[MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway

Thu Jul 9 09:38:27 EDT 2009

I could take a look at a sample - about 6" of twig and attached leaves is
best (if possible).  Just press in cardboard and send it my way (address
below).  If you want to be prepared for possibly moving on pollination this
year, please let me know so I can be sure to look at this one quickly.  

I worked with an Asplundh truck in NH yesterday and their foreman mentioned
they have a skidder bucket for off-road work.  Whoever does utility right-of
way work locally should have, or know where to find, such a truck.  I got
stuck with a "normal" bucket truck for 4 1/2 hours in a slightly off-road
bagging this season, so would recommend looking for someone better equipped
for greasy woods roads. 

Kendra

Kendra Gurney
The American Chestnut Foundation 
New England Regional Science Coordinator
USFS Northern Research Station
705 Spear Street
South Burlington, VT 05403
Tel: 802.951.6771 x1350 Fax: 802.951.6368
Cell: 802.999.8706
Kendra at acf.org or kgurney at uvm.edu

-----Original Message-----
From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org
[mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of
Federowicz, Yvonne Marie
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 10:14 PM
To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway

The pollens are all with Kathy Desjardin in Uxbridge, which you would need
about 10 days after bagging.  Also you would need bags and ties if you don't
have any, quite soon. 

Typically we also have the trees confirmed as pure American via a leaf
sample before doing any work on them also. If you can find one on the ground
that can help - you can mail them to Kendra, I believe, while arranging a
bucket truck.

It sounds like there is a chance that you can get a bucket truck up there;
however I'm not sure who has contacts out there with utility companies.
Maybe you could call Mike Novack?  Perhaps he has worked with someone. The
Cormiers also.

Using this tree this year will require some quick work!  Depends upon
whether your time permits etc. plus some luck.

Please talk to Charlotte first as this work will likely be difficult - I'm
hoping she will take another look at the list of orchard needs plus John
Emery's existing tree finds.

-----Original Message-----
From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org on behalf of Brian Clark
Sent: Wed 7/8/2009 9:30 PM
To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway

 From the ground, they did not look like they had bushed out yet - just long
lumpy green strings.

At 11:13 AM 7/8/2009, you wrote:
>P.s. The picture of the crown that you include doesn't seem to show 
>expressed male catkins?  If they still look slim and not like a 
>chenille stem, it's still possible for this year  I think...
>
>
>On 7/8/09 11:11 AM, "Yvonne Federowicz" 
><<Yvonne_Federowicz at brown.htm>Yvonne_Federowicz at brown.edu> wrote:
>
>Hi Brian, sounds like a wonderful tree!
>
>We had hoped for more western MA/higher elevation mother trees, I 
>believe; Charlotte can say for sure.
>
>Re. using it this year:  are the male catkins bushing out yet? If they 
>are far along, it's too late to bag this year.  You can see some good 
>pictures of the stages at:
>
><http://www.acffarms.org/pollination/pollination.html>http://www.acffar
>ms.org/pollination/pollination.html
>
>It's probably too late in the year to start though for 2009, although 
>perhaps the higher trees are behind.  Sounds like getting access for 
>next year might be a very worthwhile project in any event.
>
>
>
>
>On 7/8/09 10:53 AM, "Brian Clark" 
><<brianeclark at hughes.htm>brianeclark at hughes.net> wrote:
>
>I looked at a tree about 2 miles from the center of Conway last night 
>(attached pictures).  The owner called a couple days ago, referred by a 
>local state forester.  The tree is on top of a hill that was heavily 
>logged about 2 years ago.  My GPS indicated about
>885 ft elevation.  It is 8" DBH and about 45-50' tall, with heavy 
>blossoms in the crown (all above 30' unfortunately) and quite a bit of 
>old mast on the ground.  I could not find any sign of blight. I did not 
>find any indication of viable nuts in the mast I examined but only 
>looked at a dozen or so - a thunderstorm was moving in.  Owner said the 
>tree has had a lot of burs the last 2-3 years since he found it.  There 
>was what appeared to be a seedling (3-4'
>tall) about 30 feet away and a small tree (2-3" diameter) at another 
>spot 30-40 feet away (maybe sprout, but not obvious) - no blight 
>evident in these either.
>
>We have apple picking ladders up to 24' tall, but I don't think these 
>would work here, even reaching from the top with a hook as the tree 
>doesn't have any branches in the middle (below the crown) to set a 
>ladder into to hold it away from the trunk far enough to be able to 
>reach up into the edges of the crown.  By the way - I can provide one 
>of these ladders if there are other places they would work out - they 
>are quite light (about 20 lbs) with long spikes on the bottom (drive 
>into ground for stability) and can be set into fairly small limbs by an 
>experienced user.  It does take some skill and nerve to use these 
>around the edge of a big tree as they must be set close to vertical 
>when the supporting branches are small.
>
>The woods in the area (same owner) are being logged now (thinning under 
>forest management plan guidance) and access to the tree was about a 
>mile in from town road, mostly uphill on a logging road.  The road is 
>being used by heavy logging equipment now so most of the way to the 
>tree was quite wide and driveable although greasy due to rain earlier 
>in the day.  I had no trouble in my 4 wheel drive pickup and I think a 
>2 wheel drive with good ground clearance could make it in dry 
>conditions.  However the last couple hundred yards is a branch off the 
>main logging road, up a steep hill and the brush has grown in some 
>since it was used a couple years ago to log the top of the hill. The 
>owner is very interested/supportive and suggested doing some road 
>improvement if needed.  I have not had any experience with bucket 
>trucks so don't know if the hill was too steep or not.  I currently 
>don't have any contacts for a bucket truck either.
>
>The GPS coordinates for the tree are: 42 31.020, 72 41.186 and the 
>owner is Jack Lochhead, 130 Reedsbridge Rd., Conway.
>
>I have more, higher resolution pictures I can send to individuals on 
>request.  I also collected some leaves, a small branch and burs.  Is 
>this something we are interested to pursue for this year (or next)?
>
>
>Brian Clark
>42B Clark Rd.
>Ashfield, MA 01330
>413-625-2791, cell 507-269-4249
><brianeclark at hughes.htm>brianeclark at hughes.net
>www.applevalleyapples.com
><<http://www.applevalleyapples.com/>http://www.applevalleyapples.com/>
>
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Brian Clark
42B Clark Rd.
Ashfield, MA 01330
413-625-2791, cell 507-269-4249
brianeclark at hughes.net
www.applevalleyapples.com  