[MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway

rufin at charter.net rufin at charter.net
Thu Jul 9 11:29:31 EDT 2009 

Kendra, I am at the Cape, far from Conway. If you get a contact maybe it would work best if Brian makes the contact.

Rufin

---- Yvonne Federowicz <Yvonne_Federowicz at brown.edu> wrote: 
> P.s. Brian's email says the tree has had "lots of burs" the last 2-3 years.
> I would say the females are up there unless something major changed on the
> tree.   Probably way up at the top where normal cameras won't show in that
> resolution.
> 
> 
> On 7/9/09 11:17 AM, "Kendra Gurney" <kendra at acf.org> wrote:
> 
> > Thanks Rufin.  I've actually been working with PSNH in NH, also part of NU,
> > and they have been great to work with.  Very supportive.  I heard from the veg
> > management contact I have in NH that a recent company email newsletter
> > highlighted the donation deal NU has set-up, where any shareholder that
> > accepts an electronic report instead of paper allows for $5 to be donated to
> > TACF.  So our work should be up on their radar right now.  If only male
> > flowers are present this year, I might suggest pursuing possible support for
> > next year.  I could ask the person I've been working with who you might
> > contact at Western MA Electric, if you would like.
> > 
> > Kendra  
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: rufin at charter.net [mailto:rufin at charter.net]
> > Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 10:14 AM
> > To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org; kendra at acf.org
> > Subject: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway
> > 
> > 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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> >>> 
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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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> > 
> > 
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