Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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tail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Warren. Pa. 3. Primaeval Forest Holdings of Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company—The Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company is one of only a few lumber companies that still operate in Pennsylvania. Among its forest holdings is a tract located in Bradford and northern Sullivan counties, reported to cover approximately 10,000 acres upon which are excellent stands of original timber. Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester. Dushore, Sullivan County, Pa. 4. Colonel Rickett’s Forest Estate—Upon the estate of the late Colonel Rickett, located in Sullivan county, there stands some of the finest original hemlock and hardwood trees found in Penn-s lvania. This original timber is found along the gorge of Kitchen Creek, below Great Shawanese Lake, for a distance of several miles. This gorge is lined with superb hemlock and magnificent hardwood trees, it is the handsomest spot in Pennsylvania, covered with original timber, and is also dotted with thirteen beautiful waterfalls. It is located about the corners of Wyoming, Luzerne and Sullivan counties, and may be approached by a good highway route. Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Dushore, Pa. 5. Alan Serger Forest Recreation Park—This grove comprises about 100 acres of mature hardwoods, mixed with hemlock and a few original white pine, located near Greenwood Furnace, Huntingdon county, between Broad Mountain and Bear Meadows. This original timber is included in the Logan State Forest, and will be preserved as a forest recreation park, which the public may enjo . Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Petersburg, Pa. ( . Forest Engineers’ Forest Park—This park embraces a considerable acreage of mature hardwood timber, located along Moore’s Run, Potter'county. It is included in a State Forest, and because of its sentimental and historical value will be preserved as a public recreation park. Detail information, can be supplied by The District Forester, Coudersport, Pa. 7. Joyce Kilmer Forest Recreation Park—This park embraces about 300 acres of mature hemlock and some white pine. It is situated on the northern slope and the summit of Paddy Mountain, in Union County. A State Highway passes near the park, which is viewed daily by thousands of motorists. Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Mifflinburg, Pa. 8. Snyder-Middleswarth Soldiers’ Park—This park includes a tract of 500 acres located on Swift Run, Snyder county, near Troxeb ville. It includes some of the finest and probably the largest group of hemlock standing anywhere in Pennsylvania. Among the hemlock are some superb white pine and pitch pine trees. The park has a charming location and is accessible. It is visited annually by thousands of motorists. Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Mifflinburg, Pa. 9. Michaux Pines—A grove of about 50 acres of mature short- 3

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If one could see maps showing the forest structures of Pennsylvania in 1682, when Penn arrived, and in 1922, we would be amazed at the wonderful change that has taken place in a period that represents only a few generations of trees. They would show that where once stood supposedly inexhaustible stretches of unsurpassed timber there now remains vast areas of unproductive forest lands, and only a few scattered small remnants of primaeval timber. The original forests of Pennsylvania covered at least 28,500,000 acres. There are now left in the State 13,004,557 acres of forest lands, of which less than 25,000 acres are covered with original forests. This means that there is now left in the State only 1-350 of an acre of original timber for each inhabitant. This is a mere remnant of what was here at one time. In at least 50 of the 07 counties not a single full acre of primaeval forest remains. Most of the younger generations have never had the privilege of seeing the glory and grandeur of the original or nature-made forests. The few scattered remnants of original forests that are left occur in remote and rather inaccessible places. Nearly all of them were left because the lumbermen either missed them or could not get to them. Most of them are privately-owned. A small acreage is found on the State-owned forest land. It will not be long until most of the privately-owened will be cut down, for logging railroads are now approaching them or lumbering plans are in preparation. Special efforts should be put forth to protect and perpetuate the few stands of primaeval forest that do remain, for they will be worthy memorials to the present generation, and splendid object lessons to future generations. All those who have not seen the glory and grandeur of the primaeval forests will be well repaid by taking a trip to them and walking among these stately and princely trees and other associated life. There follows a list of some of the most important primaeval forest stands that now remain in Pennsylvania: 1. The Cook Forest—This tract of original timber consists chiefly of white pine. It is located in Clarion, Forest and Jefferson counties, and has long been admired by residents of Western Pennsylvania, who believe that it should be preserved as a natural forest park. It can be reached over a State Highway through Cooksburg. Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Clarion, Pa. 2. Wheeler-Dusenbury Forest Holdings—This company owns extensive forest property in northwestern Pennsylvania. At one time their holdings comprised some of the finest white pine found in the State of Pennsylvania. Only one small tract of original timber remains. It covers approximately 700 acres, and is one of the largest and heaviest stocked stands of original timber in Pennsylvania. Conservative estimators feel that on some of the acres there stand fully 200,000 board feet of fine white pine lumber. This fine primaeval timber will be lumbered in a few years and may be reached by the way of the city of Warren. De- 2

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leaf pine stands near the Forest Academy, Franklin county. This is the most northern heavy stand of short-leaf pine in America, and embraces a considerable number of stately trees, some of them being 250 years old. This grove is located only a few miles from the Lincoln Highway. Detail information can be supplied by The District Forester, Mont Alto, Pa. Only the most important tracts of original timber are given in the above list. Other stands are found in Coxe’s Valley, Mifflin county, on Mount Logan, Clinton county, on the summit of Mount Riansares, Clinton county, along Swift Run, near New Germantown, Perry county, along Nine Mile Drive and on the Prouty Run, Potter county, along Pine Creek in Mifflin and Centre counties, and in Sweet Root Gap, about 6 miles south of Rainsburg, Bedford county. These tracts do not include all the original trees that are found within the State, for in every county of the Keystone State there remain many old trees that were at one time a part of the original forest. They bear mute evidence of struggle and successes. They are veterans of many battles. To learn to know them and to preserve them will be a credit to us and a blessing to future generations. 4