DEDICATED TO THE RESTORATION OF THE MAJESTIC AMERICAN

Chestnut Tree

THE CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION

Volume. 2 No. 6 January 1998 Newsletter News

In March 1995, ‘Barney’ President’s Message Barnhart published the first Chestnut Tree Outgoing President Ann Leffel. Incoming President Al Eelman. My for the Chapter and initiated a column Working for the newly reorganized membership in the PA Chapter of the called “The Chestnut Stump.” He climbed Pennsylvania Chapter of The American TACF has been an exciting and rewarding onto the stump and appealed for a Chestnut Foundation (PA-TACF) for the experience for me as I am sure it has been takeover. He was 75 at the time. Well, last three years has been one of the most for all of you. It has been an honor and a almost three years later ‘Barney and wife challenging and rewarding experiences privilege for me to have been selected as Charlotte have been replaced as editor, of my life. We started as a group of your president. layout, typist, printer, producers of interested people at the TACF Annual My education mailing labels, sorters and mailers. Health Meeting in October 1994. We have was in the technical problems have prevented them from grown into an active chapter with 362 fields of manufacturing. I continuing in the active production of the members. We have a strong extension worked for many years as newsletter. What a fantastic job they have program to bring the American chestnut a railroad supervisor on done! The membership has been kept well story and mission to Pennsylvanians and Penn Central and Conrail informed of Chapter activities. nearby out-of-state as well (calls actually lines. I presently operate my own business came from Alaska and Germany!). as a Mfg. Rep. selling equipment to RRs Thanks and best wishes for good health We have had significant media and Highway Departments. Charlotte and Barney! coverage, and have developed an An article in the Philadelphia ongoing breeding program — all of Inquirer led me to join TACF two years It is the good fortune of the which has been done by active ago, and the wonderful people that I have Chapter to have Warren H. Lauder from volunteers. met while working with this chapter has Kennett Square as the new editor, Dave increased my enthusiasm. Armstrong of Hanover to prepare the copy It has been a My interest in American for printing, and Ron Stanley of privilege to serve chestnuts comes from a longtime love for Clearville to prepare labels and to mail. my two terms as American history, and especially for the Ron has also taken on the responsibilities president. story of the pioneers and those who helped of Membership Coordinator formerly carve a nation out of the wilderness. carried by Charlotte Barnhart. The I thank each and As in the past, our goal and biggest Barnharts have generously agreed to every one of you for the opportunity, for challenge is to continue backcrossing provide for the printing by The News your cooperation and support, and for breeding efforts, and recruit new Printing Company. The logistics are your friendship. members. If you wish to take part in any complicated, but hopefully the Chestnut I look forward to continued involvement of these programs, please contact me. I Tree will continue to arrive on time. in as many ways as possible. look forward to working with all of you.

This newsletter is your voice in Sincerely, Ann Al the organization as well as your source of information. If you care to climb on the stump and let go, be our guest. Send your contributions to Warren Lauder, 405 What’s in this issue Fall meetings - pg. 4 Pierre Drive Kennett Square, PA, 19348. Newly elected board - pg. 2 Who’s Who - pg. 5 The next deadline for items is March 1. TACF annual meeting - pg. 3 Boy Scouts help - pg. 6 Origins of chestnuts - pg. 4 Regional breeding program - pg. 7 Chestnut Tree 2 January 1998

The Pennsylvania Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation Board Members 1999 Blair Carbaugh, Montour Co. 1999 Phil Gruszka, Chester Co. 1999 Chandis Klinger, Snyder Co. 1998 William Peifer, Ohio 1998 Rich Polini, Berks Co. 1998 Tom Pugel, Bucks Co.

Officers Al Eelman, President, Chester Co. 610-358-1077 610-358-9308 fax Dan Heacock, Vice President, Perry Co. 717-957-2733 717-232-5300 work 717-232-1885 fax Bob Summersgill, Secretary, New Jersey 908-647-5864 Tracey Coulter, Treasurer, Cumberland Co. 717-486-8935

Committee Coordinators PA TACF Executive Board of Offisers. Former and new officers pose during their meeting at the home of History, Bill Lord, Ann and Bob Leffel. Back row, left to right are: William Peifer, Tom Pugel, Bob Summersgill, Tracey Coulter 412-793-0255 PA Farm Show Exhibit, Dan Heacock, and Al Eelman. Front row: Chandis Klinger, Phil Gruszka and Dan Heacock. 717-957-2733 717-232-5300 work Newly Elected Executive Board Meets 717-232-1885 fax dinner and a planning districts, i.e., NW, NCentral, NE, SW, Membership, Ron Stanley session. We met and ate SCentral, SE, as a way to encourage 814-784-3652 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 participation and to increase membership. Education, Mary Stanley 814-784-3652 p.m. There was no Currently have 14 Area Coordinators Tree Location and Identification, scarcity of ideas. As the serving 30 counties and 362 members Blair Carbaugh chapter grows and word spread all over the state. For Finances: 717-275-7848 Grants, Larry Patchel of the chestnut restoration Preparing a budget and tracking in-kind 412-824-5019 project spreads, so the contributions of our members will be Tree Breeding Program, Bob Leffel needs grow for better tackled in 1998. Up to now, most operating 717-927-9557 717-927-8410 fax communication, expenses have been covered as in-kind Communications, Ann Leffel education, record contributions of our members, and other 717-927-9557 keeping, financing, and expenses have been approved by the board 717-927-8410 fax Fund Raising Auction, Chandis Klinger planning. Many on an individual basis. The budget will 717-837-0457 suggestions were offered identify spending needs and priorities in Newsletter, Editor, Warren Lauder for investigation, advance. The bylaws grant the Executive 610-388-6944 consideration, or Board power to commit necessary funds to Newsletter, Print Preparation, Dave Armstrong 717-632-8669 Printing, News Printing Co., H.A. Barney Barnhart 814-224- initiation. For education implement projects adopted by the 2271 and public relations: membership. Tracking in-kind donations Newsletter Mailing, Ron Stanley additional displays for will also give prospective donors and 814-784-3652 The Chestnut Tree is published four times a year by The Pennsylvania environmental education grantors a clear idea of our total operating Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation. Printing is donated by centers, schools, special expenses and the willingness of members News Printing Co., Inc. of Claysburg, PA. (Thank You!) Founded in events, etc.; incorporate to support its mission. F o r r e c o r d 1983, TACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its sole goal is to restore the American chestnut through co-operative research and a our educational materials keeping: a breeding program is only good scientific breeding program. on a web-site, possibly as as its documentation. The data collected on The bylaws provide for an Executive Committee composed of four a sub-page of TACF web- our nursery plantings need to be properly Officers and six Board Members. The Committee Coordinators participate in meetings. At least once a year, the Area Coordinators are site. We need the help of recorded. One of our members, Dave also present. If you, as a member, wish to attend please advise and you a web page designer. Armstrong, has agreed to enter our will be notified of the next meeting. For education: developing accumulated data on pollinating and nut educational materials for collection into a computer data base. Ron school programs and Stanley will investigate a program which environmental education can track every tree in the breeding The executive board of former and new centers. We need teacher input to the program. For the breeding program: officers met at the home of immediate past education committee. For membership: contacting professional plant breeders president, Ann Leffel and Bob Leffel for investigate dividing the state into six remains a priority for the integrity of the the combined purpose of fellowship, districts corresponding to tree breeding program. Chestnut Tree 2 January 1998

try to understand this very highly Genetics; James O. Mills from Cattanooga, TACF Annual technical science) and Kevin Scibilia from New Brunswick, Next the Science and New Jersey. The newest staff members Meeting Development Cabinets met to prepare for include Marshall Case, Executive Director, at the the Board Meeting. The Board met and Kelly Grundman, Membership Director; BILTMORE ESTATE received committee reports and proposals. and Shelly Stiles who is part-time A task group headed by president Bud Communications Director and editor of the Coulter will research proprietary rights Bark and Journal. agreement suitable for cooperative work In August, Dr. Yen Shi reigned with institutions, individuals, and from his position at Meadowview Research chapters. Elections were held and the Farms. A search for a replacement $432,000 scientist for Dr. Shi is in progress, as well budget was as a search for a farm manager to allow Dr. accepted. Fred Hebard more time for research. The The work of the Board completed, American the general meeting began with registration by Ann Leffel Chestnut and reception at the Winery of the Biltmore Foundation has Estate. It was a festive Halloween night The Annual Meeting began in the a lot of above with over 170 participants, the largest beautiful 426-acre North Carolina average turnout ever for an annual meeting. Arboretum with views of Pisgah National people. Saturday morning began with the Forrest at peak of autumn color. It began Particularly in threat of rain and storms as we gathered in with a presentation to the Board on terms of age! the Lodge Room for a slide presentation by Thursday afternoon, October 30 of work Perhaps an Bill Anderson, Landscape Curator, supported by NY-TACF on association Biltmore Estate. The development of this with chestnuts immense historic home and an 8,000-acre Bioengineering Research at the College of Dr Fred Hebard planting a Environmental Science and Forestry in prolongs life. I chestnut tree( Can you imagine estate unfolded in a fascinating story. Syracuse. William Powell is applying hope so, but it something like that?!!) At the Gifford Pinchot (former PA Governor), the Biltmore Estate. genetic engineering to construct, from a is with great first American-born forester was hired by frog skin, a gene that is toxic to the enthusiasm George Vanderbilt to manage his Biltmore chestnut fungus. Charles Maynard is that I report an influx of youngsters into Forest in 1892. It was his first job after developing a way to transfer that gene into the leadership. After all, this is a long- graduating from forestry school in Europe. a chestnut tree. Zizhuo Xing is involved term project. Bud Coulter, Bill According to Pinchot “--there was not, I in tissue culture, to grow seedling trees MacDonald, and Don Willeke remain as from chestnut cells with these transformed officers - President, Treasurer, and genes. (This is a gross simplification as I Secretary, respectively. Dr. Hill Craddock, Department of Biology & Environmental Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga was elected Vice President, Science Cabinet. Dr. Craddock, who earned his degree while in Italy for seven years, worked extensively on Italian (European) chestnut trees. He began a backcross breeding project for TACF in Tennessee. Forest McGregor is an ambitious entrepreneur from Asheville, North Carolina. He is an electronic The author, Ann Leffel, planting a hybrid designer and consultant, and he is American chestnut tree on the Biltmore Estate where a total of 150 trees were planted by supercharged with energy and ideas. members of TACF and another 1450 were planted He was elected Vice President, elsewhere on the estate. Development Cabinet. He is already reviewing and reworking, with other repeat not a single acre of managed forest development cabinet members, the five- anywhere in the year strategic plan adopted in October Continued on the next page..... 1994. Newly elected directors include, TACF Annual Meeting Dr. Robert l. Doudrick, US Forest Continued from page 3.... Service, Southern Institute of Forest Members of TACF plant B2F2 American chestnuts on the Biltmore Estate at Asheville NC. at the Annual Meeting. Chestnut Tree 3 January 1998

United States.. My work in Biltmore Forest began February 3, 1892.. Thus The Pennsylvania Farm Show And Now, For a Reely Beag Sheuw Biltmore Forest became the beginning of by Dan Heacock In this ‘computer age’ most people’s lives are far removed from agriculture and the natural earth. Paradoxically, practical Forestry in America. Here was there has been a strong increase in interest and attendance at the farm show. For the third year, The PA Chapter my chance. Biltmore could be made to will present the American Chestnut Exhibit to promote the return of the American chestnut tree to the forest. Last prove what America did not yet year many volunteers spent some time during the 6-day exhibit manning the booth. They enjoyed answering questions, hearing stories, meeting lots of people, and learning new ideas. There was plenty of time for visiting understand, that trees could be cut and the other exhibits and tasting many Pennsylvania grown and made products. The mushroom soup and baked forest preserved at one and the same potatoes are big favorites. time.” At that time it was all cutting and If you would like to help, schedule your time for January 10-15, 1998 by contacting me. A splendid no preservation. After the presentation, way to beat that mid-winter cabin fever. 717-957-2733 the rain stopped and the sun came out. We gathered on a hillside on the estate to plant 150 B2F2 chestnut trees. Another 1450 will be planted. After lunch, a series Origins of Chestnut Trees of concurrent workshops were offered at (Everything you always wanted to know about our favorite tree) the NC Arboretum. Topics discussed European chestnut trees were included beginning and advanced chestnut Chestnuts have been cultivated for nuts extensively planted in North America, identification methods, chestnut culture, and wood for thousands of years. The starting in 1773 by Thomas Jefferson. This current trends in chestnut research, name Castanea is believed to have come species is almost as suceptible to chestnut chestnut blight, the chestnut in europe, from Kastanea, a city in Pontus, Turkey. blight as American chestnuts. There are Meadowview farm operations, culinary European chestnuts, Castanea Sativa, many hybrids of European X American in uses of chestnuts, and how you can probably originated in the Caucasus the U.S. including the old and frequently become involved in TACF. Some folks mountains between the Black and Caspian planted cultivar‘Paragon’. preferred a shopping expedition into Seas. They were planted throughout the Japanese chestnut trees, Castanea Asheville as others poured over Roman Empire, and now grow wild in crenata, were first imported into the U.S. microscopes looking for glandular hairs Italy, France, Spain, Morocco and Greece. in 1876 by S.B. Parsons of Long Island, on the underside of chestnut leaves. Chestnuts are also important in China, New York. The chestnut blight fungus Something for everyone!! Saturday ended Korea, and Japan. Where there are four came into the U.S. on some of the early with the banquet and a candlelight tour of native species, C. molissima, C.Henryi, imports of this species. Japanese chestnut the 250-room Biltmore House. Sunday C..seguinii, and C. crenata trees are usually very resistant to chestnut morning wrapped up the weekend with In North America, blight, but may not be very winter-hardy the business meeting and informal sharing pollen records from the last north of Pennsylvania. Chinese of chestnut experiences and stories among interglacial period show that chestnut trees, Castanea the members. It didn’t end there. Some the American chestnut tree, mollissima, can be small, apple- of us enjoyed the wondrous autumn Castanea dentata, was present like orchard trees or tall, straight display on the drive home via the Blue on Long Island 30,000 to forest trees. They were planted Ridge Parkway or other equally beautiful 50,000 years ago. American extensively in North America, routes. It was a grand weekend! Thanks chestnut trees were once found starting about 1915. Chinese to Tammy Carpenter, Forest McGregor up and down the Appalachian trees range in resistance to and all the others who made it a special range, from Main to Georgia. chestnut blight from very meeting. Within this area it occurs either susceptible (as susceptible as singly or in mixed forrest American chestnut trees) to growth, usually on high sandy highly resistant. They are a little land, gravel ridges or mountain more tolerant of cold weather slopes wholly or nearly free than Japanese chestnut trees. Late Breaking Computer from limestone. In the last 150 years it Thee are two varieties of Chinquapin, the News!! has been planted outside its range in Allegheny, var pumila, and the Ozark, var The Chapter has acquired a new favorable spots (Michigan and Wisconsin) ozarkensis. The Chinquapins are shrubs computer. We now have the capability where it became a forest tree, protected up to 60 feet tall. Ozark chinquapins can to send and receive e-mail, actively from chestnut blight disease look very much like American chestnut participate on the internet, use a state- geographically until only recently. trees. All are very susceptible to chestnut of-the-art word processor and American chinquapins, Castanea pumila, blight and they have single nuts in the incorporate programs to document the share the southern part of the American burs. tree breeding program. chestnut range from Pennsylvania south. Chestnut Tree 4 January 1998

The PA Chapter Annual Meeting Fall Meetings opened on a perfect autumn day in a Who’s Who in perfect setting at the Montour Preserve Two regional meetings, the visitor center near Danville. Officers and Chestnuts? ..... Chapter’s Annual meeting, October 18, Board Members were elected at the and the National Annual Meeting, business meeting. Progress reports were October 30, kept chapter members on the given. Jim Nelson, retired director of PA The American Chestnut Foundation go this fall. Bureau of Forestry showed excellent slides (TACF) has a new Executive Director, The Northeast Regional Meeting, depicting the early history of forestry in Marshal T. Case. Marshal jumped right September 27, at Clarks Summit near Pennsylvania. Following the catered in at the Cabinets and Board meeting prior Scranton was held in conjunction with the lunch at the picnic pavilion, the 72 to the Annual Meeting in Asheville. He Pennsylvania Forestry Association participants attended four concurrent expresses a strong interest in conserving meeting. The September 26 day of tours workshops on chestnut identification, nut and preserving the natural resources of the included Al and Eleanor Maass’ Butternut collection, handling and storage, earth, and teaching young people the need Tree Farm, an award-winning Registered educational resources, and planning and for doing so. Education is his strong suit Tree Farm and Stewardship Forest. A planting a chestnut nursery. Many who along with much experience in self-guided tour demonstrating had collected native American chestnuts organizational operation and chapter management practices for timber stand brought them to the meeting for spring development through more than twenty improvement showed 35 years of effort on nursery planting. Among our guests were years with state, regional, and national the part of the Maass family work for the National Audubon Society. to protect and improve His last position with NAS was as Vice privately owned PA forest President for Education. He also served as land. Such experienced tree Public School Curriculum Consultant in growers will lead the way to Southwest Vermont. the introduction of future Most recently Marshal was Deputy blight resistant chestnut trees Director, and Head of the Education into the forest. Department of the International Crane Ann Leffel showed Foundation. His work has taken him all a slide presentation on the over the country and to other parts of the progress of the PA-TACF world as well - particularly Russia. He breeding program at the enjoyed meeting many members at the Saturday morning session. Annual Meeting. He enters this new Twenty-eight attended the challenge with energy, enthusiasm, and PA chapter picnic at the good nature. We look forward to his first home of John and Janice Lewis Santini with his grandson, Aiden McDonald, the youngest visit to Pennsylvania. Welcome, Marshal! Mauhnich. State Senator member of the PA Chapter, TACF at the fall meeting. Can you guess Roger A. Madigan, Tony how old Aiden is? Santoli (District Forrester- Warren H. Lauder is the new Lackawanna), and Jim Kessler (Service Tammy Carpenter and Kelly Grundman, editor of our newsletter, Chestnut Tree. He Forester-Susquehanna and Wyoming TACF staff from Vermont. Charles has had a long-term interest in the Counties) were among those present. An Sober, the great-nephew of Colman Sober American chestnut tree and became identification workshop and a discussion who was the largest producer of chestnuts involved with the PA Chapter breeding of plans for the northeast followed lunch. for the food at the turn of the 20th century. program as a volunteer at Longwood A regional meeting for Sober’s groves were located on a large Gardens. Lancaster, Dauphin, and Lebanon farm in the Irish Valley near Shamokin. Counties was held by area coordinator His beautiful old barn still stands on the Warren’s Comment Eugene Witmeyer on October 10 at the property. Members of the Susquehanna “ I served in the U.S. Army during Pinch Pond Campground in Manheim. Woodland Owners attended, and our World War II, 1942-46. In 1950 I earned On hand for the meeting were seven youngest and newest member, Aiden a B.S. degree from Temple University, people with particular interest in McDonald, grandson of Lewis Santini. Philadelphia. In 1985, I retired from the woodworking. The Heisey family from The Pa Chapter thanks Lewis Dupont Company after 33 years in Manheim, Dana Atkinson from Santini, who provided the delicious communications, as senior technical editor Selinsgrove, Donald Geib from Manheim refreshments, and Jon Beam, Montour and publisher for the Engineering and Barry McFarland from Mount Joy all Preserve naturalist, who provided the Department. find chestnut wood among the best to meeting place. My interest in the American work with. Barry donated four saffron Chestnut tree began as a child on an old jars turned from old chestnut wood for the farm up in New York State. spring auction. Continued on the next page.... Chestnut Tree 5 January 1998

Who’s Who in Chestnuts? Identification of Chestnuts by their Glandular Hairs Continued from page 5.... by Dave Armstrong

I marveled at the great pale grey hulks of While we were attending an outstanding rather difficult to locate due to their size, the dead chestnut trees, and I was curious annual TACF meeting in Asheville, NC, smaller than the usual hairs, and also the about the sprouts growing out of the old a few of us volunteered for an presence of dust, dirt or pollen. It stumps. I learned about chestnut blight advanced chestnut identification took several hours of concentration from my parents. Throughout my long life course with Dr. Fred Hebard. and many leaves before I felt I have never lost hope that one day these Fred and others brought confident in glandular hair magnificent trees would return to our “bushel baskets” full of leaves, identification. woods. branches, and twigs. We reviewed The American glandular hairs are American chestnut For the past 37 years I have helped and observed the general glandular hair.800x small mushroom-shaped and to increase the Eastern Bluebirds by characteristics of the American, resemble a hot cross bun. The developing an effective nest box for them. European, Chinese, Japanese, and Japanese is the only other leaf to have I helped manage 100 bluebird nest boxes chinquapin chestnuts. Our main focus mushroom-shaped hairs. They resemble a along with other wildlife nest boxes at was observing, by microscope, the cut pie or walnut formation. The European Longwood Gardens.” glandular hairs on the underside of resembles a club while the Chinese is penile leaves. These glandular hairs are in shape with a large head. We hope to different on all the chestnut types and are demonstrate and observe these at one of our chapter meetings. Boy Scouts Help the Chestnut Cause by Erin C. Rasor-Shellhamer Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources , DCNR

The DCNR, Tuscarora State Park chestnut plantation received a helping They are planted in a 300'x100' clear-cut The weekend was beneficial not only to the hand on June 7. The Tamaqua Boy Scout areas. There is good sunlight and well- future of the American chestnut tree, but Troop#783 came to the park to plant 50 drained soil as the planting is at the base also to those who took part in the project American chestnut hybrid saplings under of Locust Mountain. The hybrids will be Hopefully, this type of partnership supervision of area coordinator Eugene used for further backcrossing through and volunteerism may find its way into other Dougherty. The troop quickly formed an acquired seed and pollination directed by plantings for the benefit of the American “assembly line” plan of action. Eugene research. Totally there were 103 hybrids chestnut, wildlife, forest biodiversity, and would mow a row where he wanted the planted. Only two saplings did not survive ultimately for the people. saplings planted. Then the boys would dig for a total of 101 trees. holes, put a mixture of peat moss and soil into the hole, add the sapling, and fill the hole. A 2' tree tube was then placed over the sapling to prevent deer damage. The troop had a great time and learned about the American chestnut’s history, blight, and hopeful future. This is not the first time that Troop #783 has helped to implement Tuscarora’s planting plan. In June of 1996, the troop planted their first 50 chestnut hybrids at the park. The Boy scouts enjoyed planting the first year and offered to plant this year’s. Tuscarora’s American Chestnut Hybrid Planting Plan was established in May 1995. The plan calls for the planting of 100 Douglas 1A x Walbridge American hybrids. Troop #783 Tamaqua Boy Scouts plant 50 hybrid American Chestnuts at the Tuscarora State Park on June 7, 1997. Chestnut Tree 6 January 1998

(SPROUTS from the Stump)

BOB is on Regional Breeding Progress the Stump! and Challenges by Bob Leffel

PA-TACF 1996 and 1997 plantings of third backcrosses (BC3) to But only 4 of 17 surviving trees in the But the test to ascertain genotype will be the American chestnut established BC3 1988 Reineman Wildlife Sanctuary backcross of each selected tree to an nurseries at Longwood Gardens and at planting produced male catkins in 1997, American chestnut tree. One of the nine Hummelstown, Dornsife, Central City, and and only one bore female burs! The genotypes expected in the BCF2 population, Brogue — a total of 1154 BC3 seed (seven larger our BC populations, the more only R1R1R2R2 trees will produce all lines) plus the appropriate checks of stringently we can select for resistance partially resistant (R1r1R2r2) progeny when American, Chinese, and American x and for American chestnut characteristics. backcrossed to an American chestnut. The Chinese F1 hybrids. 1997 was a difficult We must remember, however, that any other eight genotypes will produce some or year for hybridization nationally and BC tree selected originally as partially all susceptible genotypes when backcrossed locally — PA-TACF obtained 147 BC2 resistant (R1r1R2r2) on the basis of to American chestnut. seeds with ‘Clapper’ as pollen parent and reaction to inoculation must be progeny Wisdom dictates that chickens not 67 BC2 seeds with NHR2T2 as pollen tested to confirm its genotype for be counted before the eggs hatch! We have parent. This latter cross will provide resistance. The seed required for the uncharted but challenging and exciting material to study the inheritance of a new progeny test is provided by backcrossing decades of research ahead. The source of resistance to chestnut blight. each BC tree selected for moderate requirements of progeny testing and the Our members collected more than 1500 resistance to blight to a locally adapted unknown of how many generations of open-pollination seeds from American American chestnut. We are always a backcrossing will be required to recover chestnut trees in 1997 — a source for new generation ahead in backcrossing versus American chestnut characteristics and American chestnut nurseries and for confirmation of resistant genotypes. Thus regional adaptation dictate an adequately replanting in lost entry spaces within our our BC3 nurseries are progeny tests of planned, coordinated regional backcross BC3 nurseries. A diverse collection of BC2 trees selected by TACF as partially breeding program. We must be certain that American trees within a BC3 nursery will resistant, but nonconfirmed R1r1R2r2 our final products are just what we seek — allow BC4 crosses prior to recombination genotypes. releases of adequately documented, among selected BC3's for the BC3F2 Yet a greater challenge will be regionally-adapted, blight-resistant generation. the classification of BC3F2 and populations of American chestnuts. This is If we do an adequate job subsequent BCF2 generations. Only 1/16 no time for exclusivity — but is the time to culturally, our 1996-97 BC3 trees should of a BCF2 is expected to be completely gain the confidence, trust, and cooperation develop adequately to allow inoculations blight resistant to blight (R1R1R2R2 of our public agencies essential to the with the blight in 2000 - 2001 and, genotype). Again, large populations will success of our mission! hopefully, first flowers concurrently or soon allow more stringent selection. thereafter. Stump Shoots A reminder ... By W.H. Lauder

Tall plastic tree guards if left uncovered can be a hazzard to birds seeking insects or a suitable nesting cavity. In certain areas where plant guards of 3 and 4 foot lengths were in use without covers, I have observed the mortality of bluebirds, sparrows and others that entered the guards but could not fly out. This can easily be prevented by securing the mesh guards to the tops of the plant guards. If mesh covers got lost or removed, mesh plastic onion bags can become replacements. Chestnut Tree 7 January 1998

The Calendar of Events Notes and Notices The Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation needs Calendar April 18, 1998 your help. We need new members. Fund Raising Auction January 10-15 Begin collecting or making items Our members keep up the enthusiasm and PA Farm Show for the spring auction. The many hand interest that helps to bring back this once PA Chapter TACF Exhibit crafted items of chestnut wood were big magnificant tree from the brink of extinction. Harrisburg, PA sellers last year. The Chapter and Foundation depend on the Contact: Dan Heacock private sector for their support. 717-957-2733 home Newsletter Deadlines Please make it a 1998 new year resolution to 717-232-5300 work Articles to the editor by March 1st bring in at least one new member to our Mailing Date - March 26th May 16- April 18 Chapter. They will appreciate the opportunity. Spring Plantings Don’t let your chestnuts Across Pennsylvania for planting freeze in storage! Send the following information including To volunteer help, $40 annual dues to: TACF, 469 Main Contact: Bob Leffel St.,P.O.Box 4044, Bennington, VT 05201- 717-927-9557 Office Hours 4044: 717-927-8410 fax Wednesdays 1:00 pm. - 8:00 pm. Name: ______Mailing Address:______April 18, 1998 Beginning January 5, 1998 ______PA Chapter Meeting Ann Leffel requests that calls to and Fund Raising Auction Chapter Headquarters be made Telephone:______News Printing Co. Farm during office hours if possible. TACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Roaring Spring, PA 717-927-9557 Contributions are tax deductible to the full 717-927-8410 fax extent of the law.

Pennsylvania Society for the American Chestnut Foundation Nonprofit Organization P.O. Box 7 U.S. Postage Paid Brogue, PA 17309 Claysburg, PA 16625 Permit No. 45

Dedicated to restoring the American Chestnut

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Ecological Link

Abundant Food For Wildlife

Forest in good health & balance

Become a life giving leaf of the American Chestnut Tree with your membership dues or donation.