[MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway

Thu Jul 9 11:15:21 EDT 2009

Since there are lots of burrs on the ground, it had females last year -
that's usually a good predictor of females this year - it'll be hard to see
them so high up until they're big.

On 7/9/09 10:13 AM, "Rufin Van Bossuyt" <rufin at charter.net> wrote:

> The tree looks like it may have only male flowers. Conway is served by Western
> MA Electric. They are based in West Springfield and are part of Northeast
> Utilities. ( NU) NU has been helpful in CT. I do not have any contacts at W MA
> Electric anymore.
> 
> Bruce Spencer is away on vacation through next week.
> 
> Rufin
> 
> 
> 
> ---- Kendra Gurney <kendra at acf.org> wrote:
>> 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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>>> 
>>> 
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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
>> 
>> 
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