3rd year plants have 3 PO Box 91 ringed wild type. triple leaves, and 4th year plants produce a Cooperstown, NY 13326; Experimental cultivation has been tried flower which produces green seeds which W_ Scott Persons 704-293-5189 in artificial shade settings using wooden ripen to red seeds. Tuckasegee Valley Ginseng ,.. slats, and screen mesh, as well as cultiva- Bob Beyfuss, one of the guest speakers, Box 236 (seed source) tion in rows under a canopy of hardwoods. did his Masters thesis on growing ginseng, Tuckasegee, NC 28783; Densely planted seedlings are more prone and is currently making a study of the soils Steve Roth 607 326 3243 to health problems from slugs, alternaria found at sites of naturally growing ginseng. North American Ginseng Assoc. leaf and stem blight, and phytophthora root He reported that the critical soil factor Bridge Street, Box 1 27 rot. seems to be a ph range from 3.7 to 6.2, with Roxbury, NY 12474 Ginseng is a federally protected plant. trace minerals found in a wide range of con- Dealers are permitted by DEe. Ginseng ex- centrations. Calcium also seems to be criti- ported from NY must be certified by DEC, cally important. Jill Cornell is NYFOA 's President.

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 7 Just Say No to High-Grading, Selective Cutting, and Diameter- Limit Cutting

By Peter J. SmaUidge and Michael C. Greason

urrently the prices paid for timber ing is often disguised under the name of value of the forest regardless of the "logic" in New York woodlots are good and "diameter-limit cutting". This is a practice used by foresters or loggers trying to make Charvesting activity has increased. that removes all trees above a certain mini- a quick buck. However, what may surprise many forest mum diameter. In some rare situations di- Why does high-grading happen? A com- and woodlot owners is that some forestry ameter-limit cutting is appropriate. For ex- mon cause for high-grading is greed to techniques can limit options for future ben- ample, if old pasture trees are shading the maximize immediate profits. Beginning in efits and enjoyment- both in the long run growth of young hardwood saplings. Of- the early 1970's, demand for high-value and short term. While well-planned timber ten however, diameter-limit cutting re- timber increased and sawmills could pay harvesting can increase your benefits, moves trees of commercial value (say more for certain species. Thus, markets for "high-grading" and related practices should above 12 or 14 inches in diameter) before high-value trees grew stronger while mar- be avoided. these trees can attain a more valuable size kets for low value trees did not. Further, it Cutting the best trees (those of highest and add seed and seedlings to the forest. costs about the same amount of money to value) and leaving the low value, often dis- Selective cutting is another technique cut and haul a $10 tree as it does to cut and eased or malformed trees, is too common. where high-grading can occur. Selective haul a $300 tree of the same size. Another This type of forestry is called high-grad- cutting (generally not recommended) dif- factor is that taxes on forest land not under ing, where the highest grade (or value) trees fers from the selection system of silvicul- the NYS 480-a Forest Tax Law can create are removed. By cutting only the largest ture (a legitimate technique). Selective cut- financial hardships that encourage land- and most valuable trees you remove those ting, as commonly practiced, involves se- owners to maximize immediate profits. The best suited to that site. The trees that are lecting the highest quality trees and cutting result is that more immediate profit is less well adapted remain as the next forest them. (Technical note: selective cutting by gained by cutting only the highest value and the seed source for future forests. The definition can include other activities such trees, but left behind is a legacy of low qual- financial gain of high-grading exist only as improvement cuts) The selection system ity trees and under-productive forests. This briefly. yet ownership objectives can be involves someone professionally trained in knowledge helps explain high-grading, but sacrificed for decades. A similar analogy silviculture to select trees from all age and doesn't excuse it. from livestock is the farmer or stable man- size classes, both high and low quality to hat are the consequences of ager who shoots the blue ribbon bull or produce an uneven-aged forest. Diameter- high-grading. is it really that winning race horse and uses the losers for limit cutting and selective cutting are often W bad? One result is that the trees breeding stock. The quality ofthe herd,just rationalized by arguing to remove the big- that are left behind won't grow as quickly as the quality of the forest and woodlot, de- ger trees so the smaller trees can grow. as better quality trees and the time until the clines rapidly! However. the smaller trees may be unde- next harvest is lengthened. In addition, the In addition to high-grading, similar prac- sirable species. poor form, or poor heath. next harvest will remove the low quality tices exist with different names. High-grad- By any name, high-grading degrades the trees previously left so the value at the next harvest will be reduced. If you magnify the practice of high-grading across a region. T H~-\LE FORESTR\' COl\lPi\Nl assuming the demand for wood products remains steady, then more acres must be 610 East l\'Iain Street. Westfield, PA 169='0 harvested to meet the demand.While tim- Professional Forestry Consulting ber harvesting is not bad. accelerated har- Forest Resource Management Services vesting is not in the best interest of our natu- ral resources and conflicts with a growing TIMBER SALES APPRAISALS demand by the public for accountability of natural resource management. As the value MANAGEMENT PLANS INVENTORIES of the land to produce timber crops de- creases, the incentive to subdivide and de- MICHAEL L. HALE JOSEPH R. MAHONEY velop increases. (814) 367-5915 ,1 So what can you do to avoid high-grad- ing? The first step is to work with compe- tent and professional loggers and foresters. Fax (814) 367-5919 When you select a new refrigerator or car Society of American Foresters - Pennsylvania Forestry Association you likely consider several features, includ- NY Cooperating Consulting Forester - Member NY Forest Owners Association ing price, reputation, service after the sale.

8 •NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA- 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 and other long-term benefits. Similarly se- and help keep you on track. The harvest- Pplication or Facsimile Appli- lect your forester and logger. Ask for ref- ing schedule in your management plan will cation for Membership in the erences, find out if the forester participates help you decide when harvesting is appro- A New York Forest Owners As- in continuing education programs and priate. Just because a forester or logger of- sociation. whether the logger has completed the fers to cut your timber doesn't mean it's "Trained Logger Certification" program, the best time for your interests. The value make a visit to forests or woodlots where of trees increases greatly as trees get big- IlWe would like to support good forestry they have worked, and know that the best ger, and it's probably a safe assumption that and stewardship of New York's forest price may not provide the best treatment good markets will continue to exist for high lands. for your land. The logger who outbids his quality trees (although markets fluctuate). competitors for a timber sale by a few per- Third, look for creative solutions to re- ( ) IlWe own acres of wood- cent may be more efficient or may not de- move the low value trees at the same time land. vote enough effort to ensure your property the high value trees are harvested.A har- is left in good condition. Similarly, the for- vest that removes high-value and low-value ester who promises you maximum short- trees provides financial benefits from the () IlWe do not own woodland but sup- term profit likely doesn't have in mind the high- and low-value trees and improves the port the Association's objectives. best interests for you and your land.The quality of the residual forest. One way is to consequences of selecting an incompetent have the forester mark and the logger skid forester or logger will exist longer than a the low value trees to the log landing. Then NAME _ bad choice on a refrigerator. you can cut them yourself for firewood, or A second step is to avoid high-grading sell them to a firewood processor. This will is to have a written management plan. Your require extra effort on the part of the log- management plan will state your objectives ger and forester, which means you might ADDRESS _ not make as much money, but the benefits, including even greater profits, will exist a City Zip PONDS UNLIMITED few years down the road. INVITES yOU .... inally,get assistance from unbiased Telephone _ to think of all of the benefits you people to help you develop long- could enjoy from having a pond or Fterm objectives and management County of Residence _ a lake on your own property. This plans. Master Forest Owner Volunteers are forest owners trained through Cornell Co- idea could become a reality if the County of Woodlot _ operative Extension to provide nontechni- right conditions prevail. From our cal assistance to forest owners. They can Referred by _ experience it normally requires help you think through your management favorable watershed conditions, objectives and provide sources of informa- good site conditions, owner- tion. Also, NYS Department of Environ- Annual Dues commitment to stewardship for mental Conservation professional foresters (Please Check One) enhancement of forest land values, are available for free consultation and can appropriate engineering planning provide technical expertise and guidance INDIVIDUAL $20 and design, and good construction on forest management. Both of these groups of people can provide free, unbi- practices. FAMILY (or co-owners) $25 ased information and advice that will help you avoid some of the pitfalls of practicing PONDS UNLIMITED CAN CONTRIBUTING $30-$100 short-sighted forestry. The Catskill Forest EV ALU A TE the site of your Association and New York Forest Owners choice. We can provide all ofthe Association are landowner groups dedi- SPONSORING $101and up engineering services needed to cated to helping other landowners enjoy plan, design and oversee the their forest land. Contact your county of- MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES: construction of a dam to create a fice of Cornell Cooperative Extension or Six issues of the NYFOREST handsome pond or lake on suitable the nearest DEe office for more informa- tion ..•. OWNER, woodswalks, chapter meet- property. You can get additional ings, and two statewide meetings for all information by call ing 315/422- Peter 1. Smallidge is the State Extension members. POND or sending a letter of Foresterfor the Department of Natural Re- inquiry to: PLEASE make check payable to: sources, College of Agriculture and Life NYFOA and SEND TO: PONDS UNLIMITED Sciences, Cornell University. This article 719 E. Genesee St. is available from Cornell Cooperative News NYFOA,Inc Syracuse, NY 13210 Service (the series, Forests For Tomorrow.) P.O. Box 180. 315/422-7663 Mike Greason is NYS DEC Chief of the Fairport, New York 14450 FAX/4 76-3635 Bureau of Private Land Service.

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 9 LEGISLATION

By David J. Colligan makes it illegal to cut "evergreen" trees tivities, and to encourage the initiation and hanks to information received by without the consent of the landowners. expansion of additional forestry businesses. this author from the Empire State S4003! A5411 deletes the word "evergreen" .&. TForest Products Association from the statute to update this law to rec- David Colligan, former NYFOA Director, (ESFPA), a reciprocal organization to ognize the increased value of deciduous serves NYFOA as the legislative liaison, NYFOA, the following is a summary of trees. and is a practicing Attorney in Buffalo. legislative highlights from 1997. A second bill (S4004! A541 0) updates the Forestry R&D Center Continued - The state's trespass laws to require enforcement 30+ Years Experience New York Center for Forestry Research for the" ...cutting, pulling or (digging of Development received continued funding trees; or c) the removal of trees" when a ROBERT DEMEREE in this year's budget. Forthe fourth year in landowner has legally posted his or her Professional Forestry Consultant a row the Center was provided with a property. Enforcement had been considered $250,000 appropriation. optional and at the discretion of the enforce- Timber Sales· Management Planning Property Tax Reforms Enacted - The ment officer or agency prior to this amend- Tax Law· Tree Planting STAR program was enacted and provides ment. 3987 Northway Drive significant school tax relief for residential These provisions were introduced to bill Cortland, NY 13045-9317 ratepayers and particularly senior citizens. sponsors by ESFPA in consultation with The school portion of the property tax for other landowner representatives. They re- Telephone: homeowners will be reduced by an aver- flect the growing concerns over the level (607) 753-0497 age of 27% beginning in 1999. The state of timber theft occurring in New York for- will reimburse school districts for lost rev- ests. Further legislative attention to this is- enues. sue is likely. In fact, a third provision was NewYork's'Extra' Estate Tax Elimi- introduced this year with sponsorship in nated - Family businesses and forest own- both houses. The bill would allow for the erships will be beneficiaries of significant prospect of criminal prosecution if the val- reductions in both the federal and state so ues involved exceed those currently used called "death" tax or estate taxes. The for other Class D felonies. state's top rate will move from 21 % to 16% "Right to Practice Forestry" - Progress and raises the exemption level from on this important legislation can be char- $115,000 to the federal level which was acterized by early support followed by last Adirondack $600,000. The recent resolution of the fed- minute cold feet. Progress continues to be eral budget amended this threshold to $1 made. ESFP A members have helped im- million phased in through the year 2003. mensely as many discussed this issue in Forestry Inc. The state reduction will be accomplished legislative visits during their annual lobby Incorporated 1955 over a three year period and will be fully day in May. NYFOA members are encour- implemented by January 1, 2000. The aged to write and otherwise communicate Services Include: state's gift tax, also, is eliminated on Janu- with your state legislators on the need for Timber Inventory ary 1,2000. this legislation. Timber Theft Laws Receive Update- The general purpose of this bill is to Timber Appraisal The legislature passed two provisions up- maintain the pursuit of some forestry prac- Management Plans dating the state's timber theft laws. Origi- tices and to permit the continuation of for- Timber Marking & Sales nally enacted in 1911, section 9-1501 of estry within this state, to protect the exist- the Environmental Conservation Law ence and operation of existing forest ac- Sale Supervision Trespass Appraisal S.I.P. Plans Phone: Garry L. Nelson • (518) 793·9022 James A. Farrar • (518) 623·9449 Dennis M. Flynn • (518) 581·1055 Member of SAF, NYFOA, Tree Farm, NYS Coop. Cons. For. E·Mail: [email protected]

10 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1·800-836·3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 Forest Management in NY-You've Got Questions? We've Got Answers!!

By Ella Elman ew York is a land of forests.With 62% of the state covered by for- N ests, there are now 18.6 million acres that are forested in the state. More than 2/3 of that land is owned by approxi- mately 500,000 non-industrial forest own- ers.Unfortunately, less than 4 million of those acres are purposefully managed. Stewardship of this vital resource is neces- sary to ensure economic and ecologically sound forest productivity generation after generation. If you're reading this magazine, chances David Swaciak, CCE educator for Cattaraugus County, leads a tree identification exercise are that you are a forest owner who is in- at the 1997 MFO/COVERTS training. terested in the stewardship of his/her ducting free on-site visits and providing woodlot and understands that proper for- information about sources of assistance. Ella Elman is the Master Forest Owner est management is essential to the future This year's training, which took place at Program Administrative Assistant with of New York's forests. Interest coupled Cornell University's Arnot Forest, added Cornell Cooperative Extension. with knowledge can lead to the necessary another 31 volunteers to our corps, bring- steps to achieve your goals. ing the total to 145 active volunteers in 44 However, before active management can counties across NY state. All of these vol- Lake George begin, it is necessary to have a clear man- unteers are experienced land owners, as agement plan in place for your woodlot. well as graduates of a 3-day training work- In creating such a plan, many things must shop at Cornell University.They are knowl- Forestry be considered. Do you want to manage your edgeable about sawtimber and wildlife forest for timber, wildlife, recreation, fire- management, forest economics and ecol- Complete Forestry Services wood or an agroforestry product? Would ogy. These volunteers continually increase including: you like to create a pond, a wetland or their knowledge through workshops and • Detailed Management trails? Perhaps you wish to combine a va- educational materials, and their contacts by Plans riety of the above practices and uses, and working with public, private and academic •Tim ber Trespass are not sure whether they are compatible organizations and businesses. • Timber Sales with one another or where to start. Sud- What can these volunteers do for you? • Appraisals denly, creating a workable management By means of an absolutely free, no obliga- • Deed Research plan becomes very daunting. But don't tion half-day visit,Master Forest Owners • Timber Inventory despair. The Master Forest Owner Program can tour your land with you, discuss your • Watershed Management can help you with these and many other management objectives and suggest questions regarding your woodlot) sources of information and assistance pro- • Boundary Line Location Since its inception in 1991, Master F or- grams to help you meet those objectives. • Tax Savings Plans est Owner volunteers have helped a docu- Furthermore, Master Forest Owners are No property is too small or too large to mented 700 forest owners in NY reach their sources of educational information about benefit from experienced professional as- woodlot management objectives by con- forest management and ecology, and can sistance when you arefaced with impor- help you develop a management plan for tant decisions regarding its use. your land. A listing of Master Forest Owner volun- Contact Lake George Forestry today teers is available through your Cornell to arrange a free initial consultation. Cooperative Extension County Office, Re- Christian Gearwear,President gional NYS DEC Forestry Office, or Custom and Stock Signs LAKE GEORGE NYFOA's information service at 1-800- for the Forest Industry 836-3566. For more information about the FORESTRY, INC. -Vo~Signs- program, contact Gary Goff, Master For- 50 Hendrick Street Dept. NYF, Box 553 est Owner Program Director at 104 Fernow Lake George, New York 12845 Manlius, NY 13104-0553 Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca,NY 14853, Tel: 518-668-2623 Ph. (315) 682~418 or 682-7332 Fax: (315) 682-7335 (607) 255-2824 phone, (607) 255-2815 fax; Fax: 518-668-2486 Send lor Catalog and Free Samples . ••.

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 11 LETTERS MANAGEMENT & TAXATION Two articles in the most recent Forest benefit quickly spreads beyond the local I am concerned when the message I read Owner disturb me. I know you are inter- community. from a leading forestry school seems to say, ested in creating debate on issues through 2) Broadening of eligible landowner "maybe you don't need foresters." I doubt the magazine and that is working. goals and qualifying acres in line with "for- that is what either Norm or Hugh are try- Norm Richards seems to feel reductions est stewardship" concepts. Our experience ing to say. Landowners benefit from com- in federal cost share funding has something with the Stewardship Incentives Program municating with foresters, gaining a writ- to do with an analysis of returns on those is that timber production increases when ten forest management plan and being able funding investments. I do not believe this landowners actively manage for their goals. to make informed decisions about their re- is true and I feel foresters need to encour- 3) Removal of a mandated work sched- sources. age forest stand improvement practices so ule. During the public hearing process in -Mike Greason, Catskill New York can benefit from well managed 1993, the overwhelming message we heard MY FAVORITE TREE forests.My evaluation of federal and state from most sectors was that the Certificate Long overdue ...My favorite forest tree is funding reductions is one of society want- of Approval should not include a mandated White Pine; favorite Christmas tree, Bal- ing to see less government and lower taxes. work schedule. Let the owner work at their sam Fir; and favorite "farm tree", Sugar Programs that politicians hear about get own pace, taking advantage of whatever Maple, the tree that gives food, shade and funded. Urban forestry funds have been other incentives might be available, but shelter (lumber.) I know that this is a bit increasing because urban constituencies retain some oversight at the time of har- more than asked for (What is your favorite demand them. Rural forestry funding is vest to assure a societal benefit for a sig- tree, NYFO 35:3.) Also, it might be inter- declining because forest owners tend to be nificant assessment reduction. esting to note that I've read where quiet and non-demanding. Last fall you 4) Retain the "approved forest manage- L. tulipifera was a favored tree for log cabin printed an article I wrote indicating a letter ment plan" requirement as the document building in the mid-Atlantic states back from one landowner is valued as 125 votes that educates the owner to the opportuni- before log homes of the modern kit type to an elected official. Funding, in my ob- ties that exist. This is the tool that gains the became popular. So we can now say log servation, has nothing to do with return on landowner contact with a professional re- shelters are popular not poplar. (Sorry.) investment. Every study of the Forestry source manager. -Mark Kurtis, Salamanca Incentives Program I've seen has indicated those practices have been very cost effec- tive. 2/1 County Road#9 E-Mail:[email protected] Chenango Forks,N.Y. 13746 (607) 648-5512 One reason for government support for forest improvement practices is that land tenure is getting shorter, on average, and often the landowner who may thin a ROY D. HOPKE woodlot may well not be the landowner Consultif'l9 Forester who gains from that investment. We all know few forest land sales are valued on Timber Appraisal Stewardship Plans the basis of the condition of the forest at Timber Sales Forestry 480-A Plans the time of sale and that most forest own- Forestry Real Estate Sales tv1apping Services ers do not have a primary goal of growing Buying or Selling Timberlands? Cali me! high quality timber. However, for long- term retention of forested open space and HIGH support of a viable wood products indus- EFFICIENCY l»!nr----"--' try, it is in society's interest to promote well ~L-SYSTEM managed forest resources. The other article that caught my eye was by Hugh Canham on forest taxation. I guess many people are tired of hearing me say historically cheap land and low taxes has not led to good forestry.I view a property Home, Shop tax exemption as an incentive to encour- Barn Domestic Water age better stewardship ofthe forest resource Works With Any -a private benefit for a societal gain. I fa- Existing Heating Pool vor revision of the present forest tax law to System Greenhouse Etc. include: Hewitt's Hill Haven 1) State reimbursement to localities to With, Clean, RD 1 Box 323;Locke, NY 13092 Safe, Efficient offset the tax shift caused by participation. Phone 315/497-1266 When forests are harvested the economic Hot Water

12 • NY FORESTOWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 -INFO NOVfDEC 1997 VOLUNTEER LIABILITY WHY NOT BUILD A LOG CABIN?

PROTECTION ACT-1997 By Barbara Tucker Bey Brothers Logging in Attica, joined the ByRon Jones ran Harrison, who lives in group. His expertise as a buyer of stump- Lockport, did just that on her prop age and veneer added immensely to the ublic Law 105-19: The Volunteer Ferty which includes a beautiful day's walk. Also joining the NFC and its Protection Act of 1997, was signed woodlot, a pond - complete with a small guests was Jim Cheeseman, newly retired Pinto law by President Clinton onJune island - and outstanding fruit trees includ- state forester. The wealth of information 18, 1997. The law, eleven years in the mak- ing apricot of these ing, provides certain protections to volun- and peach. two ex- teers, nonprofit organizations and govern- The pond perts kept ment entities in lawsuits based on the ac- is enjoyed the ques- tivities of volunteers. The law encourages by ducks, t ion s the States to enact legislation to grant im- geese, coming munity from personal civil liability, under turtles, long after certain circumstances, to volunteers work- and fish as the walk ing on behalf of nonprofit organizations and well as by was over government entities. deer and as we In general, the Law provides that a vol- other wild were en- unteer of a nonprofit organization or gov- animals, joying the ernment entity will generally be relieved of while but- hospital- liability for harm caused if; (1) the volun- terflies ityofRoy teer was acting within the scope of the and other insects enjoy the fruit trees. and his family. volunteer's responsibilities; (2) the volun- A couple of years ago, Fran and a helper Our next woodswalk in Oct. 18 when we teer was properly licensed, certified or au- cut down the white pine in her woodlot and will visit the acreage of Bob Glidden in thorized by the state in which the harm oc- in a small clearing, built a log cabin about northern Niagara County near Lake curred, if such authorization is required; and 24 feet square. The one-room log cabin Ontario. Bob has just begun a management (3) the harm was not caused by willful or features large windows on each side for plan and will share his plans for the future. criminal misconduct, gross negligence, better viewing of wildlife. Also coming along will be Bruce reckless misconduct, or conscious flagrant A year ago, she decided that she would Robinson, a consulting forester. indifference to the rights or safety of the move the log cabin to a spot near her pond. The NFC chapter looks forward to a For- individual harmed by the volunteer. So she, her children and their spouses and est Fair in the spring. More information Passage of this law is a significant mile- her grandchildren gathered one weekend coming up. stone in the history of volunteer activity in for a "move the cabin" event. They took In the meantime, members are collect- our country. This is particularly true in some down each part and marked it so it could ing nuts this Fall- and perhaps looking over of the more high risk volunteer activities. be put back together, then in the appropri- their stands of white pine with a cabin in Volunteers will now be able to become en- ate spot did just that. mind. ..•. gaged without threat of frivolous liability Fran, who is a member of the Niagara action. They will now be able to volunteer Frontier Chapter, invited members to come Barbara Tucker is the Newsletter Editor of because of a belief that they simply want to for a woodswalk to see her cabin. Although NYFOA 's Niagara Frontier Chapter. become locally involved, because they want the day was cool and rainy, a hardy group to give something back to their community came for a very interesting woodswalk and and because they want to help those who enjoyed lunch in the cabin. find themselves, regardless of the cause, in Fran said that only the day before there "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing less fortunate circumstances. was a family of geese, eight in all, in the sound they make as they go by." Copies of the law have been sent elec- pond. But overnight, the goslings disap- -Douglas Adams tronically to Executive Directors. peared - either prey of a wild animal, turtles Over the next several months a plan will or snakes. be developed to help Extension Associa- It's hard to believe that Fran could build Nolan's tions develop or modify a process for: such a dream spot. She is second from the Sporting Supplies I. selecting/screening/terminating vol- right in the accompanying photo, standing unteers, with a group ofNFC members. Outdoor Equipment Specialist 2. managing volunteers and In June, nearly 40 people gathered for a 3. recognizing volunteers. woodswalk at Roy Emerling's property 37 . 47 Genesee Street Additional information can be found in near East Aurora. There are old and young Auburn. NY 13021 the resource, "Protecting the well-being of stands of trees on Roy's 240 acres, so the 4-H Youth" distributed in October 1996. event was interesting to newcomers and 315/252·7249 For additional copies, contact Lisa Carpen- established forest owners alike. ter. ...•. As an added attraction, Donald Bey of

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 13 Commercialization and Scale Up of Willow Biomass For Renewable Energy

By Stacie Edick and Tim Yolk maginestands of closely spaced wil- ize the crop over the next five years. One Progress is already being made to achieve low shrubs, grown like an agricultural of the goals of this period is to establish up the goal of establ ishing 1000 acres over the Icrop, interspersed with more traditional to 1000 acres of SRIC willow in two areas next five years.The Salix Consortium has crops across the landscape. The vision of of New York. About half of the acreage leased 100 acres around NMPC's Dunkirk the Salix Consortium over the next five will be in each of the areas around the plant from three landowners and 100 acres years is to make this image a reality. The NMPC power plant in Dunkirk and around NYSEG's Greenidge plant from Consortium's goal is to commercialize suc- NYSEG's Greenidge plant in Dresden. one landowner. The Dunkirk acreage is cessfully willow biomass crops-a renew- The acreage that is planted in each area currently being plowed and disked in able, locally produced and environmentally will fall into one of three categories. The preparation for planting in spring of 1998. friendly fuel-in New York and the sur- first category is land owned by the utilities The 100 acres in the Greenidge area will rounding region. Participants at the recent or other partners that is suitable for willow be prepared in the summer of 1998 and will NYFOA annual fall meeting had a chance production. The second category is land be planted with a cover crop. It will be to hear about and see first hand some of that will be leased by the Consortium. ready for planting in spring of 1999. the work that is being done to this end. These leases will be negotiated with each The Salix Consortium is currently look- Research on the biology and production individual landowner. Lease prices will ing for additional acreage to lease, and system for short rotation intensive culture depend on soil quality, accessibility and growers to participate in the production of (SRIC) willow and poplar has been con- distance from the plant. On these parcels willow biomass crops. The project needs ducted at the SUNY College of Environ- the Consortium will do all of the work and experienced farmers who are enthusiastic mental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) own the first harvest. At the end of the five about the project and willing to keep de- since 1983. A series of trials have been year commercialization period the land- tailed records so that they can share new established across New York from St. owner has the option of keeping the crop information with the Consortium and other Lawrence to Niagara counties. In the past (willow regrows after harvest) or having it growers. They must enjoy working with a year trials in Vermont and Wisconsin were removed by the Consortium. The varieties new crop, be in the habit of seeking infor- also planted. There are plans to include tri- of willow that are being used for commer- mation from a variety of sources and be als in Pennsylvania next year as well. There cial production do not spread by suckers willing to share information with other are now over 30 organizations working to- and have a shallow root system so removal fanners. Willow growers need to be con- gether under the umbrella ofthe Salix Con- is relatively easy and very effective. cerned about environmental issues and sortium to further the development of The last category is land where the Con- willing to adapt fanning practices to in- woody biomass crops (see FOREST sortium will contract with experienced crease production, utilize integrated pest OWNER Nov-Dec 96). An initial market farmers to grow willow on their land with management, reduce negative environmen- for this material is developing as two ma- technical assistance provided by SUNY tal impacts, and consider wildlife habitat jor utilities in New York-Niagara Mohawk ESF. The Consortium will provide willow and esthetic values. Growers who own farm Power Corporation (NMPC) and New York cuttings, planting and harvesting machin- machinery and have herbicide application State Electric and Gas (NYSEG)-retrofit ery, and transportation. The grower will certification will be particularly helpful, but pulverized coal boilers in central and west- be responsible for site preparation, herbi- this is not required. ern New York to co-fire wood biomass with cide application, first winter cutback to SoCNYRC&D will be the initial con- coal. stimulate multiple stem growth, and fertili- tact point for landowners and growers. For The goal of the Salix Consortium-the zation. The first harvest will be owned by more information on how to participate in successful commercialization of woody the grower who will contract with either a the Biomass Project, please contact Stacie biomass crops-is at a critical junction in utility partner or the Consortium to sell the Edick, Biomass Field Representative, New York and the surrounding region. The .biomass. At the end of five years the grower SoCNY RC&D, 5566 County Road 32, two ends of the spectrum, the research base also has the option of keeping the crop or Norwich, NY 13815. Phone 607-334-4715 for biomass production and the market for having it removed by the Consortium. or Email at [email protected] sub- it, are poised to come together and make South Central New York Resource Con- ject "Biomass" or "Stacie." SRIC willow a commercially viable sys- servation and Development (SoCNY Next Issue: Willow Biomass-Equip- tem. However, an essential link between RC&D), with the help of SUNYESF and ment Development, Form ing a Coopera- these two groups must be made-the in- other partners has developed a grower pro- tive, Alternative Markets, Integration of volvement of a large number of landown- posal that will pay the growers a flat fee TSI Residues and More! .•. ers and growers for large-scale production which is designed to cover establishment of SRIC woody crops. costs. An additional Pioneer Fee is included Stacie Edick is the Biomass Field Repre- The Salix Consortium recently received as an incentive for the entrepreneurial farm- sentative working out of SoCNYRC&D. funding support from the US Departments ers who become involved in the initial five Timothy Volk is Biomass Program Direc- of Energy and Agriculture to commercial- year commercialization phase. tor at SUNY-ESF

14 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 NYFOA'S FALL MEETING

Above: Bob Beyfus (I) pointing out details of ginseng exhibit to Alec Proskine.

Below: Bob Beyfus with Ginseng Plant.

Above: Tim Volk discussing Biomass particulars with Larry Snyder and Below: Stacie Edick preparing Willow Biomass presentation (see facing page.)

Below: Heiberg Christmas tree planta- tion.

Above:Tully-Cortland fog-filled plateau as seen from Heiberg elevation.

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 15 MANAGING A WOODLOT TIMBER SALE By Don Schaufler and Duane Chapman CHAPMAN: It started with Gary This means shifting species composition ing vigorously to begin with, not terribly Goff, Extension Associate with Cornell. He toward those traditionally higher value spe- overcrowded, cutting some of them allows made an informal cruise of the North 40 cies: red oak, sugar maple, black cherry, the released trees to continue increasing in acres, and suggested that a professional and to a lesser degree (when higher value size at a more rapid rate. This increase in forester be brought in. At that point, the species of acceptable form are unavailable) vigor also allows the trees better to survive logger had offered $8,000 and a contract white ash, red maple, white pine, and as a stresses that occur over the trees' lifetime. to sign. He wanted access and the staging last resort hemlock, and birch (black and The stress factors include such things as area to be near a major county road, a mile yellow). Some beech and aspen may be periodic drought, insect defoliations, wind from our home. This was not visible to us, retained for biodiversity as they currently and ice storms, and harvesting equipment and was frustrating because it would cre- have virtually no timber value. damage in the woodlot. ate later opportunities for unauthorized ac- One guideline in this case is to remove Because there were many good quality cess to all of our 170 acres of old-growth trees that are 18 to 22 inches DBH (diam- sawtimber trees in the woodlot which woods. eter at breast height) and in good health would respond to releasing their crowns However, because this was an emergency (sound, straight). At the same time the cut with an increased growth rate,no regenera- sale, and the amount appeared small, I had should open the crowns up of others in the tion/reproduction goal was included at this been prepared to go ahead and sign. It valuable categories by cutting trees oflesser time. It should be a component of the plan wasn't clear that a professional forester value - this assumes that these individu- prior to the next cutting. would add any significant amount to the als will probably respond by growing at a The results of the marking tally for har- selling price. greater rate and not windthrow, or grow vest were 108 Red Oak (20,210 board feet), Nevertheless, thinking over Goff's sug- many new little side branches. 17 Hemlocks (2,403 board feet), and 51 gestion, I contacted Don Schaufler, a con- All this also assumes there are enough trees of White Ash, Red Maple, White Pine, sulting forester. In two hours he gained a trees of future timber quality on the 40 acres and Sugar Maple (5,319 board feet). general picture of the woodlot. The goals to encourage trees with diameters from 6/ While selecting and marking good tim- of the sale that we discussed were 1) maxi- 8 inches to 14116 inches. It's usually not a ber trees for the sale, I also marked 876 mum financial return, 2) opening up good good idea to sell trees smaller than 18/20 trees for firewood. The estimated volume young trees for future growth, 3) cleaning inches because between 12 and 20 inches was 200 cords in beech, red (soft) maple, out the beech for firewood because of the they are increasing in value at a fairly rapid some ash, birch, and others.By removing rapidly spreading beech bark disease, 4) rate. They are not only increasing in vol- these trees, other higher quality trees were siting the logging roads to minimize ero- ume but also quality which is very impor- given more room to grow. sion and stream sedimentation, and 5) sit- tant for hardwoods like red oak, sugar It is interesting to compare the differ- ing the landing area and roads to minimize maple, and black cherry. If they are over- ences in volume and value for the different unauthorized access. crowded some smaller trees should be cut species. The 176 sawtimber trees were Another concern here with this NOIih 40 out to release the crowns of the healthiest, worth $15,220, or $141 per tree. In con- is wildlife. Before the harvesting, it had most valuable ones. trast, the lowgrade trees brought $2.30 been home to hermit thrushes, bobcat, In the Chapman North Forty woodlot I each. grouse, and great horned owl. It had been marked almost all the good quality timber When marking trees for cutting, local frequented by foxes, coyotes, pileated trees 18 inches in diameter and larger, custom is to use a horizontal paint stripe to woodpeckers, goshawk, and an occasional mostly red oak. I also marked virtually all indicate a sawtimber tree, while a vertical bear. How would these wildlife values be the beech, much of it already partially rot- stripe marks a firewood or lowgrade tree. affected by a timber harvest? ten. The rot in the dead parts of the trees All marked trees also have a paint spot SCHAUFLER, PLANNING THE HAR- was initiated by beech bark disease, also placed at ground level to allow compliance VEST: A forester should be able to educate referred to as beech scale disease, transmit- checking after the trees have been cut. the landowner by walking them through the ted by a small scale insect. I also marked SCHAUFLER, NEGOTIATING THE timber harvest plan and help them make many low quality red maples, the majority CONTRACT: The logger had given appropriate decisions at each point in the eight to twelve inches in diameter, while Chapman a written list of $/MBF(dollars process which fits the owners' objectives. leaving some of the straighter, taller ones per thousand board feet) stumpage prices The forester should present the options where no other sawtimber species of good he was willing to pay for the timber. After which make it possible to achieve the de- form existed. I marked the trees of value and the sired goals - the choices should be the The objective at this point is to leave the lowgrade trees, I then used the logger's owners' as they are the ones to live with forty acres with good quality timber trees: prices, which were very acceptable, to de- the consequences of the action.A forester straight, tall, clear stems of valuable spe- rive the value of the timber and firewood should understand local customs in logging cies spaced out with ten to twenty feet be- marked. My estimate was $17,220. I talked operations and how they may interact posi- tween the edges of crowns. This allows with him at length on the phone and even- tively or negatively with the landowners' the trees of choice to grow as rapidly as tually he finally agreed to pay my estimate desired goals. possible for the next ten to twenty years of the value of the marked wood. This was The goal on this woodlot is to manage when a future evaluation of volume and quite a good price for the time and place. 40 acres for maximum timber production. value will be made. When trees are grow- Other items of negotiation included

16 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO xownsc 1997 placement and size of the landing, place- marked trees are close enough for the tops owner has a beautiful, productive woodlot ment of main skid roads, stream crossing to fall across the line if felled improperly. to observe and enjoy, knowing that he is a location, intensity of cleanup (how smooth Cleanup of the job to the satisfaction of responsible steward of the land. .•. the skid roads and landing will be), dura- all parties was thoroughly discussed prior tion of the contract, method of payment, to initiation of the harvesting. Loggers Don Schaufler is a professional forester number and location of water bars, mini- want to spend a minimum of time and ex- with more than 20 years experience in log- mum size of top wood left, and many oth- pense smoothing ruts, piling debris, and ging, timber purchasing, and forest man- ers. building water bars. But as is usually the agement. He is the manager of Cornell's This situation was fairly typical, because case, the logger did an adequate job of it Arnot Forest, and does some consulting on a logger will usually have some ideas which when pressed. his own time for landowners. Duane may not be optimal from the landowner's CHAPMAN, CONCLUSION: My only Chapman is a professor of environmental perspective. It is crucial to recognize that problem with the whole job is the clean- economics at Cornell and woodlot owner. the forest owner is in the driver's seat when up. The contract called for tractor-quality selling timber. The forester can understand grading, but this was not done.- In fact, a the owner's wishes, and translate them into small stream was diverted into the main workable actions and positive results on the logging road in a boggy sec-tion, making ground. it impassable for normal equipment. This CHAPMAN, MAKING A DECISION: I should have been caught: the idea that "it was impressed by several aspects of the will dry out" doesn't work for year-round proposed contract and the boundary and streams! tree marking that had been done. First, However, this is my only reservation the 40 acres were clearly designated with about the job. On the whole I am very posi- surveyor's tape so that there would be no tive.My experience has made me a firm basis for the 40 acres to be stretched into believer in working with a professional 45 or so. Second, the forester (Schaufler) forester. The results are immediately evi- secured the logger's agreement to a new dent: the access road is now visible to us location for the access road and the stag- and under our control instead of a mile ing area near our home. This eliminated away on another road. Soil erosion and the uncontrolled access problem which stream sedimentation is minimal. Because might otherwise have developed. Third, of the careful planning and marking by the the sale price that the forester negotiated forester, it looks like we have the potential was more than twice the logger's offer. for another harvest in 15-20 years. I considered going to auction, but, since And most important, the revenue from the logger had an excellent reputation for the sale is twice the original offer. In fact, following an agreement and doing good if landowners could double their revenue clean-up afterwards, I stayed with him in per acre, the acreage they need to harvest spite of the price difference between his is reduced by half. ·offer to me and his discussion with the for- In a recent article in the Magazine, Peter ester. Payment to the owner for the har- Smallidge explains how to select a forester, vest was paid with a cashier's check be- and the advantages that a landowner can fore work began. expect from working with a professional We included a bond in the contract to be forester. I agree. My advice for a sale: released after satisfactory clean-up. The talk to a professional forester! logger provided an insurance certificate to SCHAUFLER, CONCLUSION: Over- cover him and his employees. all, I am quite pleased with the whole tim- SCHAUFLER, SUPERVISING THE ber sale. The landowner was paid a good CUTTING: It is best if the forester is present price for his timber, a professional felling when cutting begins. In this locale, it is and skidding job was done, and many usually at the same time the landings and lowgrade trees were removed or girdled by skid roads are put in with a bulldozer. The the logger. These activities resulted in very forester's presence at this important point little residual stand damage, much less than allows any questions to be addressed and normal and in line with what a landowner resolved. After the roads and landings were should expect. The crowns of the remain- bulldozed, periodic unannounced visits to ing trees now have room to expand as a the site occurred at least once a week while result of the cutting. If market conditions harvesting was in progress. As with any perm it, a light thinning for firewood should harvestingjob, I checked property and sale be undertaken in 5 to 10 years as the canopy boundaries during and after cutting to avoid closes in again. A few years after that, an- any problems with neighboring landown- other timber harvest should include plans ers. This can be especially important when for tree regen-eration. In the meantime, the

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA· 1·800·836·3566· INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 17 A BIT OF IRISH FORESTRY By Henry S. Kernan Consequently Irish forestry is like that Cad a dheanfaimid feasta gan adhniad? of no other country. There are no old- Td deireadh na gcoillte ar lat: growth forests to preserve; no assart and What shall we do without timber? tubery to suppress (peasant rights inherited The company is now Ireland's largest land- The end of our forest is nigh. from feudal times. Assart-the right to clear owner, with 423,000 hectares offorest land hat 17th century foreboding was & cultivate; tubery-the right to harvest out of the 570,000 hectare total. Coillte grounded in what was underway in peat); no woodland to convert to tillage. Teoranta is also the dominant supplier of industrial timber, 2.1 million cubic meters T the Ireland of the time. The English Irish forestry is, first and foremost, affor- in 1955. This public ownership on land had arrived in force, with a political order estation of land submarginal for agricul- contrasts with Europe's private ownership certain to destroy a way of life that presup- ture, with exotic conifers planted in rect- which totals well over half. posed sparse, mobile populations of cattle angular blocks. At age 40, they are cut clear Nevertheless, the state's preponderance herders and much of the land in natural and replanted. The 60,000 acres of new is becoming less. Two decades ago, pri- growth. The forest was bound to re- vate planting was virtually nonexistent. cede before demands for oak ship- Now it is three-quarters of the annual timbers and staves, and for wood that total and rising. Grants and premium fueled the metal- and glass-making. schemes are driving the change. They As tilling fields replaced herding cover the entire cost of planting and livestock, the country people built care; even the temporary opportunity fixed dwellings of stone and earth, costs of using cropland and pasture for and heated them with peat. The Irish trees. landscape was changing, irreversibly Cultural barriers to afforestation are and forever. more of a problem than financial ones, By 1900 the native Irish forest was especially in Ireland where folk memo- gone. Only a few run-down oak ries are long and Oliver Cromwell is an woodlands remained, and some iso- ogre after three and a half centuries. For lated patches of upland birch. Tree example, over barmbrach and tea with cover was one per cent of the area, my now distant Irish cousins, the rejoin- the lowest in Europe, even lower than der to my interest in forestry was, "It is Author (r) and his Irish cousin Edward Masterson. on ancestral a crime to plant trees on land that can Iceland's. lands of the Nedd, Doogarv.Count)' Cal'Oll. Eire. Forests of oak, ash, elm and birch grow food." Evidently memories of the famines of the 1840' s are still strong. were there with the first neolithic arrivals forest each year give Ireland the highest Ireland is not about to run out of food, some ten centuries ago. Lesser components rate, proportionately, of any country in the having been an exporter thereoffor centu- were hazel, rowan, yew and haw. The one world. Ireland is now eight per cent for- ries, even during the famine years! Now native pine, Pinus sylvestris, did not sur- ested and an exporter of wood products to Coillte Teoranta and farmers are acquiring vive the iron-wielding Celts, but the for- western Europe and elsewhere. and contracting for land of broad leaf qual- The program began after World War II, ests did. Then, wealth and prestige were ity, not just the unwanted leftovers. with livestock, as were the diets of meat, cautiously, as a relief measure for rural pov- The change is welcome. Many people cheese and milk. While the herders moved erty and underemployment. Some of the dislike the intrusion of monotonous rect- about, their tribal chiefs kept their numbers best agricultural land in Europe is in Ire- angular blocks of exotic conifers upon the in check with quarrels and killings over the land, and some of the worst from which beloved auld sod. Another typically Irish ownership of grazing rights and cattle. At families struggle to extract a livelihood. concern is over the chemical pollutants their leisure the chiefs delighted in chess, Ireland has several million acres of which coniferous foliage rakes from the at- in racing horses and in hearing long boast- highly acid and poorly drained boglands, mosphere and deposits in the soil. If they ful epic songs about the doings of their' hardly an attractive target for trees. But reach inland and coastal waters in quanti- mighty ancestors. Their epic, the Tain Bo Irish foresters were in for some surprises. ties toxic to fish, the outcry would be loud Cualnge (the Cattle Raid of Cooly), de- Our Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine grow and well taken. scribes the fighting over a monstrous bull there at extraordinary rates, three times In response Irish forestry concerns now capable of servicing 500 cows. those of spruce in Sweden and five times include far more than exotic conifers; fish Their way of life did not outlast the En- those of natural hardwood stands in New and wildlife, landscape, recreation, the glish conquest, nor did their forest. Trees York. Moreover, they do so almost with- preservation of archeological sites, rural are still part of the landscape, with their part out problems of pests, fire, wind, drought welfare and the wood amenities that all of us know and share. ..•. in the folklore of leprechauns, pots of gold or cold. and the sciog (hawthorn) bush. But of a The results have been so good, both fi- Henry Kernan is a consulting forester in broad-leaved forest, high, dense and per- nancially and socially, that the state owned World Forestry, a Master Forest Owner vasive, Irish history has left just the dim- forestry company, Coillte Teoranta, oper- Volunteer and a regular contributor to the mest memory. ates on a commercial basis, and profitably. NY FOREST OWNER.

18 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA· 1·800·836·3566· INFO NOVIDEC 1997 NOTE CARD IMAGES The following are reduced black & white images of the 4" x 6" color images to be imprinted on a set of eight note cards offered by NYFOA for $6 each (Available in early December from Debbie Gill, 800/836-3566 or from your local chapter.)

NYFOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 19 GYPSY MOTH-DOWN AND OUT? By Douglas C. Allen any forest owners have com- The Famous Fungus northeastern states in 1989. One reason mented on the rarity of gypsy Scientists attribute the current decline in why the disease may have escaped detec- Mmoth damage in 1996 and 1997 gypsy moth to a fungus, Entomophaga tion from 1911 to 1989 is the fact that ca- compared to previous years. Indeed, the maimaiga (ento-rnow-faaga my-rny-ga). davers killed by the fungus closely re- U.S. Forest Service reported defoliation in The first part of its Latin name means "in- semble those succumbing to a common 1996 was only approximately 200,000 sect eater" and the second part is the com- viral disease known as NPV. acres spread over 12 northeastern states. mon name given to gypsy 1110thin Japan. Gypsy moth NPV(a Nucleofolyhedrosis This amounted to 15% of the 1.4 million This fungus was released in the United Yirus; i.e., the virus replicates in the nucleus acres recorded for 1995 and the smallest States at several sites near Boston in 1910 of a cell and is shaped like a polyhedron) area affected since 19681 What is associated with this defoliator delivered this knockout punch? throughout the world.The patho- Will the gypsy moth take a "ten gen causes a condition referred to count" or get back on its feet? as "wilt disease" in the U. S., "cat- Scientists have been able to shed erpillar cholera" in parts of Eu- some Iight on the first question, rope and "treetop disease" in Ger- but are uncertain about future many. Virus probably was im- events. ported with the original introduc- tion, but its biology was not un- The Insect derstood until 1947. Because it Gypsy moth probably has gar- was associated frequently with the nered more notice, frustration, collapse of gypsy moth popula- research dollars, and environ- tions, and because of th is ap- mental concerns than any other peared to offer potential as a bio- forest or urban tree pest in the logical control, research with it United States. Because of its was greatly intensified during the broad host range, large size, 1960s and 1970s. adaptability to a variety of habi- tats, and frequent excessive Determining Cause of Death abundance, outbreaks of this de- To the novice, it is difficult to es- foliator detract from a wide tablish whether the cadaver of a range of economic and amenity gypsy moth caterpillar was killed values. The insect's presence and by E. maitniaga orNPV. The U.S. the damage it causes can signifi- Forest Service in conjunction with cantly disrupt people's lives in Dr. Ann Hajek, an insect pa- many ways. thologist at Cornell University, It was introduced from France published two informational leaf- around 1868, but it did not gain lets in the mid-1990s (USDA For- public notice until 1889. After est Service, NA-PR-02-92 and this it became a household topic NA-PR-01-94) which provide in an increasingly large geo- verbal descriptions and excellent graphic area. Today it is penna- color photos that help distinguish nently established in 16 states gypsy moth caterpillars killed by from New England west to the these two disease-causing organ- Lake States and as far south as isms. Recognizing if disease is Virginia, and in three Canadian present and being able to identify provinces. Fig. 1. Female gypsy moths and their egg masses. the causal agent may be impor- Even when populations are low, tant when a land owner who is the conspicuous zig zag flight of the very and 1911 and again at two additional sites threatened with defoliation must decide active, brown male moths is a common in 1985 (one of which was Allegany State whether to initiate control activities or let sight in late July and early August in New Park). These attempts at biological control nature take its course. A key element in York. Similarly, the newly laid, buff egg apparently failed, because on none of these making this decision is understanding that masses (Fig. 1) are easy to spot in late sum- occasions was transmission detected in resi- the fungus apparently is capable of caus- mer, even when populations are low and dent populations of the defoliator. The first ing disease and is transmitted readily in masses are widely scattered on tree bark epizootics (epee-zoo-augh-ticks, a term re- sparse as well as outbreak populations of and other substrates. ferring to the outbreak of a disease in an gypsy moth. Epizootics of virus, on the insect population) were noted in seven other hand, are limited to outbreak condi

20 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 Left· Fig. 2. Gypsy moth caterpillar killed by E maimaiga. Arrows indicate projecting legs.

Right. Fig. 3. Gypsy moth caterpillar killed by NPV

tions. The most effective control agent is damage in recent years, but they do not ease. The two favored by Dr. Hajek at this ere th3t:.d:cin alB3 tre p::p.llri:n before know ifthis level of effectiveness will con- time are (1) there has been an increase in damage occurs; that is, prior to outbreak tinue. Populations of microorganisms, like the aggressiveness of a strain that was in- conditions. When the fungus is detected in those of insects, are highly variable and un- troduced years ago or, (2) in recent years a a population, it is very unlikely that addi- predictable. new strain was accidentally introduced. tional control measures will be needed. The dramatic appearance of the fungus Whatever the reason, we should not be- Caterpillars killed by E maimaiga are elon- during the 1990s may be associated with come too complacent about gypsy moth. It gate and attached to a substrate (e.g., bark) unusually moist conditions that prevailed remains important to monitor and survey vertically with head down. The body with- during May and early June. Fungi are more for this pest. In my view it is very unlikely ers and dries, and legs on the back two- sensitive to moisture conditions than most that we have stumbled on that infamous thirds of the cadaver project at 90 deg. to other microorganisms that cause insect dis- "silver bullet". Fungi are very sensitive to the body (Fig. 2). eases. According to Dr. Hajek, however, vagaries of the weather and, do not forget, When NPV is responsible for death, the regional weather patterns can not be used insects are very adaptable.This, in general, caterpillar droops or "wilts" and takes the to predict the likelihood of disease. Her is the main reason these animals have been shape of an inverted V (Fig. 3). The body comparison of weather records and timing so successful during the course of their is brittle and body contents are liquified. of previous population declines suggests evolution. Eventually the body shrivels and body liq- that some spread and transmission occurs I thank Dr. Ann Hajek for providing the uids accumulate underneath on the sub- even when regional conditions are rela- photographs used in Figs. 2 and 3. ..•. strate to which the caterpillar is attached. tively dry. This probably reflects the fact that even during relatively dry years or This is the 35th in the series of articles con- Have We Seen The End of Gypsy Moth years with normal rainfall, there are always tributed by Dr.Allen, Professor of Ento- Outbreaks? microhabitats with enough moisture to fa- mology at SUNY-ESF. Reprints of this and Not likely! Scientists concede that E vor the fungus. the complete series are available from maimiaga has been responsible for the gen- Several hypotheses have been proposed to NYFOA, phonel-800-836-3566. eral decline in gypsy moth numbers and explain the current effectiveness of this dis-

NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 -INFO NOVIDEC 1997 • 21 -.By Jane Sorensen Lord, PhD, OTR, ND The flowers are tiny greenish white clus- his fall, my herb crop was meager ters, that almost look like they aren't thanks to deer. They certainly have blooming, but have an odor you can smell Tecletic taste! walking by. I made some kitchen tinctures with gar- The plant was a favorite in Victorian den herbs. You put basil or thyme or mar- days when sermons at church lasted hours. joram into 100 proof alcohol, shake it fre- People would pick and dry a few leaves in quently for a few weeks, and use it by drops their bibles. When they were about to fall in cooking. The alcohol evaporates with asleep from the tedium of the preacher's drone, they would crush and smell a bit of heat and the food tastes like you used fresh the dried leaf and perk up. Personally, I herbs. think crushed rosemary makes you more The tinctures even look good if you put alert, but I guess the stronger odor might them in attractive bottles because the alco- make someone in church who was antsy, hol turns bright green! more so! My passionflower bloomed this year!. I I extract the costmary flowers in oil, usu- put one out every spring that I started from ally jojoba or avocado. Added to facial a leaf cutting from the one growing out- creams and oils, it gives a little pep to the side the previous summer. It does fine in- mornings. side over winter. The plant is a vigorous So, in spite of deer and dry weather dam- vine which needs a small trellis indoors. age, my gardening efforts gave me great The leaves make a relaxing, tranquilizing satisfaction at the close of the season. tea. Doesn't taste too bad, either. Passionflower Do you think, maybe, that having pas- I planted it near a fence post outside and sionflower and Bible plant both bloom for it grew tendrils a few feet long. In early me for the first time in the same year por- September if made buds that grew and it's its all there in one flower, in 3-dimen- tends good luck? .ia. grew. I told Gordon to watch for flowers sion and color! Dr. Jane, a regular contributor, is a Master and to cut and float them if I wasn't there. Supposedly, passionflower was discov- Forest Owner and Certified Tree Farmer: ered in Latin America by Jesuit priests. But late afternoon, in mid-September he She has a private consulting practice in They identified its symbols, and believed came into my office. Occupational Therapy and Naturopathic that finding the flower was a symbol from "The passionflower is blooming! It's in- Medicine and teaches 011 the Faculty of God: that their work and the European credible! Health at Indianapolis University. colonization was ordained. I have seen pictures of passionflower be- I cut the first two flowers and am press- USAN J- KEISTER fore, but in real life it is even more spec- ing them in my dictionary. I hope the third tacular. The light green bud opens to about one blooms and turns to fruit before frost. Forestry Consulting Services three inches in diameter and frames a blue The maypop, as the fruit is called, is sup- corona. Five stamens with sepals are sup- posed to taste great. We don't get them -480A & SIP Management Plans ported 3/4 of inch above the center of the imported into our market because they are -Forestry Inventory and Appraisals corona, and about 114 of an inch above too perishable. -Timber Sales them is a three pronged pistil (sort of like It intrigues my fancy that blooming at -Cost Basis and Real Estate Tax an airplane propeller). the same time as passionflower is costmary Management Advice The mythic symbolism of the passion AKA Bible plant. (716) 728-3044 flower is as good as the legend of Chiron, Costmary is a type of mint with an in- Achilles and the yarrow that I told you ..vigorating, ·pleasant smell. It never 7025 Harpers Ferry Road, Wayland, about before. bloomed before this summer, either. NY 14572 Passionflower symbolizes Christianity and the Crucifixion of Jesus. Pretty heady stuff! And as you analyze the plant and LandVest The Next Level of Service flower you understand. A company of experienced professionals dedicated to providing consulting and The lobulate leaves look like hands-of marketing services to owners of forest land. Our Timberland, Consulting & Marketing Divisions specialize in: the Romans -and the reaching, curling, clinging tendrils are the thongs they used Adirondack Office • Timberland Management 64 Park Street, Tupper Lake, NY 12986 to bind Christ and the cords used to whip (518) 359-2385 • Forest Land Marketing & Sales him. The five stamens represent the wounds inflicted on Christ and the corona, his • Real Estate Asset Planning OTHER LOCATIONS crown of thorns. • Land Use Planning. The tripartite pistil stands for the Father, Boston,MA • Albany, VT • Concord, NH Portland and lackman, ME Son, and Holy Spirit.. And when you look, • Appraisal & Conservation Services

22 •NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997 The Marketplace ADVERTISING ATTENTION small woodlot owners/part time loggers - For FARMI winches RATES and VALBY chippers, write Hewitt's Hill Haven, Locke, NY 13092 or call (315) Per Insert: 497-1266 (Before 8AM or after 6PM). MEADOWVIEW NURSERY: QUALITY FIELD GROWN SEEDLINGS Display: $21O-perfull AND TRANSPLANTS for reforestation and establishing wildlife habitat. page or 30 col. in.; i.e., SPECIALIZING IN NUT TREE & WETLAND VARIETIES. P.O. Box 241, $7 per col. in. Byron,NY 14422 (716) 548-2207 FAX (716) 548-9014. Marketplace: $10 mini- FOR SALE: 170 acres Allegany County; 80 acres pine and hardwoods; deer, turkey, grouse; call Henry Hansen, evenings (716) 334-3569; Good project for mum for25 words or less, interested woodsman. 10c each additional WHITE OAK NURSERY: DECIDUOUS SEEDLINGS, TUBE GROWN word. SEEDLINGS, WHIPS TO 5 FT, B&B STOCK including most commercial hardwoods and premier nati ve shade trees and ornamental shrubs of the East. For Contact: R.J. Fox, Editor reforestation, naturalizing and landscaping. 8456 Harpers Ferry Rd., Springwater, RD 3, Box 88, NY Livingston County 14560716/669-2960 Moravia, NY WOODLOTIBUILDING LOTS: 43 acres in Ontario Co.; subdivision filed; 13118 survey done; frontage & separate ROWs; $56,000 (Lots negotiable); Informa- tion Packet;Dale Schaefer, 7065 Co. Rd., Springwater 14560; 716/367-2849. Fax/Phone: (315)497-1078 Email: [email protected] DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADVERTISE? Distribution 1800.

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NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997' 23 R.J. Fox, Editor Non-Profit Org. RD#3,Box 88 U.S. POSTAGE Moravia, NY 13118 PAID FaxlPhone (315) 497-1078 Moravia, N.Y. [email protected] 13118 Permit No. 21

NOTICE THE FOREST OWNER is mailed third class and will not be forwarded; notify Administrative Secretary Debbie Gill, PO Box 180, Fairport 14450 or call 1/800/836/3566 with a change in ad- dress! FOUNDED 1963

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24 • NY FOREST OWNER 35:6 NYFOA - 1-800-836-3566 - INFO NOVIDEC 1997