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<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Hi URI/MG Chestnuters:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Today URI Master Gardeners Charlie Samson, Lynn
Lydon, Chuck Dawson, Rich Horvath, Gordon Jones and I transplanted several
seedlings that were raised in tubes at my house into the orchard to replace
some nuts that failed to germinate (8 East Greenwich trees and a lesser number
of Exeter trees). In addition, since we had so many seedlings from the Exeter
Mother Tree we planted seven of them on the end of the rows where we had no
trees. Several Exeter seedling trees are left over and we will pot them up and
put them on the East Farm automatic irrigation pad. All of the new seedlings are
Backcross 4s.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">That means our orchard is now 100 percent
planted-out--260 trees plus some. Earlier, it was estimated that we had 90
percent germination from the nuts we planted in April. A recount today indicates
that we had closer to 94 percent germination which we can attribute to the
effective solar-powered drip irrigation system, good wintering over
procedures of the nuts and a great site. With the replacement seedlings in
place we have no vacancy! All of the seedlings are now caged and drip irrigated.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Jonathan Perkins is doing a great job mowing the
place weekly. It is nice to see hawks gliding overhead looking for moles and
voles which like to attack the trees, The bluebird boxes we built over the
winter and installed around the orchard have no bluebirds yet but other birds
seem interested. The deer fence continues to keep local Bambis at
bay.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Many thanks to all who participated. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Now it is a matter of checking the orchard from time
to time to watch for critters (there is some sort of green caterpillar that has
been spotted on some of the leaves--if anyone sees one, capture it, put it in a
baggy with a damp paper towel and get it to me so I can have Dr. Steve
Alm ID it.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">We would like to thank Master Gardener Lee Menard
who arranged for a beautiful 8-foot picnic bench to be built by one of her MG
mentees. He built it and she donated the wood. It is a great addition to
the orchard and a neat place for workers to sit for a
rest.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Cynthia Drummond visited this morning and took
photos and information for her Blog. I will send out the link as soon as
she posts the article.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT"> Sometime this summer we will have a casual
open house and maybe a mini cookout (hotdogs) for visitors. We will give ample
notice.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bodoni MT">Rudi Hempe<BR>20 Foddering Farm Road<BR>Narragansett
RI 02882<BR>401-789-9037<BR>401-212-6168(cell)<BR>AT URI<BR>131 Woodward
Hall<BR>Kingston, RI 02881<BR>401-874-4968<BR><A
href="mailto:celsnews@uri.edu">celsnews@uri.edu</A><BR><A
href="http://cels.uri.edu/news/index.html">http://cels.uri.edu/news/index.html</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>