[MassChestnutOrchards] Tree in Conway - 2nd visit

Thu Jul 9 22:27:35 EDT 2009

I went back to the tree this evening with good field glasses and was 
able to observe many female flowers.  I have a picture at 6x zoom 
that shows some of them - will forward to Charlotte, Yvonne, Rufin in 
separated mail due to size.  The male blossoms have bushed out 
considerably in just the 2 days since we were last there.  We also 
looked through most of the mast we could find, I think over 50 burs 
and did not find any sign of fertilized nuts - almost all were 
un-open or partially opened with 3 unviable nuts.  The few that were 
open were too small to have contained viable nuts.

Have one lead on a boom truck (tree service in area) I will 
investigate tomorrow.  What are the selling points for this (besides 
the obvious benefits to ACF) - for example, if service is donated, 
can they take a tax deduction of some sort?  What kind of rates do 
tree services normally charge for a boom truck?

Kendra, I will get a small branch with leaves in mail to you tomorrow.

Brian

At 11:32 AM 7/9/2009, Yvonne Federowicz wrote:
>Brian, do you own a good pair of binoculars?
>
>I've found that the only way to see immature females at the top of tall
>trees. They will be quite small since none of your males are fluffing out
>yet.
>
>Sounds like the trees can vary in what they put their energy toward - nuts
>or growth - but we've had good female flower production in RI this year,
>just very delayed, in spite of the rain and cloudiness.
>
>
>On 7/9/09 11:24 AM, "Rufin Van Bossuyt" <rufin at charter.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > The Quabbin tree had burs last year but only three females this year.
> > Usually female flowers are found when male and female are clustered at the
> > branch ends. Found less often on elongated lush branches.
> >
> > Rufin
> >
> >
> > ---- Yvonne Federowicz <Yvonne_Federowicz at brown.edu> wrote:
> >> 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/>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> MassChestnutOrchards mailing list
> >>>>> <MassChestnutOrchards at masschestnut.htm>MassChestnutOrchards at masschestnu
> >>>>> t.org http://mrsgale.fates.org/mailman/listinfo/masschestnutorchards
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> MassChestnutOrchards mailing list
> >>>>> <MassChestnutOrchards at masschestnut.htm>MassChestnutOrchards at masschestnu
> >>>>> t.org http://mrsgale.fates.org/mailman/listinfo/masschestnutorchards
> >>>>>
> >>>>> _______________________________________________
> >>>>> MassChestnutOrchards mailing list
> >>>>> MassChestnutOrchards at masschestnut.org
> >>>>> http://mrsgale.fates.org/mailman/listinfo/masschestnutorchards
> >>>>
> >>>> 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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> >>
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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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