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

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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

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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

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NEW STATE FOQESTER Arthur W. Middleton of Weiser was recently appointed to the position of State Forester for Idaho, succeeding Ben E. Bush who had held the office since its creation eight years ago. Mr. Middleton is a graduate of the College of Agriculture, University of Idaho, class of 1932. Before entering the university in Feb- ruary, 1929, he had attended the Oregon School of Forestry for one year. He is a member of Alpha Zeta, honorary agricultural fraternity. Mr. Middleton is well acquainted with the forestry needs of Idaho and the relation of the forests to the agricultural and grazing in- dustries of the State. He has had a wide range of practical experience in the United States Forest Service where he is highly re- garded. For the time being, at least, he will keep his ofiice at Moscow. Arthm' W. Middleton Tractor Course Proves Popular The course in tractor operation instituted the spring of 1932 at the Idaho School of For- estry has been continued the current year but with a new 35 Caterpillar Tractor furnished through the courtesy of the Simmons Tractor and Equipment Company, Pullman, Washing- ton and the Caterpillar Tractor Company. This year, however, more attention has been given to theory, and Professor Hobart Beres- ford, head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the University, has been con- ducting a very much worthwhile course for the forestry students interested, in co-opera- tion with the logging engineering department of the School of Forestry. The Tractor Short Course, supervised by Mr. Elmer Humphrey of the University En- gineering Shops, was given early in the win- ter and this afforded the forestry students op- portunity to obtain preliminary training. Students enrolled in the course took turns at driving the tractor about the campus and nurseries, doing odds and ends of jobs for experience in tractor operation. The class made quick work of some undesirable fruit trees growing in the nursery and performed a real service in towing a road scraper about the grounds. An effort is being made to obtain auxiliary equipment in the way of road and trail build- ing machinery so that the School Forest on Moscow Mountain can be improved and made more accessible. Blasting Demonstration Practical In order to give Idaho forestry students first hand information in the use of explosives in forest work, a short course consisting of a series of lectures and terminating with a prac- tical field demonstration was conducted the middle of April this year for the benefit of logging engineering students. The course was arranged through the courtesy of Mr. A. J. McAdams of the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Kz Company and in co-operation with Professors L. J. Smith and Hobart Beresford of the Agri- cultural Engineering Departments of the State College of Washington, Pullman, and the University of Idaho, respectively. A south slope of Moscow Mountain ridge was the scene of activities for the field demon- stration which embraced three phases-blast- ing stumps for right-of-way, blasting rocks for forest roads and trails, and blasting stand- ing trees and snags. The care and use of ex- plosives was particularly stressed and the students handled and placed the dynamite under competent supervision. It is planned to continue this course another year and to con- duct the field work on the School Forest where it is desired to remove stumps and trees for road construction and also rocks projecting along the present road. The inclusion of this course to accompany the instruction in tractor operation gives Ida- ho logging engineering majors considerable practical field work. 23