The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-09-05

cause in every community Of the state
there will be a former member Of a
.CCC camp who possesses some techni-
cal knowledge involved in state and ma
tional conservation projects. Among
the activities of CCC workers in this
regard has been the winter feeding of
deer, experimental work in the estab-
liShment of suitable winter cover for
ruffed grouse. and the erection of suit
able houses for wood ducks in an en-
deavor to facilitate an increase in the
numbers Of these protected birds.
In every well managed forest, both
in the United States and Europe, re-
forestation must have an important
place. Parts Of this area now included
in the Superior forest was unfortunate
ly managed in the past years Uncon-
trollable logging operations, on lands
not then in Federal ownership, strip
ped the land Of its timber The inevi-
table forest fires which followed these
cuttings largely destroyed the ability
Of the area to restock itself with tree
growth. The result is not a pleasant
one to contemplate. The extended &C.
QUESTION program that has been con-
Quoted during the past two years has
stretched out the forest boundaries to
include much of, this denuded land
and the problem OF establishing a for
est on this area now rests with the Ma
tional Forest Service.
The planting program is one that viii
never be ended, because on every well
managed forest planting always has a.
place. The establishments of timber on
the present producing areas alone
is one that must be continued for a
great many years until every acre IS at
its maximum productivity The plant
ing program for this fall calls for seven
million seedlings to be planted on seven
thousand acres. Already ten thousand
acres have been planted. Although
planting is mainly for the production
Of timber the projects also correlated
with certain recreational and game
management plans. Every accomplish
ment on the forest reflects its value
among many of the other projects.
Seedlings to the extent of seven million
more are available and viii be planted
next spring on another seven thousand
acres.
The establishment of forest nursery
has been found to be a necessity on the
Superior. Formerly We secured our
seedlings elsewhere, but nursery has
now been established on this forest.
The collection of seeds will be an an
nual project. Last year eight thou
sand bushels of cones were collected
and sent to the forest nursery on the
Chippewa for seed extraction and
planting. Eight Thousand bushels Of
cones nettted nearly seven thousand
pounds of seed which in turn will yield
nearly three hundred and fifty million
small seedlings. Three small nurseries,
for the production of deer and grouse
foods have also been established on the
forest.
The establishment Of tree growth in
wolves many problems. The planting
of northern white pine requires the
eradication of the gooseberries and cur
rants which are the alternate host Of
white pine blister rust. disease i'm
ported from Germany in 1905. The re-
moval of these plants within nine hun
dred feet of white pine planting con-
stitutes a control, and to date nine
thousand acres of this eradication work
has been accomplished.
One of the major winter work pro-
jects on the forest is the Improvement
of the present stands of timber. The
interference Of man and fire have sol
changed the species and composition
Of the former timber types, that thin
ming of dense stands and the removal
of inferior species IS necessary 70 bring
the desired trees through TO successful
maturity In this work the pines and
spruce are generally favored as against
the hardwoods, which have a lower
value in this area Although this work
IS carried on during the summer