My Dad always talked about the American Chestnut trees in our woods. I came across one about forty years ago that was about 8" dia. It had shed a few of it's husks I brought them home and was told they were Chestnut burs (very spiny) within a few years the tree had died. I haven't seen any since that time. I tried to plant some of the disease resistant Chestnuts a few years ago I don't think they made it no signs of anything were I planted them. I may try it again in the future.
I have found a few American Chestnut growing wild in the woods here in PA that have produced nuts. Most are in bad shape and ready to die and or badly beat up by black bears climbing up and breaking branches off. I'll try and get a picture.
I have 3 large mature chestnut trees in my yard. I believe they are Chinese chestnuts, but can't be certain. The wood is really dense, heavy, and hard. I'm surprised by the reported low BTUs, but it's burned ok for us. Just branch wood, but some nice sized rounds for the fire. Recently saw that there is a nonprofit with the sole purpose of discovering a blight resistant variant of the American chestnut. They are hybridizing it with the Chinese, and have a long time frame to accomplish their mission. Fascinating stuff!
There is a Chestnut on my parents property. Very unique tree. It smells in the summer and sucked walking around barefoot when I was a kid. Never burned any though.
This has been going on in our area for 3 decades already. I used to be in a group that applied for grants yearly to secure funds to plant chestnut trees for this. They have planted about half a million trees on army corp properties. Raystown Lake and Penn State run the program with the ACF.
