Photograph of G. L. Kirk, chairman of the board of supervisors, Little River Soil Conservation District (SCD) and cooperator of the Valliant SCD, prepares seedbed for planting Kentucky 31 fescue grass on his 160 acre grassland farm. OK-10-475.

Photograph of an UNIDENTIFED worker inspecting the growth of a pine tree. The back of the photograph proclaims, "Shows the rapid growth of pine during the past 11 months. Notice the absence of hardwood."

Photograph of several acres of poor grad hardwood was inter-planted to Pine in 1942. In 1947 the WUC of Work Group 12 release cut one acre to observe the increased rate of growth. . See 2019.061.84.07947 to contrast with non-release.

Photograph of a 50 acre unit that will be released from oak and brush to allow pine seedlings to grow. Plan to do release work in August, 1950. Everything will be taken out (all hardwood) to allow pin room and light to grow. Alvin E. Howard, project conservationist, inspects young pine in picture. Follow up shot to be made in August, 1951. (One year following cutting of hardwoods.)

Photograph of Alvin E. Howard, project conservationist, marks the pines on DL-6 he wants to cut to thin stand. Marking is usually done with paint but Howard used an ax here.

Photograph of Carl and Jesse Park, permitees who cut timber on government tracts, go in to thin pin that Howard has Marked. They also girdle hardwoods and clear out brush an part of a contract.

Photograph of a new building on the old site of Brushy Ridge School. Patrons and School Board completed this building of a class room, hall, assembly room and large kitchen for $2,600. 00. Funds from their school forest donated by J. D. Bates helped furnish the kitchen.

Photograph of the G. L. Kirk farm. Mr. Kirk’s cattle get coll fresh water anytime they want it. They drink from a concrete watering tank below the dam in the background which is fenced off. Trees cover keep the water cool. OK-10-470.

Photograph of the Forest Hill Cemetery. One of the best-kept rural cemeteries in Oklahoma. It is located in the middle of a conservation farming community. A cemetery association keeps the grounds in good repair. The association meets every Mother’s Day at the cemetery, with, usually, 200 to 300 in attendance. OK-10-468.

Photograph of the Forest Hill Baptist Church, Idabel, Oklahoma, which [as of 1950] is over 40 years old, but with the building in good repair. Most farms around the church are conservation farms, primarily grassland. Average attendance is 50 people; membership—140 people. Church services held every other Sunday, with Virgil McMillon, as pastor [Still active today, August 2020]. OK-10-467.

Photograph of G. L. Kirk, right, discussing conservation farm plan with John Bollinger, Work Unit Conservationist [WUC] at Valliant, Oklahoma. Mr. Kirk is chairman of the board of supervisors of the Little River Soil Conservation District [SCD]. He owns a dry goods store in Idabel and is director of the bank—but he had to start farming for his health. He has turned a worn out cultivated farm into a conservation grassland farm. It has been hard work but he thinks the effort is worth it. OK-10-472.

Photograph of the rapid growth of pine trees following release from hardwood overstory. Girdled hardwood falling with no damage to young pine. Hardwood sprouts are growing from some stumps but the pine has the lead. OK-10-457-C.

Photograph of woodland management. This is the way the tract looked after it had been thinned to D + 6 [= spacing between trees that equals the diameter of tree + 6 ft ]. Note cut timber on the ground. OK_10-459.

Photograph of Carl and Jesse Park, permitees who cut timber on government tracts, go in to thin pine that Alvin E. Howard has marked. They also girdle hardwoods and clear out brush as a part of their contract. OK-10-461.

Photograph of Alvin Howard, SCS project conservationist, examines young pine on land utilization {LU] project which have been stunted by heavy overstory of inferior oaks. Hardwoods will be cut out to release young pines for growth. Follow-up shots will be made one year later. OK-10-458.

Photograph of overstory of inferior hardwoods that will be cut out to allow pine seedlings to grow. Alvin E. Howard, Project Conservationist, in picture. Follow up in August, 1951. OK-10-457.

Photograph of a 40-acre unit that will be released from oak and brush to allow pine seedlings to grow. The release work is planned for August, 1950. Everything will be taken out (all hardwood) to allow light with the canopy and give the pine room to grow. Alvin E. Howard, project conservationist, inspects young pine in the picture. Follow-up shot to be made in August 1951. (One year following cutting of hardwoods.) OK-10-456.

Photograph of Alvin Howard, project conservationist [PC], looks at hardwood oaks and brush on the left that is hindering young pine from growing. On the right are pines which have been released from hardwood brush oak so they might grow faster. OK-10-462.

Photograph of pine growth near Moon, Oklahoma. Observe the rapid growth of pine for the past 11 months. More than 1000 acres have been released cut on OK-LU-24 ["Oklahoma-Land Utilization-24"; the latter refers to the New Deal's Land Utilization Program, begun in 1934. This particular code specifically designates McCurtain County]. OK-10-458-C.

Photograph of Alvin Howard, project conservationist [PC], marks the pines on D + 6 that he wants to cut so to thin the stand. Marking is usually done with paint but Howard uses an ax here. OK-10-460.

Photograph of a 40-acre unit that will be released from oak and brush to allow pine seedlings to grow. The release work is planned for August, 1950. Everything will be taken out (all hardwood) to allow light with the canopy and give the pine room to grow. Alvin E. Howard, project conservationist, inspects young pine in the picture. Follow-up shot to be made in August, 1951 (one year following the cutting of the hardwoods). OK-10-458.

Photograph of rapid growth of pine following release from hardwood overstory. Girdled hardwood falling with no damage to young pine. Hardwood sprouts are growing from stumps but pine has the lead. OK-10-457-C.

Photograph of a woodland area to be potentially seeded with pine. This overstory [i.e., giant, emergent trees that tower above the surrounding woodland canopy] of inferior hardwoods will be cut out to allow pine seedlings to grow. Alvin Howard, Project Conservationist, is in the picture. Follow-up in August 1951. OK-10-457-4.

Photograph of the interplanting of pine trees. Carried out in 1942. Compare with OK-10-564-B to contrast the growth rate. The hardwood has been girdled since the last picture was taken. More rapid growth should be expected. OK-10-565-B.