Revival of the American Chestnut - American Forests Not many of us are old enough to remember a time when this excellent hardwood dominated the forests of Eastern United States. Finally some news to be optimistic about in an effort that has been on going for almost 100 years!
Very cool. Those botanists sure have been putting a lot of time into the crosses to get the resistance, but keeping all of the great traits off the American chestnut.
That is an excellent write up explaining how the cross breeding is accomplished. We had a Chestnut near the end of our driveway that was around 8" dbh. I was sad to see it snapped off from freezing rain a few years ago. I was furious that the town came around and ground it into mulch by the time I got home that evening. We now have a 5 foot Chestnut sprout from the stump.
Parents lost the one in their yard early 60ies. I remember tossing rocks and things at the nuts to knock them out of the tall tree, then hitting the outer green shell with rocks to break them open to get the nut out. They got roasted in the oven and even over the open fire in the fireplace along with JiffyPop.
My grandparents had chestnut trees in their yard...man its been a loooong time since I've had a chestnut
I picked up a couple of chunks of a Chestnut limb at the dump last summer. It's somewhere in the stacks. I hope I recognize it and pay attention when I burn it.
Great news! I saw a pretty substantial clearcut and replant that was all chestnut down in the Hocking Hills a couple years ago while on a forestry outing. There were thousands of saplings. I hope they are doing well. Here is a picture of the once glorious American Chestnut from days gone by One of the buildings at my work was constructed ~1900. I have long been suspicious that the 12" beams that make up the rafters are made of Chestnut.
Probably are...we looked at a house some years back that had chestnut timbers and wormy chestnut woodwork...it was cool looking!
There has been a row of Chinese chestnuts in mom's back yard since they moved in 46 years ago. I remember my pap picking them and husking them spiny little rascals. I'd love to see the American chestnut make a comeback! I've seen some fields of the restoration chestnuts that have been planted at Raystown lake in Huntingdon PA . One of the ACOE rangers was heavily involved with the ACF. They are harvesting the nuts for replanting by the 10s of thousands now. I think they are even being sold to the public in small lots.
There's a chestnut preserve down the road a piece in Stockbridge (of Alice's restaurant fame) that I'd like to visit one of these days. Here's an article from 2013 discussing it. http://www.berkshireoutdoorsman.com/2013/07/19/hope-springs-eternal-for-the-american-chestnut-tree/
A survivor was found on a timber tract not to far from me in the Talladega National forest Rare American Chestnut Tree in the Talladega National Forest
