THE GALAX MSl^FS
JULY 28, I960
PAGE 8
SEE THE BEAUTIFUL LOTS
Last Homesites I/i thin Walking Distance of Town
See
F» Potts or Your Broker
BIOLOGICAL SURVEYS IN THE
MARGARET GABOON HOWELL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Three college biology teachers under
a Research Participation Program, sponsor
ed by the National Science Foundation at
the Highlands Biological Station, have
been conducting studies of the Margaret
Cannon Howell Wildlife Refuge and some
adjoining tracts. Those engaged in the
studies are Professors Curry Haynes, J»
D, %»ooner, and John A, Cheek. Senior
consultants are Hieima Howell, R. K, God
frey, Robert E. Gordon, Stanley B. Mulaik,
R, M. Schuster, and R. M. Sargent,
The original forest of the Southern
Blue Ridge Mountains was an oak-chestaut
community. The removal of the chestnut
trees by the blight created a condition
in which a different forest cover is emerg
ing. Forest ecologists are interested in
detennining what is replacing the chestnut.
Because of extensive lumbering operations
in the past, study tracts are difficult
to find. However, H. J, Costing and W.D*
Billings of Duke University, were able to
study the foimer Primeval Forest or Rave-
nel's Woods in 1939, before that magnigi-
cent forest of virgin hemlock was destroy
ed. In 1953 Dr. Catherine Keever was able
to study replacement of the original oai:-
chesnut association in seven tracts near
Highlands.
The Margaret Cannon Howell Wildlife
Refuge was given to the Highlands Biolog
ical Station in 194-8 by Mrs# Margaret Can
non Clarkson* It has been selected as a
study area because it is near the tracts
studied by Costing, Billings and Keever,
and yet different enough to warrant a de
tailed study. Some interesting things are
being discovered in the present study.
A total of 25 families and 4.8 species
of plant's have been listed to date. Thir
ty-six species of birds have been list
ed, and five species of salamanders*
Further studies are planned in the Refuge#
ANNUAL "SHOW-ilE-TRIP
The Highlands Forest Rangers will
hoia their annual “Show-Me-Trip” this
August 10, showing forest service activ
ities in the Highlands area and siarround-
ing territory.
The tour will depart from the High
lands work center at 8:30 a,m. to begin
the tour, traveling over graveled end
paved roads, all improved. People attend
ing the tour are asked to bring their
own cars.
Stops will be made at various inter
vals and talks made on the activities
cantered there—timber sales, road con
struction, recreational improvements,
fish and wildlife reserves, fire preven
tives, etc.
The tour will end at 4-s30 p.m. At-
tBndance is limited to 24 and those in-
t^ested in the trip are asked to make
reservations. To receive further infor
mation, call the Ranger's office. Phone
384.5. There is no charge for the tour*
^ese annual trips p^rovide the op
portunity for the Highlands public to see
the Forest Service activities and im
provements in the area.
hiking club meets
The Highlands Hiking Club met last
Friday night, July 22 in the Magruder and
O'Brien Office. Slides of previous trips
made by the club were shovm. TherQ were
six guests present, the president, Hoarce
Williamson and the Sec-Ttea, Ellison Ma**
gruder. A trip for August was planned.
miGHLRnOS
THE
SUPER (MARKET
conoimEnT shop
FRESH PRODUCE MONDAYS
Homemade Jams,
AND THURSDAYS
Jellies, and Pickles
Rath Black Hawk Iowa Beef
Cocktail Items