University of Idaho School of Forestry - Forester Yearbook (Moscow, ID)

Page 22 text:

TI-IE IDAHO FORESTER 21 been and are still being planted in large quan- tities because of their rapid growth to fence- post size in 6 to 10 years' time. Windbreak, shelterbelt and woodlot plant- ings are being made at the rate of 250 to 300 plantings per year. All plantings, where the trees are obtained from the state nursery, are termed co-operative plantings. Advice in the preparation of the site, selection of species, method of planting, cultivation and protection as well as the actual inspection of the pro- posed planting site and assistance in planting, if desired, is given to the farmers of the state without charge. The extension forester does not act as a salesman for the state nursery, but it is to the interest of the state and farmers that the farmers receive the information that Idaho, in co-operation with the federal govern- ment, produces seedlings at a minimum cost WOODLAND IMPROVEMENT The word woodland is used here to sig- nify a larger wooded tract than the word Uwoodlot' implies. Idaho has about 8-00,000 acres of Woodland, mostly in the northern part of the state, which are practically all owned by farmers. In many areas, these Woodlands are gradually being clear-cut to be replaced by other agricul- tural crops. Most of the farms in northern Idaho are the result of land clearing, and on any farm the poorest soils are the last to be cut over. I-Ience, today, it is thought that there is a distinct need to demonstrate how these re- maining timbered stands might become more productive to the farmer through a proper system of management. The United States census report for 1929 gives 5,806 farms in Idaho reporting a total Livestock Seek the Protection the Woodlot Ajforcls. for farm forestry plantings. Special demon- stration plantings have been established ad- jacent to certain main highways to attract at- tention to the possibilities of growing trees on the farms. The practice of farm forestry may be bene- ficial to the farmers of Idaho in some of the following Ways: 1. Protection to man, farmstead and stock from the elements. 2. Protection to other crops from summer drought and excessive evaporation. 3. Provision of fuelwood, fence posts, poles, props, lumber and other forest products. 4. Furnish winter employment to the farm help. 5. Increasing the net income by utilization of areas unsuitable for field crops. 6. Add to the sale and aesthetic value of the farm. Co-operation with the farmer does not cease with the purchase and planting of trees. These co-operative projects are tabulated and in- spected from time to time. value of 3938379.00 for farm forest products disposed of. More than 50,000 cords annually are being cut in northern Idaho for the paper- pulp industries alone. Other products are fuel- wood, ties, poles and piling, fence posts, some lumber and veneer material. Farmers in the vicinity of Troy, who lost their woodlots by fire last year, admit that they will miss the cash income from these areas that required so little care. With the idea of aiding the woodland owners in making their woodlands more productive and at the same time less subject to fire danger, iive Woodland improvement projects in north- ern Idaho have been carried to completion. They are located along main traveled farm highways in order to command the greatest amount of attention from farm traiiic. The woodland improvement area is divided into two plots, each of a size varying from one- half to about one acre. One plot was left in its natural condition as a contrast, and the other is kept properly thinned and pruned. lContinued on page 511

Page 21 text:

EXTENSION FORESTRY IN IDAHO STANLEY C. CLARKE Emtension Forester THE word, extension, may be defined as extending information and instruction be- yond the walls of a college. Certain agricul- tural colleges were doing some forestry ex- tension work as early as 1912. Between 1912 and 1925, when the Clarke-McNary law be- came effective, 14 states developed definite farm forestry projects. At the present time, 33 states, and Porto Rico and Hawaii have ex- tension foresters. The potentialities of this organization are quite apparent when one realizes that more than 3,000 county agents be- come the messengers of the extension forest- ers to hundreds of thousands of farmers with- in their counties. Furthermore, practically all of the co-operating states have also taken ad- vantage of the provision in the Clarke-Mc- Nary law to operate co-operative tree nur- series and to produce forest seedlings and transplants at a low cost to the farmers within their respective boundaries. Delaware, Flori- da, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon do not em- ploy extension foresters, but they do co-operate with the federal government in growing farm forest planting stock for farmlands. In 1928, the distribution of forest planting stock for farmlands by co-operating states amounted to 28,757,000 seedlings and transplants. The states of New York and Pennsylvania dis- tributed more than 18,000,000 of this total. West of the Rocky Mountains, Idaho held first place in distribution of 183,000 trees, of which 150,000 were black locust. THE BEGINNING or EXTENSION FORESTRY IN IDAHO Mr. Arthur M. Sowder, now Assistant Pro- fessor of Forestry at the University of Idaho, was appointed Extension Forester for Idaho on April 16, 1927. Extension forestry was con- tinued for the first two years on a half-time basis in conjunction with farm forestry ex- perimental research work under a co-operative arrangement between the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station and the School of For- estry. This latter phase of the program of work was necessary so that more fundamental data might be had to further the extension program in the state. Every Idahoan knows that his state has a great variation in soil and climate. It probably is not common knowledge that some Idaho farmers retain the idea that all trees planted in close proximity to their crops are detrimental to crop yield. One of the major problems of research was a study to de- termine the influence of windbreaks on the growth and yield of farm and orchard crops. Two other studies, which have also been of value to the extension forester, were determi- nations of the adaptability of certain species to alkali soils, and high-altitude plantings. The early extension work consisted in mak- ing contacts with the county agents and of selling the idea of farm forestry to these im- portant key-men who in turn were to interest the farmers in this phase of agriculture. The adaptability of species to diferent counties and communities was also noted by the condi- tion of trees already planted. For many years prior to the passing of the Clarke-McNary law, Idaho had a state nursery in operation at Moscow, and was supplying seedlings and transplants to farmers for windbreak and woodlot purposes, so it was possible at this later date to gather considerable data. A program of education was started through the use of newspaper articles, the Idaho Agri- cultural News Letter, the Idaho Farm For- estry News Letter,', through talks and discus- sions at farm meetings, and occasional radio programs. LATER EXTENSION WORK After the extension forester has convinced each county agricultural agent that forestry can contribute materially to the agricultural prosperity of his county and after the county agent becomes a supporter of the work,f the extension forester can feel assured that for- estry will find a place on the agricultural pro- gram of the county. When this point is reached, the county agent begins calling for help, instead of the forester having to plead for a hearing. This takes time, but it is the beginning of progress. After this condition has been brought about, it is possible to work up the diiferent projects, such as woodland im- provement and management, the preservation of fence posts and other farm timber, the planting of windbreaks and shelterbelts, the planting of woodlots on areas unsuited for an- nual crop production, the control of erosion and fixation of sand dunes and further educa- tional work through the 4-H Club program. FARM FORESTRY TREE PLANTING Through the practice of farm forestry, the marginal areas of the farm may often be brought into use to supply the wood needs, such as posts, poles, fuel, and general repair material. Southern Idaho, being naturally an unforested area, gives one the impression that trees may not do well there, but farmers are becoming more familiar with the better tree species, and are also becoming aware of the fact that trees will grow with the same amount of soil moisture that other agricultural crops require. In our irrigated sections, where the altitude is below 4,000 feet, black locusts have

Page 23 text:

VICE PRESIDENT PLANTS SPRUCE ON CAMPUS. HONORABLE CHARLES C. CURTIS, as vice president of the United States, added to the University's circle of trees planted by distinguished citizens when, on Wednesday, October 12, 1932, he planted an Engelmann spruce on the campus. The planting site is conspicuously located directly in front of the Administration Building, and the Engelmann spruce, a species native to Idaho, is a valu- able addition to the landscape of the campus. Vice President Curtis was visiting northern Idaho on his trip through western United States and was able to adjust his schedule to visit the University of Idaho. During the tree planting ceremonies he was accompanied by Mr. E. T. Whitla of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Other trees oiiicially established by citizens of note are the 'Roosevelt Tree, a Colorado Blue Spruce, planted by Theodore Roosevelt April 10, 19113 the Taft Tree, a Port Orford Cedar, commemorating the visit October 4, 1911 of William Howard Taft to the campusg and the l'Marshall Tree, a red oak, planted November 17, 1917, by the then Vice President of the United States, Thomas R. Marshall. Two additional trees enjoying the environment of the foregoing mentioned trees are a George Washington Memorial Elm planted by the University of Idaho Faculty Women's Club on November 17, 1931, and a concolor fir, also planted as a George Washington Memorial by Paradise Lodge No. 17, A. F. Sz A. M., Mos- cow, Idaho, on April 10, 1931. Honorable Charles C. Curtis LEARN EROM THE TREES p When you stop to think about trees, all that they withstand, all the beauty that they shed, all the good that they do and comfort that they give-do you wonder that people love them? If human beings possessed many of the characteristics of a tree, what wonderful folks they would be. The tree pushes its root deep and firm in the soil. How many folks need to do the same, need to have their convic- tions, their opinions deeply imbedded in jirm and solid ground? The tree grows pointing ever upwards. How many folks keep their aims, their ideals always pointing upward? As the tree grows it spreads, throwing out its branches which give shade and comfort to the weary traveler who rests beneath it. As your advantages increase, as your opportunities grow and your possessions multiply, how much help, shade, and comfort do you give to the weary and disheartened soul who looks to you? Standing firm and erect, the tree withstands both the scorching heat of summer and the chilling blasts of winter. How ma-ny folks are spoiled by glory, the heat of success, or crushed completely by the chill and frost of disaster? Don't only love trees but learn from them. They are among the greatest of N ature's many teachers. 22