[MassChestnutOrchards] possible new mother tree near ACF orchard in Granville, MA

[Kendra Gurney]

Hi John -

 

Your photos didn't come through for me, but if you want to send a sample on
up I'll take a look.

 

Cheers!

 

Kendra

 

----

Kendra Gurney

802.999.8706 (cell)

 

From: masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org
[mailto:masschestnutorchards-bounces at masschestnut.org] On Behalf Of John
Meiklejohn
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 10:23 AM
To: masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
Subject: [MassChestnutOrchards] possible new mother tree near ACF orchard in
Granville, MA

 

 

 

 Kendra, Charlotte, Jamie et al -

    Two items:

        A.  This week on Silver St., just over the MA/CT line in North
Granby CT, I found a ~50ft Chestnut [likely American] in heavy bloom right
by the roadside allowing easy access with a bucket truck.  There was no sign
of blight but I'll need to get a closer look.  The property owners were
excited to learn that they may have an Am. Chestnut and I gave them info on
the MA and CT chapters from the respective websites.  I will go back this
week to get a leaf sample and send it to Kendra for IDing.  See the pics
below.


  <file:///C:\Users\SARAHM~1\AppData\Local\Temp\1002.jpg> 


6/27/10 Chestnut, possibly American, in bloom on Silver St., North Granby,
CT, just over the MA/CT state line

 


  <file:///C:\Users\SARAHM~1\AppData\Local\Temp\1013.jpg> 


6/27/10 Chestnut, possibly American, in bloom on Silver St., North Granby,
CT, just over the MA/CT state line

 


  <file:///C:\Users\SARAHM~1\AppData\Local\Temp\1014.jpg> 


6/27/10 Chinese Chestnut #1 in bloom on McCarthy Road, Granville, MA.  About
50 ft in ht. with no evidence of blight.  Damage from ice storm last year.
Small experimental controlled pollination done on 6/27/10.

 


  <file:///C:\Users\SARAHM~1\AppData\Local\Temp\1015.jpg> 


6/27/10 Chinese Chestnut #2 in bloom on McCarthy Rd. Granville, MA  About
50ft + in ht with no evidence of blight

    B.  At Charlotte's suggestion I have taken pure American pollen from the
Granville ACF orchard to do a controlled pollination of a few Chinese
Chestnut flowers on a Chinese Chestnut tree on McCarthy Rd. in Granville,
MA.  Kendra had previously identified this tree as Chinese from a leaf
sample I sent her 1-2 years ago.  Charlotte and I have thought it would be
worth experimenting with developing a new line from Am. and Chinese
Chestnuts in Western Mass.  Of particular interest to me is the tall,
timber-like dimensions of the two Chinese Chestnuts in this yard on McCarthy
Rd.  [See the pics below.]  My understanding is that ACF has used primarily
or solely orchard-type Chinese for the breeding program.  Since we are
working, among other goals, to breed back in the timber quality of the
American, why not try developing a line using a Chinese Chestnut with
timber-like dimensions.  I'd be interested in hearing Fred's and others
thoughts on this.  I've seen no evidence of blight on the McCarthy Road
Chinese Chestnuts to date.

 

John Meiklejohn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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