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Clinton News-Record, 1985-4-17, Page 28Trees provi by Daniel C. Kennaley As John Schwindt, Conservation Services Co-ordinator with the Ausable Bayfield Con- servation Authority hikes across the farmer's field towards the tree planting crew, he absent-mindedly checks the spac- ing on the row of newly planted spruce seedlings he is following. The regular six foot intervals are ideal and will ensure that this farmer will have a good windbreak in just a few years. The crew, using a mechanical treeplanter, is half way back across the field with its second row of trees as John reaches them. He asks about the mechanism mounted on the treeplanter -Ihich enables the trees to be sprayed with a WW erbicide as they are planted. Hearing that it's working well, John continues on to where a municipal drain cuts across the back corner of the field. This corner of the field cut off by the drain.., is an area the farmer had :asked about the last time he was in at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's office. John and the farmer had looked the location over on an air photo and then using the farmer's familiarity with soil conditions, John had recommended a small white pine planta- tion. The farmer had mentioned a wet por- tion and John was now. double-checking to see if a few white cedars might also be advisable. He made a note to have the farmer add a few hundred cedar to his tree order and then headed back to where he had parked his truck. John's job at the Ausable Bayfield Con- servation Authority is to encourage farmers and other landowners to plant trees. And last year, he was successful to the tune of over 210,000 trees on the land of 260 lan- downers. The farmer in the above example is typical of John's tree "customers The armer had originally called three years ago isbout getting a windbreak planted around is farm buildings. The farmer planted the two rows of windbreak stock himself and had been pleased with how well these larger I 1 metre or 3 feet) Norway spruce and white cedar had grown. So the previous summer he had been back to see John about the field windbreak and ' the small plantation. All Elf the people planting trees through the Husable Bayfield Conservation Authority's tree planting programs are go- ing to enjoy the many direct benefits associated with trees, but equally impor- tant, the rest of us benefit indirectly from an improved natural environment. The farmer or landowner who plants a windbreak around his farm buildings can reduce his heating costs and control snow drifting in the winter. The windbreak will also shelter part of a farmer's field which has been proven time and time again to im- prove crop yields while preventing wind ero- sion. The trees will also improve the look of the farm whichmay add to the farm's value. When it comes to a field windbreak the farmer really begins to benefit from tree planting. Increased crop yields and reduced wind erosion become very important because of the larger area protected, by a field windbreak. These windbreaks also pro- vide wildlife habitat and act as a barrier helping to keep eroded sediment out of drains and watercourses. This latter characteristic is especially significant to the., Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority because of the Conservation Authority's concern for water quality. Tree plantation can produce a wood crop -which, although it. matures more slowly, compares very favourably with more tradi- tional field crops. In the meantime a planta- tion provides wildlife habitat and again, e many benefits National Volunt April 14th to 21st is National Volunteer Week, This is an ideal time to say thank you to the many volunteers who work in our community. Elections An Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority tree planting crew use a mechanical tree - planter to planta field windbreak. especially when located along a drain, reduces the amount of sediment entering the' drain. In addition, plantations planted on especially steep slopes might be the best use for otherwise very erodable land. The benefits associated with tree planting have led to the provision of several different types' of tree planting assistance by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority. For Windbreaks around farm buildings the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authori- ty will provide the larger windbreak tree stock at a cos} of between $3 and $6 a tree depending on the species. The landowner plants these trees himself. Norway spruce and white cedar are the most common trees used in this kind of windbreak and are pur- chased in bulk by the Conservation Authori- ty from private nurseries. Field windbreaks and plantation planting involve the use of seedling ,stock at a cost of two and a half cents.a tree plus $10 an order. The landowner can plant these trees,himself or can have a Conservation Authority crew plant them at a cost of $50 per 1,000. In a plantation, the seedling stock would be planted a thousand trees to an acre. Trees available include pine, cedar, spruce, and maple as well as smaller quantities of other deciduous trees like oak and walnut. The tree seedlings are obtained through the Ministry of Natural Resources from Ministry nurseries. In 1985 for the first tune, the Conservation Authority is also offering a program where Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority staff will maintain field windbreaks and plantations at a yearly cost of $25 per 1,000 trees. This service which is already proving to be very popular, includes yearly applica- tion of a herbicide and re -planting if some of the trees die. John Schwindt reports that "the herbicide's function is to reduce weed competition and can significantly improve the gro4wth of the trees". While the Conservation Authority's tree planting programs are popular with area farmers, John is worried about the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's ability to continue supplying the trees. He says, "The Ministry has had an unwieldly system for processing tree orders from the Con- servation Authority. This year's programs are going to be hurt by the ordering system and by budget constraints. The Ministry has promised to improve the ordering system in part because the Ausable Bayfield Con- servation Authority developed a short-cut , that made the Ministry realize. how ineffi- cient the old ordering system was. I only hope that Ministry of Natural Resources can move quickly enough to have a new system in place for 1986." If you would like to order trees from the Conservation Authority or want more infor- mation about tree planting John says to call right away. "Already we have a waiting list of over a year in length but the sooner we hear from an interested individual the • sooner we will.be able to get the trees in the ground." CLINTON NEWS -RECO , WEDNESDAY, APRIL 117,_1985 --Page 3A Iil Ali Il it III OURL*LEDGE*. TO YOU ® � * QUALITY * SERVICE * CLEANLINESS Top Quality Ingredients ONLY Go Intq Our Pizzas and Subs FAST, FRIENDLY SERVICE IS A MUST FOR ALL OUR STAFF Clean, pleasant surroundings helps to make your stay with us more enjoyable -.. Strr rvI.R I.TE8 28 HURON STREET - CLINTON 482-3924 DELIVERY AVAILABLE FRIDAY 8, SATURDAY 5 P.M. TILL CLOSING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 11 A.M. - 12 MIDNIGHT OPEN FRIDAY S. SATURDAY NIGHTS TILL 2 A.M. eer Week, will end on April 21 NOTICE OF These people give freely of their time and volunteer services. talents to serve us in many capacities. In • fact, volunteers contribute 3.3 percent of the So let's take a few minutes sometime this country's Gross National Product and spend week to say "thank you" to the many over 374 million working hours in providing volunteers in our community. ADVANCE POLLS Ontario F227B FOR THE ELECTION NOW PENDING TO ELECT A PERSON TO REPRESENT THE ELECTORS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO FOR THE ELECTORAL DISTRICT OF HURON -MIDDLESEX 11 a.m. t< 8 p.m. THURSDAY SATURDAY APRIL, 1985 APRIL 27, 1985 CLINTON EXETER GODERICH PARKHILL SEAFORTH MONDAY APRIL 29, 1985 SENIOR CITIZEN APTS. 134 King St. HELEN JERMYN APTS. McKAY HALL FIRE HALL SENIOR CITIZEN APTS. 134 Sanders St. 10 Nelson St. Main St. 50 Market St. ALL OF THE ABOVE LOCATIONS PROVIDE ACCFS91 TO WHEEL CHAIRS. ADVANCE POLLING WILL ALSO 8E POSSIBLE AT THE RETURNING OFFICE ADDRESS BELOW MONDAY Apr. 22 1985 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TUESDAY Apr. 23 1985 WEDNESDAY FRIDAY Apr, 24, Apr. 26 1985 1985 AND UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES SATURDAY Apr 20, 1985 TUESDAY Apr. 30 1985 April 17 "Q+UbMINO Of fIC EA W.E. Simmons OffiC€ �OOat9n T 6l €P' OMR 61 Riverside Dr. 235-0592 OA 1 We're looking for someone who needs a start. Spring /Summer '85 Ontario Youth Corps Our Investment In Tomorrow. or.v'I't,RIARJ a BILE) !T R l �.111 •til1II•.ti .. We've got good jobs going•. Jobs for young men and women with little work experience: jobs for disabled persons: jobs for native youth. You•re eligible if you are between 15 and 24 years old, with Tess than grade 12 education, out of school and unemployed for the last 12 weeks: To find out more, pick up a, copy of The job Book at your local Youth Employment Counselling Centre, Community Information Centre or YM/YWCA. Or simply call the Youth }Hotline at 1-800-263-7777. ^It's worth it. Call theYouth Hotline at 1-800-263-7777. ��iARlc� OIIiN UPP0RTUNI11kS BILD ONTARIO® Youth Secretar at