Reforestqtion Booms In ldoho

Reforestation, pulpwood and Christmas trees can be expected to produce the big farm forestry nervs of the future in Idaho, believes Frank H. Pitkin, nurseryman at the University of ldaho.

Likervise, plantings for those purposes promise to push the University farm forestry nursery, a federal-state cooperative operation under the Clark-McNary act, up nearer full capacity producing during the next fer,v years. Under that act, aimed to stimulate private tree planting, seedlings are provided from the state nurseries at less than production cost.

"Idaho has hundreds of thousands of acres o{ forest land rvhich has been crlt-over or burned over and is not restockitself naturally," Pitkin believes. "Only by planting will this land be gotten back into tree production. In some areas the desirable practice is to clear cut the mature timber and replant the entire area. That calls for seedlings by the thousands. Farmers are discovering pulprvood and Christmas trees can become important 'farm crops and are making plantings for that purpose. All this adds up to a grwing demand for trees.

"Although the University nursery has been in operation 43 years, it still is in its infancy considering the acreages yet to be planted and the grorving importance of plantings for pulpu'ood and Christmas tree markets."

Up to now, some 8,000,000 seedlings have gone out from the University's forestry nurser)'. Shipments the past two years have totaled al;out 1,250,000. Of this number, Pitkin's figures shorv about 1,100,000 seedlings went to private planters, mostly farmers. The remainder were taken by the State Fish and Game department for game and conservation plantings, by the Soil Conservatit-rn service, the State Forestry departm€nt and other public agencies. I'itkin estimates that seedlings from the University nursery during its 43-year history have planted 8,177 acres of u'oodlots. rvindbreaks and shelterbelts.

The sharp increase in farm tree demands {orecast by Pitkin for the near future will not catch the University unprepared. Operations have been planned on the basis that farm tree demand throughout the state rvould continue to grou'. The forestry nurseryman figures the 22 acres devoted to farm tree procluction capable of producing 2,000,000 seedling trees and shrnbs every year.

Most important addition to the University's farm tree program was the addition this year of a cold storage building capable of holding 1,000,000 seedlings. This storage plant makes it possible to dig large quantities of trees while dormant and keep them under controlled temperature and moisture conditions until shipped.

Produced in the University forestry nursery every year arc 37 different varieties of trees and shrubs. Of these 16 are g'rown in large numbers for statewide planting. The rest are for research and test demonstration, for the farm forestry folks are constantly on the lookout for new trees and shrubs that will do well in Idaho.

Most popular trees, according to nursery sales, are Russian olive and black locust. For many years black locust was all by itself in popularity. Ne*i come spruce and juniper. Headliner among the shrubs is multiflora rose, in wide demand for wildlife food and cover plantings. Around I0O,O0O of these bushes came from the nursery this spring. Coming up fast in demand, and likely to be among the leaders in the future, are the pines, spruces and firs. These will be for the reforestation, pulpwood and Christmas tree plantings which Pitkin predicts will dominate the farm forestry picture of tomorrow.-(From the University of Idaho Reports.)

Will Publicize Hordwood Plywood

Plans for a half-million dollar, two-year trade promotion program were formulated by the Trade Promotion Committee of the Hardwood Plywood Institute in meetings held at the Moraine-on-the-Lake Hotel, Highland Park, Illinois, July 16-17. A tentative budget outline rvas presented and approval was granted on the initial phase of the program, which includes the devAlopment of a catalog, grade marking and trade marking and quality control, according to NI. C. Mclver, chairman.

This was the first meeting of the combined membership since the merging of the Southern Plywood Manufacturers Association with the Hardwood Plywood Institute. The registration list shows 34 in attendance, including operators from Canada.

The trade mark which was adopted by the group contains the phrase "Certified American Quality" rn'hich will be used in labelling the panels and in promotion and catalog information.

Retoil Yord Fire

Fire destroyed a 30-by-50 foot lumber storage shed of Petty's Building Emporium, at Tucson, Arizona, together with $15.000 rvorth of soft and hardn'ood lumlter inside.

Altadeno Hos Big Fire

Fire leveled the tu'o-and-one-half acre lumber yard of the Johnson Lumber Company, at Altadena, recently, witl-r a loss o{ about a cruarter of a million dollars.

Form Income Dropped

The Department of Agriculture reports that farm come for the first half of 1953 rvas 5o/o lower than for same period \n 1952. The volume of crops and stock was greater this year, but the price t'as lorver.

Pockord-Bell To Build Doors

lenth Grqndchild For PhilliPs

Quite a battle has been in progress for several years' betrveen three rvell-knorvn Southern California lumbermen for the honor of being the most grandfatherly grandfather of the area, namely, Don Phillips, of the Larvrence-Phillips Lumber Company, Gus Hoover of A. L. Hoover Company, and Orrie Hamilton, of the Southern California Retail Lumber Association. NIr. Phillips advises THE CALIFORNIA LU\,[BER NTERCHANT that on July 12, a little claughter nar.ned Elizabeth Ann arrived at the home of his son, Tom Phillips. This makes a total of 10 grandchildren for Mr. Phillips, and puts him definitely at the top of the threesome. in- NIr. Phillipr, *tlo has been spending the summer in the the mountains at Readrvay, California, came to Los Angeles sold to spreacl the nervs of the latest arrival.

Another big outfit is entering the door-manufacturing business in Southern California. Robert S. Bell, executive vice president of Packard-Bell Company, announces that his concern is branching out into the door-manufacturing business. starting with 500 flush doors a day for a few months. ancl increasing its output to 1200 doors a day by fall. According to the report, the doors rvill be made by Dimension Nlill & Cabir.ret Company, Santa Ana, California, u,hich produces radio and television cabinets, and will be distributed through Allied Veneer & I-umber Company.

Remodeled Lqncqster Yqrd

The Forest Lumber Companv, Lancaster, Calif., has cornpleted a remodeling job on their retail yard offrce. The salesroom rvas enlarged, display space extended, and new shorv rvindo\vs \\'ere added. The yard is at 45,441 N. Sierra Highr,vay. Ted N'Iaxu'ell is manager.

Steel Shipmenrs High

The American Institute of Steel Construction reports that shipments of fabricated structural steel for the month of June, 1953, s'ere the highest since July, 1950.