Cooperative Extension Service
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

4-H
Forestry

field day
manual

Georgia's environmental quality and economic health depend upon forest resources. Jobs, families, trees, and forest values all grow together in Georgia.

PDF
Revised 2000

Table of Contents

Introduction
General Information
General Rules and Regulations: Georgia 4-H Forestry Field Days
Contest Events
Score Sheet
Glossary of Forestry Terms
Tree and Forest Concepts
Summary of Laws and Regulations Affecting Forests and Range Land
References

Lonnie E. Varnedoe, Jr., Kim D. Coder, David J. Moorhead
Extension Forest Resources

Introduction

The 4-H Forestry Field Day Contests include a number of competitive events in which each member of a three- or four-person team competes in all the events. The events include:

No 4-H Record Books are required for participation in this contest. The team members do not have to be enrolled in the forestry project; however, this would be highly desirable.

The objectives of this team competition are to develop abilities and attitudes that help build better citizens and leaders. Participants should also increase their knowledge of trees and forests, and develop some skills in forestry related activities. They should gain a better understanding of, and appreciation for, our forest resources and how they contribute to our economy and quality of life.

Who can participate in the 4-H Forestry Field Day Contests? Any 4-H Club member may participate as a forestry team member. Girls and boys from both urban and rural areas may participate. Competition, however, will be at two levels -- senior and junior. Cloverleaf members may compete as junior team members.

This training manual is designed to provide information for both junior and senior team members who each participates at different levels of competition. Seniors participate at advanced levels in three of the events. These include the following:

The levels of competition for this event may be on both inter- and intra-county competition levels to encourage the selection of the best team members at both the senior and junior levels. District/area competition will be held between county teams for both juniors and seniors. State competition is at the senior level only. The top team in the state, at the discretion of the head forestry judge, will compete in the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia the following July or August.

Coaching help for participants may be obtained at the local level. None of the technical skills are too complex for county extension agents. However, there are probably many willing volunteers in each community. Teams in the past have been very successful using local foresters who may be self-employed, state or federal foresters or industry foresters. Even an untrained local leader who is willing to learn along with the 4-H'ers can do the job. Using local foresters is strongly encouraged.

It is critical that volunteer leaders carefully read this manual to assure the students receive correct information about preparing for this event.

The equipment needed for this project is not elaborate. The events have been chosen so that a minimum of equipment is needed and a minimum of "setting-up" time is required. The equipment needed for a complete contest is as follows:

General Information

The Georgia 4-H Forestry Field Day contests and the National 4-H Forestry Invitational are competitive events of forestry knowledge and skills. The national meeting is currently held annually around the end of July at Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp in Weston, West Virginia.

There are district/area and state competitions in Georgia with the state winners usually going to the National contest. The purpose of the Georgia 4-H Forestry Field Day contests and the National 4-H Forestry Invitational is to provide opportunities for 4-H Forestry members to:

Although competitive in nature, the Georgia 4-H Forestry Field Days and the National 4-H Forestry Invitational are managed as an extensive forestry educational experience. They provide an opportunity for exploration of the broad aspects of forestry. The events encourage and promote better forestry knowledge for 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and extension agents at local, county, district, state, and national levels. The setting, contests, leadership, and any supplementary events are all directed to this end.

There are many general and specific values and perceptions developed through these events. Preparation of youths into teams for this 4-H Forestry Field Day helps to accomplish the following:

Furthermore, the competitive team approach which is used in the Georgia 4-H Forestry Field Days and the National 4-H Forestry events, develops at all levels, the following benefits:

General Rules and Regulations: Georgia 4-H Forestry Field Days

I. Contestants and Eligibility

    1. Each county is allowed to bring up to 20 (twenty) senior and 20 (twenty) junior contestants to district/area competition. At district/area contests, only the top three scores within the senior and junior divisions for any one county will be recorded. The top three scorers from a county will comprise all or part of the county team sent on to state competition (if selected for state competition). A team will consist of no less than three and no more than four entrants who are 4-H members in their county during the current year.
    2. All senior level contestants must be attending classes in the 9th grade and above, and must not have passed their 19th birthday on January 1 of the program year.
    3. An individual may enter the National 4-H Forestry Invitational event only once.
    4. All contestants must meet all rules and regulations put forward in the current Georgia
      4-H Project Award Guidebook available in each county.

II. General Contest Rules

    1. Only contestants and designated officials shall be on or within the perimeter of an event. Once a contestant has started an event, he/she will not be allowed to talk with anyone other than a designated official until completion of that particular event. In team events, team members may openly discuss tasks and solutions.
    2. A team may be composed of either three or four members. Team scores will be based on the three highest scoring team members in each contest area. Individual contestants with the highest score will also be selected and recognized.
    3. Each team member will bring a clipboard or writing board, pencil, tree scale stick, compass, and calculator. Contestants are encouraged to wear field clothing.
    4. Behavior becoming 4-H'ers and citizens of the Great State of Georgia will be expected at all times.
    5. It is expected that all team members participate in all events to the best of their abilities and talents.
    6. The forestry judges reserve the right to remove from competition, contest, venue, and from contest participation any and all contestants, leaders, volunteers, spectators, or teams at his/her discretion.
    7. The decisions of the judges are final.

Contest Events

1. Tree Identification

Participants will identify 10 to 25 tree, branch, twig, or leaf specimens. Specimens could include full trees, freshly cut foliage, older foliage, herbarium sheets with pressed foliage, or photographs of foliage. Normally fruit and seeds will not be provided. The complete common name as listed on the contest's official list should be given (for example, "maple" will be incorrect if the tree is "red maple"). Only one-half credit will be given for misspelled, but identifiable, names. Trees will be selected only from the current year's official species list given in the following charts.

Preparation

Number 10 to 25 trees or leaf/branch specimens. These should be from the official species list. Trees or specimens should be considered typical. Juvenile plants and shade leaves should be avoided since they are often larger than normal and have a distorted shape. Each contestant should be given a sheet with numbered blanks for each tree's common name. The complete common name should be reproduced as given on the official species list. No credit is given for partially correct names. Clearly correct but misspelled names get half credit. The person receiving the highest score will be the individual winner. The team with the highest total for the best three participants will be the team winner.

Contest Rules

Official Tree Species List for Juniors

The following tree species list is to be used for the 4-H Forestry Field Day Junior Contests. It is arranged alphabetically by scientific names in order to group similar trees together. The Junior list includes 44 tree species. References are listed in the back of this manual.

Common Name   Scientific Name   Common Name   Scientific Name
1. Boxelder   Acer negundo   23. Slash Pine   Pinus elliotti
2. Red Maple   Acer rubrum   24. Longleaf Pine   Pinus palustris
3. Silver Maple   Acer sacchaninum   25. White Pine   Pinus strobus
4. Buckeye   Aesculus spp.   26. Loblolly Pine   Pinus taeda
5. River Birch   Betula nigra   27. Virginia Pine   Pinus virginiana
6. Pignut Hickory   Carya glabra   28. Sycamore   Platanus occidentalis
7. Pecan   Carya illinoensis   29. Cottonwood   Populus deltoides
8. Mockernut Hickory   Carya tomentosa   30. Black Cherry   Prunus serotina
9. Catalpa   Catalpa bignonioides   31. White Oak   Quercus alba
10. Redbud   Cercis canadensis   32. Southern Red Oak   Quercus falcata
11. Dogwood   Cornus florida   33. Water Oak   Quercus nigra
12. Persimmon   Diospyros virginiana   34. Chestnut Oak   Quercus prinus
13. Beech   Fagus grandifolia   35. Post Oak   Quercus stellata
14. Holly   Ilex opaca   36. Black Oak   Quercus velutina
15. Black Walnut   Juglans nigra   37. Live Oak   Quercus virginiana
16. Redcedar   Juniperus virginiana   38. Black Locust   Robinia pseudoacacia
17. Sweetgum   Liquidambar styraciflua   39. Willow   Salix nigra
18. Yellow-Poplar   Liriodendron tulipifera   40. Sassafras   Sassafras albidum
19. Magnolia   Magnolia grandiflora   41. Baldcypress   Taxodium distichum
20. Mulberry   Morus rubra   42. Basswood   Tilia americana
21. Black Gum   Nyssa sylvatica   43. Hemlock   Tsuga canadensis
22. Shortleaf Pine   Pinus echinata   44. American Elm   Ulmus americana

 

Official Tree Species List for Seniors

Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific name
1. American Basswood Tilia americana 38. Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra
2. American Beech Fagus grandifolia 39. Overcup Oak Quercus lyrata
3. American Elm Ulmus americana 40. Pecan Carya illinoensis
4. American Holly Ilex opaca 41. Pignut Hickory Carya glabra
5. American Hornbeam Carpinus caroliniana 42. Pitch Pine Pinus rigida
6. Atlantic White-cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides 43. Post Oak Quercus stellata
7. Baldcypress Taxodium distichum 44. Red Elm Ulmus rubra
8. Black Cherry Prunus serotina 45. Red Maple Acer rubrum
9. Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica 46. Red Mulberry Morus rubra
10. Black Locust Robinia pseudoacacia 47. Red Spruce Picea rubens
11. Black Oak Quercus velutina 48. Redbud Cercis canadensis
12. Black Walnut Juglans nigra 49. River Birch Betula nigra
13. Black Willow Salix nigra 50. Sassafras Sassafras albidum
14. Blackjack Oak Quercus marilandica 51. Sawtooth Oak Quercus acutissima
15. Boxelder Acer negundo 52. Scarlet Oak Quercus coccinea
16. Buckeye Aesculus spp. 53. Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata
17. Butternut Juglans cinerea 54. Shortleaf Pine Pinus echinata
18. Catalpa Catalpa bignonioides 55. Silver Maple Acer saccharinum
19. Chestnut Oak Quercus prinus 56. Slash Pine Pinus elliotti
20. Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiana 57. Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum
21. Cucumbertree Magnolia acuminata 58. Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora
22. Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodara 59. Southern Red Oak Quercus falcata
23. Eastern Cottonwood Populus deltoides 60. Sugar Maple Acer saccharum
24. Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis 61. Sweet Birch Betula lenta
25. Eastern Redcedar Juniperus virginiana 62. Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
26. Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus 63. Sycamore Platanus occidentalis
27. Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida 64. Turkey Oak Quercus laevis
28. Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba 65. Virginia Pine Pinus virginiana
29. Hackberry Celtis occidentalis 66. Water Oak Quercus nigra
30. Hawthorn Crataegus spp. 67. Water Tupelo Nyssa aquatica
31. Hazel Alder Alnus serrulata 68. White Ash Fraxinus americana
32. Honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos 69. White Oak Quercus alba
33. Live Oak Quercus virginiana 70. Willow Oak Quercus phellos
34. Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda 71. Winged Elm Ulmus alata
35. Longleaf Pine Pinus palustris 72. Yaupon Holly Ilex vomitoria
36. Mimosa Albizia julibrissin 73. Yellow Birch Betula alleghaniensis
37. Mockernut Hickory Carya tomentosa 74. Yellow-Poplar Liriodendrom tulipifera


2. Tree Measurement Estimation

Participants will estimate the saw timber volume in up to five (5) designated trees to an 8" (eight inches) top diameter (outside the bark).

Contestants may use an official cruise or scale stick with no modifications. Diameter tapes, calipers, and other instruments will not be allowed. The person obtaining the total volume closest to that calculated by the judges will be the individual winner. The amount that each team member missed the correct volume will be determined. The team with the highest combined score of its best three participants will be the winner.

Allow only one contestant at each tree at the same time. When they have calculated the total volume in all trees, an appropriate expansion factor should be applied to yield a per acre estimate of saw timber volume. The final answer should be circled and the sheet turned in.

Contest Rules

Practice Preparation

Select and number five to ten saw-timber sized trees (10 inches DBH and larger). If possible, measure diameters with a diameter tape and merchantable height with an altimeter or clinometer. Careful "stick" measurements are acceptable. Avoid borderline trees, that is, those trees with a diameter or height that might easily be thrown one inch larger or smaller or one-half log higher or shorter. Give each contestant a scale stick and a sheet numbered with spaces for DBH, height, and volume. The following example may be used.



Sawtimber Volume Estimation Sample Plot
Tree Number DBH Merchantable Height Volume
Inches Number of 16' Logs Board Feet
1 12 2 92
2 14 21/2 153
3 21 4 542
4 15 2 156
5 24 41/2 782
Volume Total = 1,725


For each tree, diameter breast height (DBH) and merchantable height in 16 foot logs (to the full half-log) is measured and entered on the table. Then board foot volume for each tree is determined using the Tree Volume Table (below). The volume for the five trees is added together for the subtotal. Multiply by the appropriate number to bring the value to a per acre basis.

Sawtimber Volume Estimation Sample Plot
Tree Number DBH Merchantable Height Volume
Inches Number of 16' Logs Board Feet
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
- - - -
Volume Total = 1,725

Measurement of Standing Trees:

Purpose: Standing trees are measured to obtain an estimate of the amounts of various forest products that might be cut from the tree. These measurements to estimate volume are important because most timber sales are based on volume. In order to make decisions on managing a forest stand, estimates of total tree volume, volume per acre, and volume by product are necessary.

Forest Products: The volume of products such as poles, pilings, sawlogs, veneer logs, pulpwood and fence posts can be determined from tree measurements.

Method: Since all tree stems are basically a part of a cylinder, they have a diameter and height which may be measured. Diameter of standing trees is measured, by time-honored custom, at 41/2 feet above ground on the uphill side of the tree. This is termed "diameter breast height" and is abbreviated as DBH. Height of a standing tree might be measured as total (the entire height from ground line to the top) or merchantable. Merchantable height varies, depending on the product which might be cut. Trees which will produce sawlogs will have different merchantable height criteria than pulpwood trees. The minimum top diameter is fixed by certain product specifications. If a tree is to be cut into logs, the lengths cut will vary, depending upon the demand of the mill to which the logs will go. This is true of sawlogs as well as veneer logs. As a result, total merchantable length will vary.

Tools: The tree scale stick is used to measure diameter and height in the 4-H Forestry Contest. Figure 1 depicts how the tree scale stick is used to find the diameter.

Figure 1. Method of using tree scale stick to obtain tree diameter as viewed from above. Do Not Move Head, Just Eye.

 

Use the flat side of the stick, indicated "Diameter of Tree (in inches)." Hold the stick level at 25-inches from the eye, against the tree, at a height of 41/2 feet above ground perpendicular to the line of sight. Practice is needed to find both the 41/2 foot point in relation to your height, and the 25-inch distance to your eye. When the stick is placed against a tree, close one eye, sight at the left or zero end. The stick and the tree bark should be in the same line of sight.

Now, DO NOT MOVE YOUR HEAD -- just move your eye across the stick to the right-hand edge of the tree. Read the tree diameter to the nearest inch. Hold the stick perpendicular to the tree.

Height is measured as follows: Pace out 66 feet from the base of the tree to a point where the entire tree can be seen. Hold the stick upright so that the "Number of 16 foot logs" side faces you. The zero end should point toward the ground. Plumb the stick at 25 inches from the eye. Sight the zero end to appear to rest at a 1' (one foot) stump height. DO NOT MOVE YOUR HEAD OR THE STICK. Look up the stick to the point where the top of the last merchantable cut would be made in the tree.

Figure 2. Method of using tree scale stick to obtain tree height. Do Not Move Head, Just Eye.

 

Merchantable tree cut height for conifers in this contest is 8" (eight inches) top diameter outside the bark OR the first major fork (a major fork is where a stem/branch is larger that 1/3 the diameter of the main stem and the crotch is "v-shaped").

Merchantable tree height for hardwoods in this contest is 8" (eight inches) top diameter outside the bark OR the first major fork (a major fork is where a stem/branch is larger than 1/3 the diameter of the main stem and the crotch is "v-shaped") OR a major structural defect OR first major branch.

Read sawlogs to the full one-half log. Do not make a log longer than it actually is. For example, record a 23/4 log tree as 21/2, not as a 3-log tree. Do not add length that is not present.

Practice on pacing is needed to find the 66-foot point. The 25-inch distance from eye to stick is the same as in measuring tree diameter.

Volume Tables

These are a composite of actual volumes on an average basis. Once the tree measurement is determined, enter the appropriate table from the left with the tree diameter (DBH). Move across to the right to the column containing tree merchantable height at the top. At the intersection of these two points will be that tree's volume. Read and record each tree volume directly and separately. For contest purposes, do not use the volume table on the tree scale stick.



Tree Volume in Board Feet (International 1/4)
Number of Usable 16-foot Logs
Tree Diameter 1 11/2 2 21/2 3 31/2 4 41/2 5
10 36 48 59 66 73 ----- ---- ---- ----
11 46 61 76 86 96 ---- ---- ---- ----
12 56 74 92 106 120 128 137 ---- ----
13 67 90 112 130 147 158 168 ---- ----
14 78 105 132 153 174 187 200 ---- ----
15 92 124 156 182 208 225 242 ---- ----
16 106 143 180 210 241 263 285 ---- ----
17 121 164 206 242 278 304 330 ---- ----
18 136 184 233 274 314 344 374 ---- ----
19 154 209 264 311 358 392 427 ---- ----
20 171 234 296 348 401 440 480 511 542
21 191 262 332 391 450 496 542 579 616
22 211 290 368 434 500 552 603 647 691
23 231 318 404 478 552 608 663 714 766
24 251 346 441 523 605 664 723 782 840
25 275 380 484 574 665 732 800 865 930
26 299 414 528 626 725 801 877 949 1021
7 323 448 572 680 788 870 952 1032 1111
28 347 482 616 733 850 938 1027 1114 1201
29 375 521 667 794 920 1016 1112 1210 1308
30 403 560 718 854 991 1094 1198 1306 1415
31 432 602 772 921 1070 1184 1299 1412 1526
32 462 644 826 988 1149 1274 1400 1518 1637
33 492 686 880 1053 1226 1360 1495 1622 1750
34 521 728 934 1119 1304 1447 1590 1727 1864
35 555 776 998 1196 1394 1548 1702 1851 2000
36 589 826 1063 1274 1485 1650 1814 1974 2135
37 622 873 1124 1351 1578 1752 1926 2099 2272
38 656 921 1186 1428 1670 1854 2038 2224 2410
39 694 976 1258 1514 1769 1968 2166 2359 2552
40 731 1030 1329 1598 1868 2081 2294 2494 2693


3. Pacing

Pacing, which is determining distance by walking along a line, is an important tool for the forester. Once you learn the average length of your pace you can easily and rapidly estimate distances in the woods and field. In the 4-H Forestry Field Day Contest, Juniors will pace between given points and estimate the total distance between them.

Determining Your Pace

Measure and set stakes 100 feet apart on a generally level field, then walk from one end of the 100-foot line to the other with a natural walking gait. Do this at least five times, each time recording the number of steps or paces (2 steps = 1 pace) it took you to cover the 100-foot distance. Add these up and divide by the number of trips to determine the average number of paces or steps to cover 100 feet. Divide 100 feet by the average number of paces or stops to determine the number of feet per pace or step. See Table 4.



Table 4. Example for determining the average number of feet per pace.
Trip Number of Paces
1 50
2 49
3 50
4 51
5 49
Total 249
Average number of paces in 100 feet 249 divided by 5 = 49.8
Average number of feet per pace 100 divided by 49.8 = 2 feet


In this example, each pace is equal to 2' (two feet). With that information distances can be determined. For example, to step off the 66-feet from the base of a tree to determine its height using a tree scale stick, it would take 33 paces (33 paces x 2 ft/pace=66 feet).

In the pacing portion of the contest contestants will pace between several points or stakes and will be asked to determine the total distance between them as shown in the following illustration.

 

In Table 5, the total distance between the three stations is 206 feet, which is the answer you should write on your score card.



Table 5. Pacing contest example. Contestant has a 2-foot average pace.
Station Number of paces Distance in Feet
Number of paces x 2ft./pace
A to B 18 36
B to C 53 106
C to D 37 74
Total 206

Compass and Pacing for Seniors

Participants will be given three (3) compass bearings and distances. From a designated starting point they will follow these bearings and distances. Only a hand compass will be allowed. The end of each participant's course will be designated by a letter or number. The end point must then be recorded. A course longer than 200 feet is desirable. The person ending the course nearest the correct point will be the individual winner. The distance each individual misses the termination point will be added together. The team with the lowest total for its best three participants will be the winner.

Preparation

After selecting the event site, the distance of the course can be determined. Place starting stakes and determine several bearings and distances. The length of each course should be approximately the same. Each course should contain three bearings. Compasses may be provided, or each contestant may bring his/her own. The judge's compass will be the standard. Each contestant is responsible for comparing his/her own compass with the judge's compass standard. A 100-foot distance may be marked off so contestants may check their pace. Tell each contestant where they should start and give them a card or sheet with the three bearings and distances. The termination point should be marked so that the judge can check it for accuracy. The judge will record the distance of the termination point from the point where it should have been.

Materials and Equipment

Silva ranger-type compasses, score sheets, flagging

Contest Rules

4. Insect and Disease Identification

Contestants will be asked to identify forest insects and disease specimens, or samples of their symptoms or signs. Samples may include bark showing characteristics, bark beetle tunnels, pitch tubes, egg masses or other distinctive insect and disease signs. All specimens will come from the Official List of Insects and Diseases for Juniors OR Seniors as appropriate. The list has 10 forest diseases and 15 forest insects. The Senior list includes those on the Junior list plus additional species for a total of 21 diseases and 30 insects.

For the contest, approximately five insects and five diseases will be selected from the official list. As with tree identification, judging is based on accuracy of identification and correct spelling of complete common names. Incomplete or misspelled, but identifiable common names will receive partial credit.

The following insect and disease list is to be used for the 4-H Forestry Field Day Contests. It is arranged alphabetically by common names. Only the common names listed below are accepted in the contest. Capitalization of common names is not required.

Official List of Insects and Diseases for Juniors

Common Name Scientific Name
Diseases
1. Black knot on cherry Apiosportina morbosa
2. Sooty mold Capnodiaceae and Dothideales
3. Pine needle rust Coleoswrium spp.
4. Fusiform rust Cronartium fusiforme
5. Cedar-apple rust Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae
6. Annosus root rot Heterobasidion annosum inianae
7. Hypoxylon canker Hypoxylon spp.
8. Nectria canker Nectra galligena or magnoliae
9. Mistletoe Phoradendron spp.
10. Witches broom Various agents
Insects
1. Insect Gall Cynipidae spp. (cynipid wasp)
2. Southern pine beetle Dendroctonus fontalis
3. Black turpentine beetle Dendroctonus terebrans
4. Aphid Homptera: aphididae spp.
5. Pales weevil Hylobius dales
6. Conifer sawfly Hymenoptera: diprionidae spp.
7. Fall webworm Hyhantria eunea
8. Ips engraver beetle Ips spp.
9. Bagworm Lepidoptera psyehidae spp.
10. Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar
11. Periodic cicada Magicicada septendecim
12. Eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum
13. Locust borer Megacyllene robiniae
14. Nantucket pine tip moth Rhyacionia frustrane
15. Pine webworm Tetralopha robustella


Official List of Insects and Diseases for Seniors

Common Name Scientific Name
Diseases
1. Annosus root rot Heterobasidion annosum
2. Artist conk Fomes applanatus
3. Black knot on cherry Apiosportina morbosa
4. Brown spot Scirrhia acicola
5. Cedar-apple rust Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae
6. Chestnut blight Endothia parasitica
7. Dutch elm disease Ceratocystis ulmi
8. Fusiform rust Cronartium fusiforme
9. Hypoxylon cankers Hypoxylon spp.
10. Mistletoe Phoradendron spp.
11. Nectria canker Nectria galligena or magnoliae
12. Needle cast Hypoderma and Lophodermium
13. Oak wilt Ceratocystia fagacearum
14. Pine needle rust Coleosporium spp.
15. Powdery mildew Microsphaera spp. and Phyllactina spp.
16. Red heart Fomes pini
17. Shoe-string root rot Armillariellia mellea
18. Sooty mold Capnodiaceae and Dothideales
19. Verticillium wilt Verticillium albo-atrum
20. White pine blister rust Cronartium ribicola
21. Witches broom Various agents


Common Name Scientific Name
Insects
1. Aphids Homptera: Aphididae spp.
2. Bagworm Lepidoptera: Psychidae spp.
3. Bark lice Psocids spp.
4. Black turpentine beetle Dendroctonus terebrans
5. Bronze birch borer Agrilus anxius
6. Conifer sawfly Hymenoptera: Diprionidae spp.
7. Eastern tent caterpillar Malacosoma americanum
8. Fall webworm Hyphantria cunea
9. Gypsy moth Lymantria dispar
10. Insect gall Cynipidae spp. (Cynidid wasp)
11. Ips engraver beetle Ips spp.
12. Leaf cutting ant Atta texana
13. Locust borer Megacyllene robiniae
14. Locust leafminer Odontota dorsalis
15. Nantucket pine tip moth Rhyacionia frustrane
16. Orange-striped oakworm Anisota senatoria
17. Pales weevil Hylobius pales
18. Periodic cicada Magicicada septendecim
19. Pine webworm Tetralopha robustella
20. Scales Lecanium & Pulvinaria spp., Melanaspis obscura, others
21. Scarlet oak/slug oak sawfly Caliroa spp.
22. Southern pine beetle Dendroctonus frontalis
23. Sycamore lace bug Corythucha spp.
24. Tussock moth Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae spp.
25. Twig girdler Oncideres cingulata
26. Two-lined chestnut borer Agrilus bilineatus
27. Variable oakleaf caterpillar Heterocampa manteo
28. Walkingstick Diapheromera femorata
29. White oak borer Goes tigrinus
30. White pine weevil Pissodes strobi


5. Forest Evaluation Contest

A Team Event for Seniors
(State Level Only)

Introduction

"Every acre of land devoted to its best use" -- this is an idea that land owners have had about agricultural land for many years. Level and slightly rolling land for row crops and grain, rolling and better upland slopes for pasture and meadow. The general idea about forest land is that forests will grow well on all lands not suited for other crops. This is not correct. There are excellent, good, fair, and poor sites for timber production just as there are different kinds of farm crop land. There are forest lands that will economically support cultural practices and permanent physical improvements and other stands in the same area might barely pay land taxes. There are acres that can be harvested every 10 years and there are other areas that may never produce commercial timber.

Forest Evaluation is based on the premise that trees will be harvested, now or in the future, to maximize the goal(s) of a specified landowner.

This contest has been developed to provide contestants an opportunity to learn first hand of the characteristics affecting the growth of the forest crop. It is divided into four parts: I. Site Evaluation, II. Stand Evaluation, III. Recommended Practices, and IV. Inventory. To successfully compete in this contest, the participant must carefully study the material outlined on the following pages. Each of these parts is closely related to the others, so it is very important to gain an understanding of this relationship.

Silviculture

Much has been written about trees after they are grown and stands established -- of their requirements and the factors that effect these requirements. The study of these same factors and requirements is a branch of forestry which deals with the establishment, development, care and reproduction of stands of timber. A successful tree grower must know how to adjust or compensate for these factors effectively, as well as to avoid making serious mistakes in his/her program.

SITE

The site is the habitat or environment in which plant or a plant community lives. A number of factors will determine whether a plant may exist and reach maturity in a sound, healthy and sturdy state. Some of the factors that determine the desirability of a site are aspect, slope position, percent of slope, and others of a more technical nature.

ASPECT

Aspect is a compass reading facing down a slope; the direction water would run gives the compass direction. Usually a site located on a north-eastern exposure is regarded as favorable and on the opposite, or south-western as rather unfavorable. Actually, taken from a compass reading, an area from North 45 degrees West to South 45 degrees East is considered a good growing site. An illustration of the desirable northern exposure and the less desirable southern exposure is indicated in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Aspect -- Desirable Exposure Sites.

A combination of factors and conditions of a technical nature are involved in the exposure of a site, but for the purposes of this guide, moisture and how it is used or lost shall be the deter-mining factor in exposure and in aspect.

Exposure is just what the term implies; it means that the surface of the land is open or exposed to the forces of the sun, wind and rain. The exposed site loses more moisture by trans-piration and evaporation because of the forces of the sun and wind. A northern exposure is more protected, there is less moisture lost and the trees will grow more rapidly and desirable.

SLOPE POSITION

Slope position is determined only for soils that are not flat. The positions are classified as upper 1/3, middle 1/3 and lower 1/3. Ridge tops or level plateaus and bottom land soils are class-ified separately in land capability.

SLOPE PERCENT

Slope percent is determined by the feet of rise or fall in each 100 horizontal feet of land and is broken down into categories according to steepness which ranges from 0-20 percent, 20-40 per-cent, and 40 percent plus. One instrument that can be used to measure slope percent is called an Abney Level. Figure 4 below illustrates a 20 percent slope.

Figure 4. The simple formula used to calculate the percent (%) of slope is shown below:
AC/BC x 100 = % slope
5/25 x 100 = 20% slope

Forest Land Capability Classes

Forest land is divided into four categories: excellent, good, fair and poor. Much of the information given through site requirements (aspect, slope, position, slope percent) helps to determine the classification.

Class I or Excellent is very good from all points of view. This is practically level forest land, it is fertile and holds water well. There is little erosion, it is well drained, but not droughty. This land will produce a good stand of timber.

Class II or Good is usually gently sloping. In some cases there are drainage problems which may affect tree growth.

Class III or Fair usually has a greater slope percent and could be fairly steep. This slope, together with associated factors of shallow soil and low fertility gives this land its classification of Fair.

Class IV or Poor may be very steep with shallow soil. The site may be rocky with low soil fertility. It can either be extremely wet or dry. Good examples are ridge tips and swamps.

Stocking

Stocking and stand-density are two terms which can be defined the same and used inter-changeably. Both refer to the proportion of a forested area that is covered by trees. In classifying a stand, it is indicated as Well-stocked, Over-stocked, or Under-stocked.

Well-Stocked: A well-stocked forest has trees that are distributed as uniformly as possible to ideal conditions or such that each stem has just enough room to grow and do well.

Over-Stocked: Over-stocked stands have too many trees that crowd each other competing for available soil nutrients, water, and sunlight.

Under-stocked: An Under-stocked stand has too few trees on it to optimally produce the desired results. In forest stands, the trees on under stocked sites tend to be large-crowned and low-grade for most wood products.

Stocking and Basal Area

Basal area can be quickly determined using optical instruments. This eliminates the establishment of plots and individual tree measurements. A wedge prism is commonly used to determine basal area. Light is distorted as it passes through the prism. This distortion causes objects that are viewed through the prism to be displaced toward the thin edge of the prism. The amount of displacement is related by a mathematical factor to basal area. A 10 factor prism is most common as it allows data collected from each sample point to be converted to an acre basis by multiplying by 10. Prisms are relatively inexpensive and can be obtained through forestry supply catalogues.

Prism Sampling Procedure

Figure 5. How to determine which tree is in or out using a prism.

CROWN CLASS

Trees can be Dominant (tallest), Codominant (shares top of forest with another species), Intermediate (gets light filtered from higher trees), or Suppressed (lower trees, gets light filtered through all other trees.)

Commercial Forest Type Description

Pine Type

Across the state, pine represents our most important commercial forest resource. Pine stands are managed to produce a variety of forest products including pulp, poles, saw timber, naval stores, and pine straw. From the Piedmont north, loblolly pine and shortleaf pine are the most common species. In the Coastal Plain, slash pine, loblolly pine, and longleaf pine are found. In each region other less common pine species can occur.

Pines are relatively intolerant to shade and competition so regeneration success requires relatively clear open sites, thus new pine stands are generally regenerated as even-aged, that is all of the new regeneration is established within a short time. Planted stands will have seedlings established in a single year, while stands regenerated naturally from seed will have seedlings developing over 2 to 5 years.

Regeneration

Several harvest methods are well-suited for pine regeneration:

Clearcutting is the most common method of harvest and regeneration. After the mature trees are harvested, the site is prepared to plant using mechanical and/or herbicide treatments to remove or kill competing vegetation that would hinder the establishment, survival and growth of the pine seedlings. Generally, 500 to 700 seedlings per acre are planted.

Seed tree and Shelterwood methods use mature trees as the seed source for the new stand. The seed tree method leaves 6 to 10 trees per acre and the shelterwood 20 to 40 trees per acre (12 to 14 inch DBH trees preferred) to provide seeds to regenerate the stand. Understory woody and herbaceous vegetation must be controlled to insure prompt germination and growth of the seedlings. A series of prescribed burns at 2-year intervals before the seed tree or shelterwood cut will control most vegetation. Hardwoods greater than 3 to 5 inches DBH are generally too large to control with fire and may need a herbicide treatment. The decision to use seed tree versus shelterwood depends on species, market conditions, aesthetics and landowner preference. Twenty to forty trees per acre are needed to get good seed distribution over the site. Since the shelterwood method leaves more trees per acre than the seed tree method, it visually has less impact to the site, also more wood is left for the final harvest which may attract more buyers than a seed tree harvest.

For both methods, when 1,000 one-year old seedlings per acre have been established, the overstory seed trees should be removed. If stocking is more than 6,000 seedling per acre after seed tree removal, a precommercial thinning by mowing or chopping can be used leaving one-foot wide rows of seedlings on 8- to 10-foot centers. If densely overstocked stands are not thinned, tree growth rapidly diminishes.

Management

Intermediate treatments which include commercial thinning in planted and naturally regenerated pine stands, are common when average tree size reaches 5 inches DBH. Initial thinnings remove forked, crooked, and diseased pulpwood size stems leaving the best formed trees in the stand to grow into more valuable poles and saw timber. Additional thinning can be made on 5- to 7-year intervals until final harvest.

Fertilizers may be applied at the time of planting, particularly on wet sites deficient in phosphorus. The use of fertilization depends on site quality and understory conditions. Competition control is important otherwise nutrients may be tied up by herbaceous and woody vegetation. Fertilization is also recommended when pine straw is harvested on an annual basis. Nitrogen should be added every 4 to 5 years to maintain site productivity.

Herbicides are used in pine management for site preparation, herbaceous weed control, and for releasing established pines from woody competition. Prescribed fire is also an effective management tool for site preparation and reduction of competing vegetation. Carefully applied prescribed fires can be used to reduce competition, enhance appearance and access, improve habitat for select wildlife, reduce hazardous fuel buildup, and various other uses. Most stands receive their first prescribe burn when the trees are 6 years or older. Burning at 2- to 4-year intervals can effectively reduce competition from woody vegetation.

Oak-Pine Type

This type is found from the Mountains into the Coastal Plain, upland oaks (see oak-hickory type) make up 50 to 75 percent of the stand, with pine constituting 25 to 50 percent of the stocking. This type is one of the transitional stages from pine dominated forests to climax forests of oak and other hardwoods. As pine is harvested or dies from lightning strikes, wind throw, insects and disease, the more tolerant hardwoods claim their place at the expense of pine regeneration. As the pine component continues to decline, the type shifts to oak-hickory.

Regeneration

Clearcutting followed by site preparation for conversion to pine is commonly practiced (see pine type). Generally hardwood densities preclude the use of seed tree and shelterwood methods for pine regeneration unless the hardwoods are controlled by prescribed fire or herbicides.

Group selection harvests creating small openings up to 1/2 acre in size will result in hardwood regeneration with some scattered pine. Openings can be planted with pine seedlings followed by herbicide release treatments to increase the valuable pine component.

Management

Several management tools can be used to maintain this type. Commercial thinning and release treatments aimed to promote growth of pine and the more desirable hardwoods in conjunction with group selection regeneration cuts can rehabilitate and maintain the type. These mixed stands are aesthetically pleasing, present low risk to many insect and disease problems, and have commercial value since both pine and hardwood stumpage is in demand across the state. Prescribed fire is not normally recommended, but may be useful in some site preparation activities. Overall, the management of this type requires good inventory data and careful marking and harvesting practices. Past treatments have generally lead to the decline of the type because of exclusive removal of only the most valuable individual trees without providing for regeneration and improvement of the residual stand.

Oak-Hickory Type

This type can contain a variety of oak and other associated species. Common are souther