No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers ***NO POLITICS
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter
There are some huge old chestnut stumps along one of the hiking trials that goes through a stand of virgin timber in Cook Forest State Park in Forest county PA. It's wonderful little hike when the weather's nice,
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: NonPCfed]
#6738320 01/21/2009:05 AM01/21/2009:05 AM
Good idea, and get the people on the dole to plant the seedling like the old CCC days! Planted 10s of thousands of tree with the cub/boy scouts growing up.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Ridge Runner1960]
#6738338 01/21/2009:15 AM01/21/2009:15 AM
ya need 2 of them, they are not self pollinating. the original root stock is still sprouting here, get up to approx. 20" in diameter and succumb to the blight. RR
Same here in Pa and NY. One of my lumber guys actually supplies chestnut from NY.
I've got a bunch reclaimed from barns in my shop.
Eh...wot?
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Clark]
#6738339 01/21/2009:16 AM01/21/2009:16 AM
There have been several photos like you posted attributed to American chestnut. When the trees are as massive as those above it is almost always redwoods that are pictured. Chestnuts grew large but from what I’ve read 8’ was the top end for diameter. Probably quite a few that were 4-6’ diameter but nothing like what is pictured.
Agree
Eh...wot?
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738360 01/21/2009:27 AM01/21/2009:27 AM
from the USDA: Sometimes reaching a height of more than 100 feet tall with trunk diameters often well over 10 feet, the American chestnut was the giant of the eastern U.S. forests. There were once billions of them and their range stretched from Georgia and Alabama to Michigan, but the majestic tree was gone before forest science existed to document its role in the ecosystem.
The tallest one know to still be growing is in Maine and stands 115 feet tall. I can find nothing about it's DBH.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738367 01/21/2009:31 AM01/21/2009:31 AM
My friend told me about that virgin stand of timber in the cook state forest. Funny thing he said, that virgin stand of timber isn't where it used to be before WWII. He claimed they cut the original stand, and then moved the signs to a different area. He's been dead and gone now since the eighties but I never knew him to BS.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738371 01/21/2009:33 AM01/21/2009:33 AM
Restored 1 (ONE) log house of Chestnut, it was a joy to work with. It started life near Rt 422 game lands in Pa. We moved it to Cheat Lake WV were in became an antique shop. Someone (NOT ME lol) cased the foundation in large round river rock. If ya ever see it, that wood work was me.
Logs, wide roof sheeting and rafters were Chestnut, the rest was oak.
Was also in on hand made Chestnut wainscoting. I do not remember it being large grained.
Lug, according to the pricing at Construction Junction, you have some $$$ there.
Have two Chinas here, the deer love em, me too.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738373 01/21/2009:35 AM01/21/2009:35 AM
Yeah I have always been interested in them. Two years ago I planted 10 Ozark chinquapin nuts from the foundation. 5 grew and have made it. We will see if I am to far north or not for long term survival. Planted two of the Chinese variety last year and will plant a couple more this year. Red Fern Farm in Iowa has a lot of information.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738376 01/21/2009:38 AM01/21/2009:38 AM
My friend told me about that virgin stand of timber in the cook state forest. Funny thing he said, that virgin stand of timber isn't where it used to be before WWII. He claimed they cut the original stand, and then moved the signs to a different area. He's been dead and gone now since the eighties but I never knew him to BS.
I believe you friend is mistaken, Otis. There is also a stand of virgin timber with a trail through it on public land in Hearts Content in Warren county.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738407 01/21/2009:56 AM01/21/2009:56 AM
The American Chestnut Foundation farm in Virginia where they are doing the crossbreeding is about 5 miles from my house.
I have been considering planting some Dunstan Chestnut trees on my farm. They are not American Chestnut but are blight resistant and grow large, unlike the Chinese variety.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: EdP]
#6738422 01/21/2010:05 AM01/21/2010:05 AM
The American Chestnut Foundation farm in Virginia where they are doing the crossbreeding is about 5 miles from my house.
I have been considering planting some Dunstan Chestnut trees on my farm. They are not American Chestnut but are blight resistant and grow large, unlike the Chinese variety.
Thsnks....Im going to plant some too!
NRA and NTA Life Member www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: gryhkl]
#6738426 01/21/2010:09 AM01/21/2010:09 AM
Anyone in colder zones have them? I dont see many that can go in zone 3-4 is there any variety that can? Would love to get the bigger growing variety but I dont think that is an option for my zone.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738503 01/21/2011:47 AM01/21/2011:47 AM
Bigfoot, if I remember correctly mine started producing burrs at about 7-8 years. Might depend on how fast of a start they get.
BTW, interesting tidbit, bees love the chestnuts. When my american has its catkins in full pollen mode it sounds like a bee swarm with all the pollen gathering taking place.
Hey Clark, I kind of wondered the same thing about those pics. The biggest of the Morton arboretum had a breast-height-diameter of about 5 ft and they had a known age of 129 years when I saw them.
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: beaverpeeler]
#6738527 01/21/2012:14 PM01/21/2012:14 PM
Bigfoot, if I remember correctly mine started producing burrs at about 7-8 years. Might depend on how fast of a start they get.
BTW, interesting tidbit, bees love the chestnuts. When my american has its catkins in full pollen mode it sounds like a bee swarm with all the pollen gathering taking place.
Hey Clark, I kind of wondered the same thing about those pics. The biggest of the Morton arboretum had a breast-height-diameter of about 5 ft and they had a known age of 129 years when I saw them.
In Europe chestnut honey is a prime varietal that commands a premium. Most is produced in Italy and the balkans. However it must be an acquired taste as it's one of the stronger flavored honeys.
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738528 01/21/2012:15 PM01/21/2012:15 PM
Hey TrapNH, if you ever want to try some cross-breeding with specimens known to be from up state New York I've got pollen! I would sure like to get a few nuts from you if I could. I don't have another american to cross-pollinate mine these days.
Actually, as I think about it we could trade pollen if you wanted.
If TrapNH would want to do that I could get a bunch of nuts as early as this fall. If that happens I'll supply anybody that wants to try them for free.
Carl
My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Anyone have interest in American Chestnut trees
[Re: Actor]
#6738533 01/21/2012:20 PM01/21/2012:20 PM