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                             In Kansas Yet!
Most all of us think of KS in terms of the Flint Hills and Western KS. And the prairies are beautiful at all times of the year. Just take the drive down highway 177 from Cottonwood Falls south to El Dorado and you will appreciate the prairie.
But KUFC is continuing its effort to identify and report the MANY TREE resources in Kansas, just to broaden the image of Kansas.

                   ANCIENT
   CROSS TIMBERS PROJECT
    - OLD FOREST GROWTH -
Close to Toronto KS along the north shore of Toronto Lake, in the Chautaqua Hills a walking trail of 1.5 miles called the "Ancient Trees of the Chautauqua Hills" is being developed by the KS Department of Wildlife and Parks.
The trees date back as far as 500 years and include red cedar, post oak, black jack oak and many others. Post oak and black jack oak are the dominate trees. The staff of the project has just completed an "Old-growth forest predictive model in the Cross Timbers of eastern Oklahoma," and estimate that at least 162 square miles of ancient Cross Timbers Woodlands are still present in eastern Oklahoma with some in Kansas. This stand of trees was ignored by the many loggers that have come through our state because they were too short and twisted thus not producing great lumber. How important is this Old Growth Forest? It is an entire forest ecosystem!!! Thanks to the McGee Foundation in Oklahoma City, OK for their grant support. How lucky we are to have this extend into Kansas. This is a project worthy of our support and preservation. Check out their web page at: www.uark.edu/misc/xtimber

                                    Other stands of
                          Old Growth Forest in Kansas
                                       Elk River - Elk Co.
                               Fall River - Greenwood Co.
                             McClosky Ranch - Miami co.
                Let's have some suggestions on how KS can
               benefit from these significant tree resources -
                            other than cutting them down -

Editors note: I have had no confirmation of the resource at BALLA, Junction 24 & 82, so we will not be keeping it on the list, the note -
I lost some info. on newly reported arboretums - please call again!

Truth and Fiction
about trees!
Myth: The more mulch the better!
Truth: Correctly applied mulch reduces soil compaction, helps retain soil moisture, prevents bark damage from mower injury, moderates soil temperatures and reduces grass and weed competition. Incorrectly applied mulch -- a layer of mulch thicker than four inches cases shallow roots. The roots grow into the mulch instead of into the ground. In times of drought there is not enough water in the mulch layer to keep the tree alive. The wind and sun causes evaporation very rapidly. Mulch applied next to the trunk of the tree interferes with the air / water transfer of the tree. It smothers the tree. Mulch should be applied around the tree at least six inches from the trunk.

Myth: Painting wounds helps healing.
Truth: A painted wound holds moisture in, accelerating decay. Leave wounds open to allow the tree to cover the wound naturally.
_________________________________________________
         The simple act of planting a tree.
          For every 10,000 miles you drive,
          plant this many trees:
               7 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 25

fourtrees.gif (1652 bytes)

Jim Finlen won the State Foresters award in 1995 - Cluck Evanhoe won the State Foresters award in 1994.

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