8
ANew O. O. Championby Dick Starr
I t dawned calm, clear, cold and frosty. A lovely day on tap for mid November. Iwas looking forward to the morning field trip of observing an official
measurement of a potentially new state champion tree.
I had a short piece about championtrees and how they’re measured inour fall 2012 newsletter. At theOctober 30th annual dinner meetingmember Ron Gay approached me,newsletter in hand, to ask aboutOsage Orange. He has a fairly largeone on his property and what did Iknow of the NYS champ? Notmuch, I confessed, but a later checkof the DEC website showed thecurrent Osage Orange championlives in Orleans County andgarnered 207 points when lastmeasured. I shared this information
with Ron and he said, “I think mine is bigger.” I suggested he double check hisnumbers and call DEC if his tree approached 207. Plus call me if an officialmeasurement is in the offing. I want to watch.
So on that bright November morning DEC forester Brice June had already arrivedat Ron’s when Marlene and Idrove in. Ron said, “The tree’sin the duck pen.” Huh? Sureenough we entered a fenced inarea where 4 ducks and a largeOsage Orange tree cohabitate.There was still ice on theduck’s water pan but the brightsun, blue sky and lack of abreeze made up for any nip inthe air.
Brice got to work andmeasured the tree’scircumference as 1 38 inches.To determine height he measured a distance of 1 chain (66 feet) from the tree atwhich point he used his clinometer (photo) to determine the angle to the top of thetree. With the angle known Brice judged the height as 68 feet. The tape was now
D uring the spring of 2012 wedid a project of building
rabbit houses in and around some
open areas that rabbits frequent.When we did TSI we would buildhouses with a layer of cinder blocks,stones, or some larger hardwoods.After that stage we would pilemultiple stems to make a large typehut. In all we build six houses.
During mid January 2013 I walkedthe property after a couple inches offresh snow fell. The snow was onthe ground about a day and a halfand was quite soft. I checked therabbit houses and five of them hadmultiple rabbit tracks going in andout of the houses. I was careful notto disturb them but just observethem from a short distance.
It was nice to see our work producedthe desired effect and I am sure therabbits enjoyed the protection fromthe weather and predators alike.
During my hike about the property Inoticed a large maple “wolf” treethat fell across the trail and wasthinking the tree would make anexcellent seventh rabbit house.During February, I plan to cut thetree in six foot and eight footsections to form another hut. Sincethe rabbits are utilizing the presenthouses I am encouraged to continuethe process. Therefore as thematerial falls to the ground indesirable areas I will continue tobuild houses. The saying “if youbuild it, they will come” takes on anew meaning. Maybe one will leaveme a rabbit's footprint for good luck.
The Western Finger Lakes
Forest OwnerSpring 2013 Volume 27 Number 1
In Our Woodlotby Ed Piestrak
Continued on page 2.
Photo courtesy ofthe author
Ron and Brice Work on the Circumference
Photo courtesy ofthe author
Brice Using a Clinometer
2
used to get crown spread (photo) and it came out at 7feet. 1 38 inches + 68 feet + 7 feet totals 21 3 points forRon’s tree, greater than the current champion at 207points.
Brice said he’d submit his measurements to Albanywhere the official records for NY champion trees arekept. At some point Ron’s tree should be listed as theNYS Osage Orange champion. Marlene asked, “Whatdoes Ron win?” Besides the satisfaction of owning achampion tree, nothing. Perhaps that’s enough sincesatisfaction isn’t currently taxed.
What does one do if they have a large tree and wonderif it might dethrone the current champion? First, verifythe tree species and check the current champion on theDEC website. Then take estimates of circumference 4.5feet above ground level, height and ¼ of average crownspread. If the sum of these three values exceeds thestate champ, call DEC and request an officialmeasurement. However, note that circumference is avery large component of the final score, usually morethan half. If your tree’s circumference doesn’t match orbeat the champ, chances of a dethroning are greatlydiminished.
The ducks provided morning entertainment. Ronplaced an ear of corn in their feeding dish and theyflipped into hyper drive, quickly turning ear into cob.Then the 2 females engaged in a cat fight – can ducksdo that? It was comical because they don’t have armsto punch each other. Instead they entwined their necksand engaged in a shoving/pushing match accompaniedby much quacking and caterwauling.
Richard Starr, Director and
Chairman
231 Farm View Dr.Macedon, NY 14502(585) [email protected]
Dale Schaefer, Director and Vice
Chairman
6017 County Road #37Springwater, NY 14560(585) 367-2849
Cathy Gardner, Director and
Secretary
7400 Corby RoadHoneoye Falls, NY [email protected]
Ron Reitz, Director and Treasurer
6086 Canadice Hill Rd.Springwater, NY 14560(585) [email protected]
Jim Minor, Director
WFL Newsletter Publisher
At-Large State Board Member
22 Bryn Mawr RoadRochester, NY 14624(585) [email protected]
Ray Cavallaro, Director
245 Hurstbourne RoadRochester, NY 14609-5503(585) 288-3411
Dick Dennison, Director
1 37 Wood Creek DrivePittsford, NY 14534(585) [email protected]
Peter Muench, Director
P.O. Box 473Naples, NY 14512(585) [email protected]
Eileen Schaefer, Program Director
6017 County Road #37Springwater, NY 14560(585) [email protected]
Tony Ross, Director
Anne Ross, Director
358 Hurstbourne RoadRochester, NY 14609(585) [email protected]
Walt Schuchardt, Director
Video Librarian
20 Webster RoadSpencerport, NY 14559(585) 352-4897
Mike Seager, Director &
At-Large State Board Member
P.O. Box 1281Pittsford, NY 14534(585) [email protected]
The Western Finger Lakes Forest Owner is published for members of theWestern Finger Lakes Chapter of the New York Forest Owners Association(NYFOA) and is published 4 times per year. NYFOA was founded in 1963 andis organized to encourage the wise management of private woodland resourcesin New York State by promoting, protecting, representing and serving theinterests of woodland owners. The Western Finger Lakes chapter was foundedin 1988 and encompasses Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans,Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties.
Membership is open to anyone interested in understanding how to managea woodlot. NYFOA membership can bring returns in the satisfaction ofgrowing quality timber, stabilizing forest industries and markets, providingpermanent jobs, increasing the value of your woods, enlarging areas of naturalbeauty across the state, and leaving behind a monument in living trees to blessthe tomorrows for the boys and girls of today. For information on becoming anNYFOA member, contact Liana Gooding, NYFOA Secretary, NYFOA, P.O.Box 541 , Lima, NY, 14485 or at 1 -800-836-3566. Annual membership is $30for individuals and $35 for families and includes: subscriptions to thisnewsletter; to the bimonthly NYFOA state-wide publication, The New York
Forest Owner; attendance at chapter meetings; and at two statewide meetings.Membership at the Contributing level $50- $100 and Supporting level $101 &up) are also offered. For more information visit www.nyfoa.org.
Readers are encouraged to submit articles for publication in thisnewsletter. Articles should be mailed or e-mailed to: Richard Starr at theaddress to the left. Electronic submissions are preferred. Any letters should besent to the Chair for consideration.
For event reminders and late-breaking news, subscribe to our email listby sending a blank email to [email protected]
Note: The deadline for our next, Summer, issue is June 1 st.
NYFOAWestern Finger Lakes 2013 Board of Directors
About Us
A New O. O. Champion (continued from page 1)
Photo courtesy ofthe author
Brice Measuring the Crown
3
I n the late 1800s Gifford Pinchotand Carl Schenck were hired torestore 125,000 acres to a healthyforest on the Biltmore estate inAsheville, NC. To help inestimating the diameter, height andlumber volume of a tree, Schenckdeveloped a yardstick like devicethat could easily give estimates inthe field. This has become knownas the Biltmore stick. The B-stickis good for quick estimates but isnot generally considered aprecision instrument. However, forthe non professional it isinexpensive and gives reasonableresults. Enter “make biltmorestick” in your search engine to findon line plans for DIY versions. Imade one out of a Home Depotyard stick by smoothing one sidewith my thickness planner and thenadding the scale.
One side of a B-stick uses a log’sdiameter to estimate the number ofboard feet it contains. The otherside determines a standing tree’sdiameter at breast height and thenumber of logs in the standing tree.On the B-stick this last estimate isdone with a Merritt hypsometer
and requires one to stand a knowndistance from the tree beingmeasured, usually 66 feet alsoknown as one chain.
Hypsometers, fromthe Greek hypsosmeaning height, aredevices to obtain treeheight. Modernversions use laserrange finders forprecisionmeasurements andcan cost upwards of$3000. Before lasersthe approach usedtrigonometry andangles weremeasured withclinometers. Thereare electronic clinometers rangingfrom under $30 to over $200.Manual clinometers give theamateur some reasonably pricedalternatives. Clinometers are alsocalled inclinometers since they canbe used to measure angle ofincline.
In the spring 2012 issue I reviewedhow a protractor can be used toestimate how tall a tree is. In that
context theprotractor was amanual clinometer,a device to measurean angle in order todetermine treeheight. Protractorsare available atmany stores in theschool supplysection and costabout $1 .25. I do notown an electronicclinometer or a laserrange finderhypsometer. I do
have a protractor and anoccasional need to estimate treeheight.
If a protractor is unavailablethere’s a simple device to estimatetree height that’s free. Cut a squarefrom a piece of cardboard, perhaps4” x 4”. The one shown was madefrom a pizza box. At one cornersecure a length of string with asmall weight at the opposite end.The weight ensures the stringhangs straight down. Attach adrinking straw sighting tube asshown in the diagram. Sincecardboard tends to warp withchanges in humidity, othermaterials can make moresubstantial versions. When thestring cuts the cardboard square inhalf corner to corner, two 45, 45,90 triangles are made.
When making an estimate of treeheight, look at the tree top throughthe straw and move away from thetree to a position where thecardboard clinometer is cut in halfdiagonally by the string. Thisposition is as far from the tree asthe tree is tall.
Hypsometersby Dick Starr
Photo courtesy ofthe author
Brice 's Clinometer
Photo courtesy ofthe author
Home-made Hypsometer
4
WFL January Member Meeting Reportby Mike Seager
Welcome New Members
Paul Forsay Ontario
Steven Ketchum Penn Yan
Rich McHale Geneva
Robert Meenan Phelps
Ron Morris Victor
Barb & Marty Reeners Rochester
Robert A. Wink Canandaigua
O ur January chapter meetingwas held on the 15th at
Ontario County CooperativeExtension. About 25 people turnedout to hear Russell Welser, SeniorExtension Educator in NaturalResources and Agriculture, talkabout apple trees. They weretreated to a wealth of information.
There are two fundamental axiomsthat guide working with appletrees: apple trees require two treesof different varieties forsuccessful pollination,and “it is all based onlight access”. Branchesor trees that are shadedwill not bear fruit.
Beyond that, Mr.Welser covered threegeneral aspects of appletrees: rehabilitating oldtrees, planting newones, and pruning.
When rehabbing oldtrees to restore theirproductivity, theprimary tools are saws – chainsaw,bowsaw, pole pruner. It is usuallytoo big a job for loppers or othersmall-scale tools. The first step inworking with an old tree is to cutout dead branches, then verticalsuckers, and major branches thatare too crowded. Because youshould not remove more than 25-30% of the leaf area at once, eachtree can be a multi-year project.
Trees should also be released bycutting any other trees that infringeon the dripline or nearby. This canlead to some difficult decisions,but remember – it is all about lightaccess.
Fertilizing trees is not necessarybut can be beneficial. Nitrogen isthe most important component. Agallon of 10-10-10 fertilizer shouldbe adequate for each tree. Bewarethat cutting branches and nearby
trees will allow a lot more light toreach the ground, which can resultin a lot of brush growing uparound the tree. Fertilizer cancompound this problem.
Apple trees are very attractive todeer and newly planted trees willneed fencing to protect them fromdeer. Dwarf varieties will never besafe from deer but larger trees willeventually grow tall enough to be
safe from deer and at that point thefencing can be removed.
There are different methods ofpruning trees but a common one isto develop a couple ofwhorls ofbranches around the trunk. Todevelop this method, cut the mainleader at a bud that is about 32inches high. Then cut anybranches below knee height. Thentry to retain branches that form anangle of about 45-60 degrees with
the trunk, distributedaround the trunk andwithin about 6 inchesvertically of oneanother. These formthe first whorl ofbranches. Formanother whorl acouple feet higher.Small verticalbranches should beremoved or braced outto a 45 degree angle tothe trunk – verticalbranches will notproduce much fruit,
but they can be trained to an anglethat will make them moreproductive. Most pruning shouldbe done in the late winter or earlyspring, but vertical suckers can becut in summer to reduce theirtendency to resprout.
Mr. Welser concluded by sayingthat one moderate sized tree,properly cared for, should produce5-7 bushels of apples each year.
5
Low Price Range - reportedrange of the absolute lowestprice paid by surveyrespondents over the last sixmonths.
Average Price Range -reported range of theaverage price paid for"middle quality" timber bysurvey respondents over thelast six months.
High Price Range -reported range of theabsolute highest price paidby survey respondents overthe last six months.
Median - One-half ofreported prices are higherand one-half are lower thanthis price figure.
Doyle, International 1 /4"and Scribner Rules - Providean estimated volume inboard feet of a given tree orstand of tres. In most cases,each rule will provide adifferent volume estimatewhen applied to identicaltrees. Each region of thestate has a most commonlyused rule, but the use ofother rules in a region ispossible.
NR - No Report.
* All price figures in this
cell were produced from less
than 20 survey responses.
** All price figures in thiscell were produced from lessthan 5 survey responses.
Stumpage Price Report
6
Depressed ???
Rx: Take a walk in the woods!
by Dick Fitts
If you come back from walking orworking in the woods and feel a kind of“high”, then you have had morethan just a good workout; youhave benefitted from actualchemical changes in your bodyresulting from your interactionwith the natural environment.
This is the thought-provokingmessage that Les Moore left withus at the March 5 WNY NYFOAChapter meeting. Les Moore, ND,MSOM, RH, LAC, Director ofIntegrative Medicine at CliftonSprings Hospital and Clinic,quotes numerous studies thatreport a direct correlation betweenbeing in a forest environment anda resultant lowering of bloodpressure, improvement of theimmune system, decreased bloodglucose levels and improved autonomicnervous function.
“Alternative medicine” - a term usedsome years ago, tends to reflect an “either
or” choice whereas the term “IntegrativeMedicine” acknowledges the availabilityof a wide range of approaches to healing.Practitioners in China and Japan as wellas in the former Soviet Union continue toenjoy wide acceptance ofmany forms ofhealing.
If you are a doubter, you will probablycontinue to be, but if there are areas in lifewhere you have had experiences that leadcreditability to his observations, then you
will be strengthened in your belief.
The Clifton Springs Hospital, just a fewmiles east ofCanandaigua, has beenknown for the healing powers of itsmineral springs for over 200 years. It isno surprise that it provides an
environment that is supportive ofresearch and application of otherforms of healing as they becomeknown.
Les quoted several studies fromindustrial and health facilitieswhere improved worker or patienthealth resulted from the presenceof plants. Looking at it in theother direction, he cited exampleswhere plants thrive whenprovided with positive humansupport and conversely whereplants die when subjected to ahostile environment.
Les is a strong believer thatForest Medicine can effectivelyrelax our minds and that research
has shown that brain activity is sloweddown after only 20 minutes in the forest.
The next time you’re in your forest, checkit out.
Small Scale Woodlot and
Sugarbush Evaluation
Workshop
Saturday, May 18, 2013,
Location: Woodlot at 2355 County Road6, Phelps, about 3 miles north ofGeneva.
How many maple taps are possible? Howmuch firewood can I cut? Do I have a lotof "good" trees? Maple producers andwoodlot owners often need to know
specific details about the volume ornumber of trees they have.
This interactive workshop will guideowners or tree enthusiasts through theprocess of learning why and how tosample and measure the trees in asugarbush or woodlot. Dr. PeterSmallidge, Department ofNaturalResources, Cornell University is theinstructor. Participants should bring aclipboard and pencils. The workshop willbe outdoors with modest gentle walking.Dress for the weather.
Cost: $1 5.00 per person
Pre-registration is required by May 10,2013 by calling Cornell CooperativeExtension ofOntario County at 585-394-3977 x 427 or email Nancy [email protected] with your full contactinformation (name, address, phonenumber).
Contact: Russell Welser, CornellCooperative Extension ofOntario County| 585.394.3977 x 436
Try Spruceby Dick Starr
The list of things a deer will eat is ratherlengthy. Without consulting that list Iordered 100 Norway spruce in January2012 from the DEC Saratoga nursery. Iwanted a reasonably fast growing tree toprovide a visual barrier along a busycounty road that borders our property.Come spring the seedlings arrived withoutmuch thought having been given to theirprotection from nibbling whitetails.
Somewhat akin to placing a horse in thebarn and then contemplating what kind ofdoor to install.
The planting began along withconsideration of various schemes toprotect the babies. One proposal was tobuy $400 worth of fencing to protect $70worth of trees. No thanks. Another was toplace a selenium tablet in each hole,which I did. I read someplace the treetakes up the selenium and then emits anodor the deer don’t care for.
Sometimes fate favors the foolish. We
arrived one day and noticed fresh deerhoof prints mere inches from several ofthe seedlings. Turns out we planted in themiddle of a deer trail. The amazing thingwas not a single seedling had beennibbled. See the photo on the outsidecover. Could the selenium work in meredays? Being skeptical I checked withDEC forester Mark Gooding and learneddeer eat spruce only when they are instarvation mode. I have the feeling Ishould have known that. It’s nice to knowour deer are not starving.
Photo courtesy ofJim Minor
Speaker, Dr. Les Moore
Try Spruce
by Dick Starr
Depressed ???
Rx: Take a Walk in the Woods!
by Dick Fitts
Small Scale Woodlot and
Sugarbush Evaluation Workshop
Saturday, May 18, 2013,
1 :00 pm - 3:00 pm
7
Happy Birthday
by Dick Starr
NYFOA turns 50 years old in 2013, a milestone of note. Aftersome discussion it was decided to have a state wide woods walk.The public will be invited to enjoy a woodlot experience on aspring day in May. The hope is each of the chapters throughoutthe state will host a walk(s) in the May 11 to May 19 time frame.Naturally NYFOAmembers are invited to the party.
This state wide event is being called Restore New YorkWoodlands (RNYW) to draw attention to the various factorshaving a negative impact on the ability of our forests toregenerate. Western Finger Lakes chapter will sponsor 4visitation sites. In no particular order they are:
1 ) 10 AM Saturday May 11 at the Swanson farm, 7014 BegoleRoad, Mt. Morris, NY 14510 in Livingston County. Dave andHelen Swanson invite you to visit their old growth forest ofapproximately 5 acres and perhaps get a peek at a large bur oak.Long time NYFOA/WFL member Dave Swanson will lead thewalk and invites all to bring a lunch and enjoy the family’s picnicpavilion.
2) 10 AM Saturday May 11 at the Morabito property, 6067White Creek Rd. (County Rd 17), Belfast, NY, 14711 in AlleganyCounty. Dave and Colette have approximately 400 acres andNYFOAmember and forester Bruce Robinson will lead the walk.They invite you to "please join us for a light lunch of hot dogscooked over an open fire". This is cosponsored by the AlleganyFoothills Chapter.
3) 10 AM Saturday May 18 at Cracker Box Palace 6450 ShakerRoad, Alton, NY 14413. Alton is near Sodus in Wayne County.This is a farm animal rescue facility with wooded paths to enjoy.Cheri Roloson is director and hostess. Visit their website atwww.crackerboxpalace.org. NYFOA/WFL member and MFOvolunteer Jim Miller will lead the walk.
4) 9 AM to 3 PM Saturday May 18 at the John Holtz propertyin South Bristol, NY, Ontario County. Walks will continuethroughout this time period. This site and walk are part of theTown of South Bristol’s 1 75th anniversary celebration. DaleSchaefer will lead the walks.
For more information about the entire RNYW initiative, thesewalks and others across the state, visit www.nyfoa.org andfollow the RNYW links.
WFL Chapter Meeting:
Geneva Experiment Station
Friday June 14, 2013 1:00 pm.
Due to the NYFOA Restore New York Woodlands eventsscheduled in May, we have pushed our general meeting back toJune this year. In addition, this meeting will be a two hour tourof the Geneva Experiment Station instead of our usual sit downclassroom presentation. We will meet at Jordan Hall on thecampus of the Geneva Experiment Station, 630 W North Streetin Geneva. Please rsvp to Eileen Schaefer at 367-2849 by May30th if you are planning on attending. The tour is limited toapproximately 25 to 30 people.
Save the date- Tuesday October 29, 2013, for the AnnualNYFOA Dinner Meeting at the Monroe County CooperativeExtension 249 Highland Ave. More details to follow.
For those of you willing to travel a little here's what's going on insome of our neighboring chapters. For the latest updates go towww.nyfoa.org -> "Announcements" -> "NYFOA and PartnerEvents".
• April 28: Game ofLogging I, Arnot Forest
• April 29: Game ofLogging II. Arnot Forest
Upcoming Events
Tree Tubes for Sale - Member/NonMember price: 4'($4.50/$5.00); 4' w/ stake ($5.50/$6.00); 5'($5.00/$5.50); 5' w/ stake ($6.00/$6.50).Proceeds benefit WFL chapter. (585) 3672847.Polymer Nails for Posted Signs 100 tough nonmetal nails, 2 1/4" long. Be kind to your treesand sawyer. $12 + $3 S&H = $15, check to Perlumaat PO Box 74 Springwater, NY 14560. Information:[email protected] NOTE: SPACE PERMITTING, THE WFL STEERINGCOMMITTEE ALLOWS MEMBERS TO PLACE FREE CLASSIFIEDADS IN THIS NEWSLETTER PERTAINING TO GOODSTEWARDSHIP PRACTICES. HOWEVER, ADS PRESENTEDHERE ARE NOT AN ENDORSEMENT BY WFL.
Classifieds
Neighboring Chapters
A gift membership to NYFOA is a wonderful way tointroduce a friend or family member to the wonders of thewoodland. Send a check for $30 individual or $35 family toNYFOA, PO Box 541 , Lima, NY 14485. Now you can alsoenroll on-line at www.nyfoa.org .
AGift
Mark your Calendar!• April 17, 2013 WFL Board Meeting Lima Hotel 7 PM• May 11, 2013 RNYW woods walk, Swanson farm *• May 11, 2013 RNYW woods walk, Morabito property *• May 18, 2013 RNYW woods walk, Cracker Box Palace *• May 18, 2013 RNYW woods walk, Holtz property *• May 18, 2013 Small Scale Woodlot and Sugarbush EvaluationWorkshop *
• June 14, 2013 General Meeting, Geneva Experiment Station *• October 29, 2013 Our Annual Dinner, Details to follow.
* See inside for details
Spring 2013 Volume 27, Number 1
The Western Finger Lakes
Forest Owner
NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDAVON, NY
PERMIT NO.32
New York Forest Owners AssociationPost Office Box 541 , Lima, NY 14485
Return Service Requested
Note: For event reminders and late-breaking news, subscribe to ouremail list by sending a blank email to-
Photo courtesy ofDick Starr
A spruce seedling ignored by a deer. See Dick Starr's
story, "Try Spruce", inside on page 6.
