THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION
President Vice President Philip A. Rutter Mark Widrlechner
Treasurer Secretary William L. MacDonald Mark R. Michaud
Science Chair Journal Editor Albert H. Ellingboe Angus W. McDonald, Jr.
Board of Directors -1990
Dr. Norman Borlaug…………………………….…….Mexico Dr. Charles R. Burnham ……………………..……….Minnesota Mr. M.B. Dickerman………………………………….Virginia Dr. Albert H. Ellingboe………………………….……Wisconsin Dr. David French……………………………….……..Minnesota Dr. Dennis Fulbright…………………………….…….Michigan Dr. Cameron Gundersen…………………..…….…….Wisconsin Dr. Richard A. Jaynes…………………….……..…….Connecticut Mr. Robert J. Koenke……………………….…..……..Minnesota Ms. E. Gay Leonard, Esq…………………..…….……Virginia Mr. Maurice Levite……………………………………Virginia Dr. William L. MacDonald……………………………West Virginia Dr. Angus W. McDonald, Jr……………..……………Minnesota Mr. Mark R. Michaud…………………………………Minnesota Mr. James Olson…………………………..…………..Michigan Dr. Paul E. Reed …………………………..………….Nebraska Mr. Philip A. Runer…………………………………...Minnesota Dr. Thomas Tenbrunsel…………………..…………...Alabama Ms. Cheri Wagner……………………….….…………New York Ms. Jennifer Wagner…………………….…….………Washington, D.C. Mr. Richard K. Waybright…………………….………West Virginia Dr. Wayne H. Weidlich……………………….………Michigan Dr. Mark Widlechner……………………….…………Iowa Mr. Donald C. Willeke, Esq…………….……….……Minnesota Mr. James Wilson………………………….…….……Virginia Honorary Director Dr. Peter H. Raven………………………………..…..Missouri
ACF Receives Major Grants
The Foundation is continuing to important to us, and among other things, broaden its base of support. Not only is our made President general membership steadily increasing, but Rutter's search for germplasm in China we are now increasingly able to attract possible by freeing him (temporarily) from major gifts from private foundations and fundraising chores. persons. Most recently, the hiring of our new For the last three years, the Merrill Executive Director was made possible by a G. and Emita E. Hastings Foundation has special gift from Mr. Wallace Dayton of supported us to the maximum their $20,000. Mr. Dayton is a dedicated and guidelines will allow, in spite of the fact that honored conservationist. He has served in their usual policy is not to fund any many ways, among them as a Trustee of the particular organization for more than two National Audubon Society, Chairman of the years in a row. Board of Governors of the national Nature Mr. Brad Stanback, benefactor of Conservancy, and as Chairman of the many environmental causes in the Minnesota Nature Conservancy. A few of Appalachians, and a major supporter of the his many awards are the 1985 Nature Longbranch Environmental Education Conservancy Land Guardian Award, and the Center in North Carolina, last year 1986 Garden Club of America Cynthia responded to our request for special help Laughlin Medal. with a gift of $40,000 for our general We are very proud of the trust operations fund. This gift was tremendously placed in the American Chestnut foundation by these eminent conservationists.
Volume V. Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 1
Contents
Foundation Directors…………………………………………..Inside front cover
Major Grants to ACF……………………………………………………..………..1
Letters to the Editor………………………………………………………..………4
Editor’s Notes……………………………………………………….……………..5
In Memoriam………………………………………………………………………6
• NOTES •
Announcing the 1990 Annual Meeting of the Foundation…………………..……7
Attendees at the 1989 ACF Annual Meeting…………………………….………..7 President's Message P.A. Rutter…………………………………………………….…………..8
Meadowview Notes F. Hebard……………………………………………………..…………..11
Sources of American Chestnut Seed F. Hebard……………………………………………………..…………..11
Chestnut Tree Planted at Walden M. P. Sherwood…………………………………………………..………13
• MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS •
Chestnuts K. Reinheimer……………………………………………………………14
Chestnut Breeding In New England L. Inman………………………………………………………………….16
A Case of Hypovirulence in the Wild F. L. Paillet……………………………………………………………….18
2 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
A Simplified Key to Chestnut Species, Primarily for Identification of the American Chestnut in its Native Range P. N. Gordon………………………………………………….………….22
The Other American Chestnut and Two West Coast Cousins F. L. Paillet……………………………………………………………….24
• Science •
Projects to Control Chestnut Blight in Connecticut K. S. Century…………………………………………………………….28
An Historical Reference for Chestnut Introductions into North America S. L. Anagnostakis……………………………………………….………31
Noteworthy Chestnut Trees in Connecticut S. L. Anagnostakis………………………………………………….……43
Index to Vols. 1 – III………………………………………………………………45
About the Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation………………….….…47
ACF State Coordinators………………………………………..Inside back cover
Cover illustration by Frederick L. Paillet
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall winter 1990-91 3
Letters to the Editor
Sir- We have read with interest the on the covers of the last issue and this. Fall/ Winter, 1989-90 issue, Vol. IV, Acknowledgement was inadvertently No. 1 of the Journal of the American omitted during the production process. Chestnut Foundation, but note the need We apologize to our readers and to Dr. for better proofreading in its production. Paillet, and look forward to publishing There are a number of typographical more of his helpful work in future issues. errors that detract from the message that Ed. the articles are intended to transmit. Furthermore, the article on page Sir- 23 seems to have no author, and it does You have sent me my first copy not appear in the Table of Contents. of your journal, and my curiosity is The illustration on page 24 has aroused, Since all of us who subscribe the word canker misspelled and the root have an interest in growing good connection between the multiple- chestnuts in America, it seems a foolish stemmed growth form at the left should waste of your excellent paper to recite be shown to illustrate the origin of the again the fall of the American Chestnut. larger tree. The sketch should be drawn Surely there are more substantial in such a way that the dead portion of subjects to be discussed than the glory the crown can be distinguished by the of the split-rail fence. reader at a glance. You list some producers of It seems to me that pages 10 Chinese Chestnuts. Would it be feasible through 13 ("Service of Dedication" - to discuss with some objectivity the Ed.) are out of place in this journal. flavors and size of the nuts from the Sincerely, various cultivars? Even the Chinese Donald B. Lawrence Chestnut is not perfectly immune to the Minneapolis, MN blight; is there someone who could discuss the early signs of infestation Frederick L. Paillet of the with E. Parasitica? Department of the Interior, Denver, Thank you for your interest. made the drawings and accompanying texts in the last issue. Wallace C. Bedell Dr. Pallet also drew the illustration Free Union, V A
4 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
Editor’s Notes
Chestnut growers and supporters been, and we will exert every effort to be have accurate and discerning eyes. Many increasingly regular in the future. members have written or called to observe Although back issues of The that The Journal of the American Chestnut Journal are rare, we include in this issue Foundation has appeared irregularly since an index of Volumes I through Ill. If there it began publication. The Journal depends is sufficient interest from libraries, upon a constant stream of Notes, Mem- photocopies or microfilm of back issues ories & Observations, and Scientific ar- might become available. Those who own ticles for its existence - and frequency. On early issues of The Journal are permitted - the editorial side, we are still experi- even urged to make reasonable numbers of menting with procedures and format. Our photocopies for colleagues in pursuit of goal is two issues per calendar year to the goal: "Toward the Restoration of an keep our membership up to date on sci- American Classic." entific and organizational progress. This issue is "less late" than earlier issues have Angus W. McDonald, Jr.
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 5
In Memoriam
David Brewster
•
Edwin B. Newman
•
Anna Belle Wagner
NOTES
Annual Meeting
October 20-22,1990
The Annual Meeting of the American Chestnut Foundation will be held on the 20th to the 22nd of October, 1990 at the Holiday Inn in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Registration will begin at noon on Saturday the 20th. There will be field trips during the afternoon of the 20th and the morning of the 21st. Scientific presentations will be made during the afternoon of the 21st. TI1C annual business meeting of the Foundation will take place on the 22nd. Pre-registration is required. For a schedule of events and registration forms, please write Dr. Mark P. Widrlechner, North Central Plant Introduction Station, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011. Schedules and registration forms should be ready for mailing to interested parties on or around 15 September. Registration deadline is 15 October.
LIST OF ATTENDEES AT THE 1989 ACF ANNUAL MEETING
Paul Barnett, Knoxville, Tennessee Bill MacDonald, Morgantown, West Gray Bethea and Family, Georgia Virginia Patrick Brown, Oak Ridge, Tennessee Bernard Monahan, California Bud and Elaine Coulter, Eastport, Steve and Linda Nash, Richmond, Michigan Virginia Paul DeHart, Franklin, Ohio Mack Pritchard, Nashville, Tennessee Mr. and Mrs. Robert De Long, Walden, Chester and Mike Ptaszek, Columbus, New York Ohio Al Ellingboe, University of Wisconsin, Janet Rock, Gatlinburg, Tennessee John Madison, Wisconsin Schafer, Logansport, Indiana David French, University of Minnesota, St. Pete and Gail Steen, Durham, Paul, Minnesota North Carolina Ken Goeden, Hermiston, Oregon Tim Stubbs, Gatlinburg, Tennessee James Philip Gordon, New Haven, Connecticut Sullivan, Knoxville, Tennessee Tom David Griffith, Dadeville, Alabama Tenbrunsel, Huntsville, Alabama Richard Cameron Gundersen, La Crosse, Wakeman, Walton, New York Mark Wisconsin Widrlechner, Ames, Iowa David Hassler, Byrdstown, Tennessee Fred Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wilder, Hebard, Meadowview, Virginia St. Petersburg, Florida Keith Hill, Knoxville, Tennessee Don Willeke, Minneapolis, Minnesota Keith Langdon, Gatlinburg, Tennessee Stanley Wirsig, Youngstown, New York
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 7
NOTES
President's Message July 1990 Philip A. Rutter
Whenever I sit down to write one of placing an order. The cost is $2.65 per these messages, I have to struggle to narrow copy, post-paid, and they will send you the possible topics down to a sensible a bill with the magazines. Buy several number. This time is no exception. So many for your friends, and brag about the things are happening for the ACF that our great organization you belong to! already overloaded volunteers just can't handle the volume of communications. And Item 2: China it's all good news! It's just that there is so I had hoped to be able to present much of it we are getting frustrated trying to you with a complete report in this issue keep you up to date. So, please forgive me if of the Journal on my experiences in I hit several topics briefly rather than talking China and the results of the about one thing in detail; it seems to be investigations there. Because so many necessary. things are happening, however, it has simply not been possible to complete it. Item 1: National Geographic Magazine The China expedition is easy to In case you somehow missed it, the summarize, however. Absolutely article on chestnuts appeared in the February everything I saw in China makes me 1990 issue. It was well written and even more confident that our effort to beautifully photographed. Since our restore the American chestnut will be Foundation's activities are prominently successful. There is blight everywhere featured, it is not surprising that it is proving in China, and it is simply unimportant. to be a tremendous boost for us. It has I brought back some writings resulted in many new contacts and from the Ming Dynasty about the possibilities; we'll be telling you about them history of chestnuts in China, which we as they become realities. are in the process of translating now. I I find that one of the most important was also successful in bringing back side effects of the article is credibility. For seed from wild chestnut trees, as well as years, we have had to struggle to explain to orchard trees. The seeds have resulted in potential supporters just why working to more than 450 seedlings, now in the restore the American chestnut was not care of Dr. L.J. Grauke of the USDA foolish and quixotic, but absolutely rea- Clonal Germplasm Repository system; sonable in terms of solid science, ecology, he tells me some of them are already and cold hard cash. The Geographic allows more than 3 feet tall. As soon as we can conversations to move quickly to questions satisfy all the quarantine requirements, of action. we will be planting them out in You can get copies of the February permanent locations, so they can be National Geographic by telephoning this tested for the possibly improved blight toll-free number: 800-638-4077, and simply
8 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation NOTES resistance they may be carrying. New York. We hope our Pennsylvania The next issue of the Journal will members will be able to come to Carlisle have a complete report on my experiences and together finalize some of their in China. Also, if you come to the Annual decisions about details. Meeting, I will be giving a slide presentation-report there. You will Item 4. State Chapters probably also have a chance to meet my The New York Chapter of The Chinese host, Professor Huang Hong-wen; American Chestnut Foundation is he is spending a year in the USA working incorporated, and is a reality! Groups in at Auburn University. other states are starting to work hard at The Chinese are very interested in getting chapters going. Efforts are chestnut, and very interested in The seriously underway in Connecticut, American Chestnut Foundation. I am Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North currently trying to arrange for three Carolina, and Tennessee. If you live in officials of the Hubei Provincial Science one of these states, you can expect to hear and Technology Commission to visit the from your state group before too long. U.S. this fall, to tour some of the various chestnut research projects with an eye Item 5. The Endowment towards long-term cooperation. We have a The American Chestnut considerable amount to gain. Chestnut is Foundation has now taken an extremely an important commercial crop in China; important step, by establishing an they have many scientists who know a endowment for the Foundation. great deal about the trees, a tremendous Our project of restoring the amount of genetic diversity, and a serious American chestnut tree is going to take interest in cooperation. time. Even though we expect to have significantly blight resistant trees growing Item 3: The Annual Meeting and being tested in 10 years or less, the Speaking of the Annual Meeting, long-term tasks of testing, further it will be held in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, improvement, finding resistance to other October 20-22. Details can be found on pests, and the re-establishment of the page 7 of this issue. We really hope you species back into the forest, will take can come; it promises to be an excellent much longer. The best way to ensure that meeting, at a beautiful location, at a the Foundation will continue to function in beautiful time of the year. We will be coming years is to begin now an going to see our young hybrid chestnut endowment to provide the funding that is planting, being maintained by the Natural going to be necessary for the education Lands Trust at their Blue Mountain and projects. preserve. Please come! The endowment exists. I am proud Particularly those of you from to say that I made the first contribution to Pennsylvania- there is a very serious effort it myself. It was only $250, but it is underway in Pennsylvania to establish a extremely satisfying to know that this state Chapter of the ACF, similar to the small sum should provide at least $20 per one already operating in year for chestnut research, every year, for as long as it takes to bring our tree back.
9 Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 NOTES
The President of the New York This is no way to run a railroad; Chapter, Herb Darling, has handsomely and the Directors have decided that the added $1,000 more, and other time has come for the ACF to establish a contributions are starting to come in. professionally run office. We are in the This is a way in which you can process right now of hiring an Executive make a gift that will continue to give for Director with experience in running a non- years to come. Contributions to the profit corporation. We expect this will go endowment actually help to reduce our a long way towards regularizing the day- operating costs, since income generated by to-day functions of the Foundation. As the endowment is essentially "free"; we always, however, hiring people is don't have to spend money on fundraising expensive. The experience of every other to find it. Many people consider a gift to non-profit organization is that a good an endowment particularly appropriate for executive will pay for himself or herself bequests or memorials; if you have been many times over. But getting over the thinking about such a possibility, please initial hurdle of finding the necessary remember the many benefits a restored money continues to be a difficulty. While American chestnut tree will bring to our we actually have several candidates in the country and our future, and be generous. final stages of selection, we do not yet have all the money we need to support Item 6. Professional Staff such a person in the best possible way. If In past President's Messages, I this is something you would like to see have written apologies to those people happen; if you would like to have your whose letters I have not been able to letters answered faster, the Journal answer. Such an apology belongs in this published quicker, our news kept up to message too, because I am still not able to date, and better fund raising for our answer all the letters I receive. If I owe expanding projects, then please consider you a letter, perhaps you can take comfort making a special extra contribution now, from the fact that it is often the especially to help put us on a sound, professional, interesting letters which don't get footing. answered, because they tend to be set As always, we must have your aside for careful personal attention in that help in order to move forward. The mythical future when there will be "more American chestnut is no longer a "lost time." cause" ... but without your help, it would have been.
10 Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91
NOTES Meadowview Notes Dr. Frederick Hebard
My wife, Dayle, and our children, than a month of hard work. Plowing Kyla and Paige, have been here on the ground for February nut planting. Getting farm in Meadowview for almost a year. swamped with mail and phone calls after For me, it has been an exciting time, being the National Geographic article. Helping able to get started on a full-scale program arrange Earth Day festivities in of breeding for blight resistance. It is a Washington, DC, with Congressman program that I know will be continued by Hunter, then driving there and to the Foundation until it is completed. It is Scientist's Cliffs, MD, and back to something I have been preparing for a Meadowview in one day. long time. At this time, we have about 300 Some of my memories from the saplings growing at the farm. Most are first year: Digging 300 holes through the breaking bud now. About 1,000 nuts have turf by hand to plant our first trees - that been planted this year. The first are was hard work. Buying a tractor at starting to emerge. auction. Tracking aluminum shavings Finally, as some of you may through the house when building the base know, Anna Belle Wagner passed away for our pollination ladder. Pollinating in this past February. She made this farm Connecticut with Larry Inman and Sandy possible. Her sparkle and drive will be Anagnostakis. The excitement of missed by all of us. harvesting nuts from the pollinations. Building the fence - three words to May 1990 describe more
Sources of American Chestnut Seed & Seedlings
1. American Chestnut Foundation 3. Burnt Ridge Nursery College of Agriculture and Forestry 432 Burnt Ridge Road, Onalaska, W A 98570 401 Brooks Hall, P.O. Box 6057 (206) 985-2873 West Virginia University Morgantown, WV 26506-6057 4. Northwoods Nursery 28696 S. Creamer Road, Box N Special ACF membership: American chestnut Molalla, OR 97038 seed is sent the first year; several years later, (503) 651-3737 as hybrid chestnut seed are available, they will be sent. Includes instructions and 2-year 5. St. Lawrence Nurseries membership in Foundation. RFD 2, State RI. 345, Potsdam, NY 13676 Cost: $100. (315) 265-6739
2. Bear Creek Nursery 6. Wexford Soil & Water Conservation P.O. Box 411, Northport, W A 99157 (509) District 3060 W. 13th St. Cadillac, MI 49601 732-6219 (616) 775-5458.
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 11
12 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
NOTES Chestnut Tree Planted at Walden at Earth Day Celebration Mary P. Sherwood
WFW planted a Dunstan hybrid feet or more through - were common chestnut tree at Walden on Earth Day, throughout the woods of New England April 22. until the CCC was given the chore to cut Ever since the chestnuts of the them down and saw them into lumber in hardwood forests of the east were killed the 1930's. by the blight from Asia in the early 1900s, By then however the wood, while research has been carried on by forest ge- still not rotted, had been invaded by wood neticists to try to develop an immune form borers, which produced what became of the American chestnut Castanea known as "wormy chestnut." This was dentata, mainly by crossing some of the considered so decorative that lumber com- few surviving trees with the immune panies deliberately punched holes in other Chinese chestnut… woods to emulate the wormy chestnut. In Thoreau's time the American The tables and walls of the small forest chestnut was found all through the museum in the Connecticut State People's Concord woods. He often took the town Forest are made of wormy chestnut, all cut children on chestnutting walks to the there in the forest by the CCC. Estabrook woods and to the Walden area, The non-rotting quality of this tree then helped the children roast the nuts by has resulted in chestnut sprouts coming up their family fireplaces in the evening. I from the stumps of the downed trees, myself had to pass under a huge chestnut many of which can be seen all over the tree to get to school and was given the Walden reservation today. These never task of collecting the nuts for attain blossoming size because the blight Thanksgiving stuffing. spores remain viable in the soil and kill The chestnut not only afforded the young trees before they mature ... In abundant food for the wildlife of our the 1960s I knew of a chestnut in Carlisle eastern forests but was the most rot- which produced blossoms, then nuts, for resistant wood. It was used for fence four or five years before it too succumbed posts, post poles, or anywhere that wood to the blight. A similar one existed in had to be in contact with the soil. It was Wayland on Rte. 126. However, although also the standard wood used for railroad I have checked the sprouts at Walden for ties and at least one story has it that the the last 30 years, not has approached blos- ties of the tracks at the west end of som size. Walden were chestnut. sent by Ed McGarrity When I first saw Walden in 1958 there were still a few very large chestnut Reprinted from Walden Forever Wide Newsletter, trees standing behind the cairn site. Such Number 27, Spring, 1990
tall, gaunt trees - most of them were two [The Dunstan hybrid chestnut tree is largely of Chinese ancestry.-Ed.]
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 13
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS
Chestnuts Kurt Rheinheimer Editor, Blue Ridge Country
The blight was too far along for deer, but the impact on our culture of the them to have been American chestnuts, disappearance of the tree which has been but there's a boyhood memory of my called the most useful hardwood species in parents pulling a cookie sheet of hot the eastern United States has caused more chestnuts out of the oven and then trying disturbance in the fabric of our society. to talk us children into tasting one. I Try to think of a town without a Chestnut remember the nuts as visually appealing- Street. Or recall, albeit out of season, one maybe just because my mother's hand of the most recognizable lines in always meant something good. And the American music - the one about the open shape - the split brown casing around fire and the chestnuts roasting. something steaming and soft-looking - Maybe it's that kind of must have added to the initial enticement. entrenchment of the chestnut in our But they just weren't a children's psyches that has helped to spawn a delicacy. The taste to me was as much like resurgence of efforts to develop a blight warmed-up, waterlogged chalk as any- resistant tree. Efforts in the 1920s, '30s, thing else, so we left the full sheet for our and '40s - for the most part attempting to parents to enjoy. I guess in our youth and breed a more resistant tree - ended in ignorance we'd have had no problem if we general failure. But a new generation of never saw them again. And while those researchers in the Southern Appalachians were Italian chestnuts from the grocery (along with a national organization begun store, the disappearance of our own native in Minnesota but now based in West trees has continued unabated since those Virginia) is at work trying to return the days back in the 1950s. chestnut to its proper place in the The blight was first noted in New Appalachian forest and the home York state in 1904, entered the Blue Ridge landscape. Biologists and arborists at Vir- region from the north by 1908, and by ginia Tech in BIacksburg, Virginia; at 1945 was present in all areas of the tree's Concord College in Elkins, West Virginia; natural range - from Maine south along and at the universities of West Virginia, and to either side of the Appalachians Kentucky, and Tennessee are exploring south into Alabama and even eastern Mis- several distinct tracks toward eradication sissippi. Before the march of the disease, of the blight. about one in every four trees in that huge 17 state area was a chestnut. Now there • Trees infected with a hypo are just a few survivors per state, and a virulent (low) level of the blight fungus great American resource - not just for have in isolated instances recovered. food, but for lumber, fences, landscaping, Though the early hope of these trees shade, and more - has virtually dis- providing a 'vaccination' for other trees appeared. A parallel event in the animal has ebbed, re- kingdom might involve the rabbit or the
14 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS searchers still see hypovirulence as an im- then the great Appalachian forest would portant step toward recovery. be retransformed. Not to the extent that • Promise has also been shown some with a breeding technique using non- might dream - the virgin forest that cov- blight resistant American chestnuts in ered these hills for thousands of years, initial hybridization with fully blight and as late as the 1700s still encompassed resistant Chinese chestnuts. Subsequent the whole of the Blue Ridge region, had generations are then back bred to be more already been almost fully destroyed by the and more American (there are some 16 194Ds - but perhaps at least to the point million different gene combinations in the where it stood before the advent of the chestnut) and at the same time carry the blight, when the chestnuts reached 120 resistance from the Chinese strain. feet into the blue mountain sky, with • There is also an attempt to use trunks lip to 13 feet in diameter. The old- genetic material from several large, sur- est of the trees had stood for 500 years on viving American chestnuts through graft- the Appalachian forest floor, well an- ing. chored in their preeminence before the • Irradiation of nuts is being blight brought them down. carried out with the hope that resulting The battle will be long and slow, mutants will produce a resistant strain. and probably won't be won in the lifetimes The people doing the work - of most of us. But part of our ties to this people like Gary Griffin at Virginia Tech - beautiful land are to the forests that give carry a quiet, passionate patience about the mountains their life and shape and what they do. The work is slow. It takes majesty. Among the many things we must years to grow a tree to the point that it will preserve and present to the generations produce nuts, but the overall attitude that come after us, those things that grow seems to be that the task will be around us are surely among the most im- accomplished. portant. If the job does get done - Griffin And besides, every little boy of 10 says the chestnut could be restored to or so should have to taste a roasted economic significance within 50 years - chestnut. An American chestnut.
Reprinted with permission from Blue Ridge Country
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 15
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS
Chestnut Breeding in New England A Midwesterner's Observation Larry Inman
[Products of long abandoned chestnut were most hospitable in the way they research are being used to breed blight showed me around and explained their un- resistant trees in Connecticut. Breeding published work. methods for field and garden crops can be The best flowers for crossing adopted for chestnuts, making it likely that chestnuts are too high for an orchard the minimum time per generation of ladder, and they cannot be reached by breeding (seed to seed) can be reduced to climbing the tree. Fred Hebard has three or four years, considerably designed a ladder for such situations. It is shortening the time required to breed an extension ladder mounted on a broad locally adapted varieties of blight base. He can extend it vertically to a resistant forest type American chestnuts. - greater height than an orchard ladder Ed.] without leaning it against the tree. Philip Gordon is one of the most With the encouragement of Dr. enthusiastic supporters of the efforts to re- Charles Burnham, I neglected my Min- store the American chestnut. He has been nesota farm for several weeks last June in scouting the woods in southern Con- order to assist with the crosses made for necticut to locate large survivors, sprouts the American Chestnut Foundation at the and pre-blight seedlings that can be used Connecticut Experiment Station. as a source of locally adapted germ plasm Years ago as a graduate student, I for chestnut breeding. As parents for read about the chestnut breeding research, chestnut breeding, suppressed seedlings so the area is of historical interest. My trip are genetically equivalent to the mag- was an opportunity to see the old planta- nificent trees in the original forest before tions of hybrid chestnut trees from the ear- the devastation of the chestnut blight. ly chestnut breeding research by Graves Due to their smooth bark, and the USDA. suppressed seedlings are not invaded by There was a Clapper clone which the fungus for chestnut blight. But the I have used to pollinate American chestnut American chestnuts are rarely reproducing trees growing at the University of Min- naturally from seeds within their natural nesota Landscape Arboretum. Other range because the sprouts and suppressed selected hybrids from the abandoned seedlings are killed back by the successive chestnut breeding research are being used waves of chestnut blight reinfection before as a source of resistance to chestnut blight they are mature enough to produce quan- for the current backcross program to breed tities of seed. blight resistant forest-type American However, the suppressed chestnuts. seedlings can be induced to flower and Time was too short to meet all of produce seed by grafting them onto the cooperators on the long list that had suitable root been provided for me. Those I did meet
16 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS stock. By marking the suppressed seed- appears to be a young, fast-growing tree lings with colored flagging, they can be that has escaped infection by chestnut easily recognized for the collection of blight. I do not have the measurements, cuttings when the leaves are off the trees. but it is tall, straight, and free of branches When propagating fruit trees, a highly to an impressive height. skilled nursery laborer can bud about 2000 His tree is a convincing trees a day. demonstration of the commercial potential Apple and pear trees grafted on of the species. The wood of the American dwarf root stock flower and produce fruit chestnut is as durable as redwood. while they are still growing in pots. Dr. Thinnings from a pole stand with a Sandra Anagnostakis has dwarfed comparable form would be ideal for American chestnuts by grafting them onto telephone poles. When grown to sufficient related chestnut species. She has dwarfed maturity, similar trees should produce chestnut trees that produce pollen and seed several logs that would cut out with a high in quantity the second year after the graft. percentage of clear lumber. With the dwarfed trees, which grow like The observations on my trip to bushes, it may be that the time per genera- New England have reinforced my tion for backcross breeding chestnuts can conviction that adaptations of the breeding be reduced to three or four years. More- methods for the field and garden crops can over, dwarfs are a convenient height for be used effectively for breeding chestnuts. crossing while sitting on a high stool. Due to demonstrated technique, it is likely Paul Galloway is a tree farmer in that the minimum time per generation of New Hampshire with considerable breeding can be reduced to three or four experience as a contractor. Like Fred years from seed to seed. Now the estimat- Hebard, he is ingenious in his ed time required to breed locally adapted development of techniques to reach the varieties of blight resistant forest-type flowers of trees that are too high for an American chestnuts is shorter than orig- ordinary extension ladder. inally considered to be necessary. He has located an outstanding American chestnut tree on his farm. It
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 17
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS
A Case of Hypovirulence in the Wild Text and Drawings by Fred L. Paillet U.S. Geological Survey
Hypovirulent chestnut blight has big, blight-killed chestnut, but lots of been established for nearly a decade at chestnut sprouts. The size and distribution several locations where hypovirulent of chestnut sprouts showed the familiar blight strains appear to have arisen characteristics: lots of both multi-stemmed spontaneously, and at many others where little "shrubs" and saplings as much as hypovirulence was deliberately introduced three or four inches in diameter and reach- in an effort to control blight. My first ing up into the subcanopy. The biggest of drawing (page 19) shows a large chestnut these chestnut saplings was about six sprout I have been following over the inches in diameter and more than 30 feet years. This tree seems to have had at least tall, but a large canker on the lower stem one hypovirulent canker and is now de- and stunted leaves in the crown made me veloping a second almost a decade after write off this tree for the future. Here was the first infection. One tree is not a very just another blight statistic included in my scientific sampling, but the data being pa- rough estimate that about 3% of the sprout tiently accumulated by researchers will clones in this woodlot had an active blight comprise the results of many such stories. infection, which was yet another example My example illustrates some of the most of how relatively unimportant blight can optimistic results to be expected when hy- be in an undisturbed woodlot where po virulence becomes widely established chestnut sprouts are stagnating in the un- in eastern forests. derstory. This chestnut tree first caught my Much to my surprise, this eye when I was traveling along the Dulles particular tree was still alive and well over access highway on my way to our nation's two years later, with a now healthy crown capital. From the window of a rental car, I of leaves. This prompted further noticed new construction carved out of an investigation. My figure shows the old woodlot and stopped to take a look. partially healed canker (inset A). This This was old second growth woodland es- canker has the typical appearance of a tablished on former tobacco fields and hypovirulent infection - a massive "bulge" now dominated by white, southern red, of rapidly growing woody tissue on one and chestnut oaks. Only a few ancient- side of the stem, and an oval area of dead looking pines and cedars were left to in- cambium on the other. The whole mess dicate the first stages of succession. The was made even more unsightly by the woods themselves must have been at least straps of dead bark clinging to the wound. 120 years old, and were clearly full of ma- A core taken from the tree shows both the ture trees when chestnut blight first effects of canopy opening during road reached the area about 1920. My in- construction (about 1968) and the spection showed only a few stumps from dramatic slowdown of growth after blight infection started about
18 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 19
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS
1983. Since then, the growth rate has in- done a lot to subdue the ugly, swollen creased. In addition, I found the crown appearance of the bulge of callous tissue filled with maturing burs during the sum- on the opposite side of the trunk from the mers of 1987-89. I estimate the chestnut exposed dead wood. What about the clone density is in the range of 10-30 per future? A second hypo virulent canker is acre when averaged over the entire wood- developing at the base of this tree (inset lot, and at least a few of these clones have B). In principle, this second canker may stems that are not big enough to be pro- cause no more of a problem than the first. ducing male catkins. However, there just However, the number of cankers can does not seem to be enough pollen severely distort the shape of the tree, and production to provide cross-pollination. their cumulative effect can be serious None of the burs I have collected from this indeed. My second drawing (page 21) location have ever contained fully shows a large chestnut sprout pointed out developed, fertile nuts. The infertile burs to me by Phil Cordon of Yale University form and develop because the chestnut is near his home in Old Lyme, Connecticut. not self-fertile, and the only significant This particular tree had nearly a dozen local source of chestnut pollen is this one separate cankers on the main stem, and a tree. few more in the largest branches. At the As of the summer of 1989, the old time I made this sketch only part of the canker seemed completely healed over. crown was leafing out, and Phil reports All that was left was an oval patch of bare, that the tree has since died (although the exposed wood in which the interior oval root crown is actively resprouting). So, of discoloration shows the general outline establishment of hypovirulence in the wild of the original blight infection. Two is an important step, but may not be the seasons of rapid diameter increase have complete answer to chestnut blight.
20 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 21 A Simplified Key to Chestnut Species Primarily for Identification of the American Chestnut in its Original Native Range Philip N. Gordon Institute of Economic Botany, New York Botanical Garden
Castanea Species teeth. Fruit small to large. C. crenata: Japanese chestnut. Japan, Class I: Leaves hairless or with only a few Korea, many in USA. Tree to 15 m., hairs on the veins beneath. rounded and broad. Young twigs soon C. dentata: American Chestnut. E NA. losing their downiness. Leaves with scaly Before the blight, a tree 30-40 m., now glands and mixture of single and rare. Usually a shrubby sprout cluster 1-5 branching hairs beneath; margins with m. Leaves hairless beneath, margins well pointed but small teeth. Fruit medium. toothed. Catkins 15-20 cm. Fruit with 1-3 small nuts. This key is a synthesis of literature data and personal observation, Class II: Leaves hairy on the lower sur- and is designed to "see" American face. Fruit usually with a solitary nut. chestnut by exclusion of the other species C. pumila: Chinquapin. E USA. A and of hybrids that may be found. Hybrids shrub or tree to 20 m. Hairs on leaves cannot adequately be classified since we whitish. can't yet predict how the progeny of C. alnifolia: SE USA. Shrub less than 1 genetic crosses will look. Japanese and m. Hairs on leaves brownish. May be a Chinese chestnut trees and hybrids are not variant of C. pumila. uncommon in yard plantings, in orchards or in the forest. European chestnuts are Class III: Leaves hairy on lower surface. less common. Chinquapin are common in Fruit with 1-3 nuts. their range. In deciding what you have, C. mollissima: Chinese chestnut. keep in mind the admonition of Arthur H. China, many in USA. Apple-like orchard Graves on chestnut identification: "In the tree to 20 m. or tall straight forest tree 20- use of keys, one must not depend too 30 m. with whitish bark. Young twigs much on anyone character. Variation is remaining hairy. Leaves underneath may the most invariable thing in the world. All be heavily felted, but sometimes characters must be taken into account; it is completely hairless. Upper leaf surface the combination of these on which one shiny, often leathery. Fruit small to large. must depend in the identification of the C. saliva: Sweet, Spanish or European species. Also, one should not examine chestnut. S Europe, N Africa, Asia Minor, only one leaf or one twig. Look carefully occasionally USA. Tree to 40 m. Apple- at several before making a decision. like orchard tree or forest tree like Am. Nature is not always consistent; variation chestnut. Young twigs soon losing their is the rule." downiness. Leaves with scaly glands be- low, margins with pointed small to coarse [See note and drawing on next page.]
22 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 23
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS
The Other American Chestnut and Two West Coast Cousins Frederick Paillet
The American chestnut is the biggest forest-grown chinkapins I could most familiar Castanea species in North find. My surveys of the forest in this area America. This is the tree we hear about in indicated that there were on the average the forest literature - the old forest giant about 40 chestnut sprouts and 50 with the valuable wood and useful nut chinkapin shrub clones scattered over each crop. But the great chestnut has a lowly acre of woodland. Almost a11 of these nephew in eastern forests, and a couple of chinkapin shrubs were much sma11er than distant cousins on the west coast. I first the one I show in my drawing - some less met the Allegheny chinkapin (Castanea than six inches ta11 and bearing no more pumila var pumila) in the dry oak forests than three or four leaves. But the plant of northern Virginia during my chestnut looks much more like a real member of research. At one time there were a number the chestnut family when exposed to of named chinkapin species. But nearly fu11 sun at the edge of a field. On taxonomists now recognize only a single some open-grown chinkapins I found species with two varieties (pumila, the stems with up to six burs, each holding a A11egheny chinkapin, and ozarkensis, the single acorn-like nut - without the flat Ozark chinkapin). I had origina11y sides one associates with chestnuts at the worried that the chestnut and chinkapin supermarket, and nearly black in color. would be difficult to distinguish, but From the literature chinkapin is known to experience showed there wouldn't be a hybridize with chestnut, so one wonders real problem. Chinkapin leaves are why natural hybrids are so rare. The slightly sma11er, with much sma11er answer seems to be that chinkapin flowers teeth than chestnut leaves, and don't have almost a month earlier than chestnut. I the long, pointed chestnut tip. The leaves found chinkapin blooming in Virginia in also have their widest part two-thirds to late May, while chestnut was flowering in three-quarters of the way to the tip, while late June. chestnut leaves are broadest in the middle. The chinkapin is a very close At the same time, chinkapin leaves are relative of the American chestnut, but decidedly fuzzy, and chinkapin twigs have there are several other chestnut relatives of a distinctive orange-brown color. more distant relationship in the mountains Taxonomists have much more technical of California. (See drawings, page 27.) terms for these characteristics, but the The golden chinkapin (Castanopsis bottom line is that the two species are easy chrysophylla) is known to become a to distinguish in the field in spite of the sma11 tree in Oregon, but I found it great variation in chinkapin leaf shape and growing as a low shrub on sparsely stem growth form. forested, rocky hillsides above Bear Lake I found chinkapin a pretty small in the San Bernardino mountains about shrub in the open forest in Virginia. My 9,000 feet in elevation. The evergreen illustration (page 26) shows one of the
24 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
MEMORIES & OBSERVATIONS
leaves and dense thickets of low shrubbery The fruit are really just acorns, except that make one think of rhododendron, as do the the acorn cap has something like spines dark green leathery leaves. Most stems rather than simple scales. Nonetheless, I were less than three feet tall, with a few was somewhat startled to see young approaching twice that stature in protected tanoak saplings growing up into openings places. The clusters of very chestnut-like in the evergreen canopy with much the burs were just maturing in mid-July, while same shape and appearance as chestnut new flowers were still present on the tips saplings in New England. The trees had of this year's growth. This "tree" seems to the same conical crown shape and be the exact opposite of the great chestnut branching pattern, and the semi-glossy growing as it does in the form of a knee- texture of the bark reminded me of high shrub underneath the immense chestnut, too. jeffrey and sugar pines of the southern One tends to think of the great California mountains. forest trees such as chestnut, beech, and I met the other California cousin oak as well-defined species that have been of American chestnut in the famous Muir around much as they are for a11 time. Woods, growing in the understory beneath 111e distant and not-so-distant cousins of magnificent redwoods. The tanoak American chestnut suggest that there have (Lithocarpus densiflora) grows to a much been many different forms of these species more respectable size than the golden over the 40 million or so years since oaks chinkapin, but still doesn't make much of and chestnut first appeared on the earth. an impression underneath those redwoods. How many other interesting chestnut and The evergreen leaves would seem to bear chestnut-like trees have existed in habitats some resemblance to chestnut, except that that we will never know, or became ex- they are so tough and leathery, and the tinct in forests that no one ever saw? edges tend to curl under hiding the teeth.
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 25
SCIENCE
Projects to Control Chestnut Blight in Connecticut Karen S. Century, Cook College of Rutgers University
ABSTRACT 1988). Several projects to aid in the restora- During the summer of 1989, I was for- tion of the American chestnut (Castanea tunate enough, because of a grant from the dentata) in eastern North America were American Chestnut Foundation, to work completed in the summer of 1989 at the with Dr. Sandra L. Anagnostakis at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Sta- Connecticut Agricultural Experiment tion and nearby chestnut plots. These pro- Station on several projects, including jects included crossing American trees crossing different chestnut tree species, to with Asian trees, trapping the clearwinged aid in the recovery of the American chest- chestnut moth, and planting and nut. This paper elaborates on the projects maintaining chestnut seedlings. The re- with which I was involved. sults of these projects could hasten the re- covery of the American chestnut as a METHODS dominant species in the eastern hardwood My responsibilities as Dr. Anag- forest. nostakis' research assistant varied widely, ranging from setting insect traps, to plant- INTRODUCTION ing chestnut seedlings, to pulling weeds Although the American chestnut (Cas- from around the small trees. By far, the tanea dentata) has been devastated by most important job I had was crossing the blight in its natural range in the northeast, American chestnut trees at Lockwood luckily the trees have not been completely Farm in Hamden, Connecticut, with vari- eliminated. This is due to the chestnut's ous Asian trees and hybrids. In mid June, ability to sprout again from the root col- developing female flowers on American lars of dead trees, and because of the use trees were isolated by trimming off sur- of hypovirulent forms of the blight fungus rounding leaves and male flowers and (Cryphonectria parasitica) which arrest the covering them with waxed paper bags to death of the trees (Anagnostakis, 1987). prevent them from being pollinated nat- Because some American chestnuts urally by unidentified sources. From July have been able to be kept alive long 2 to 11, the isolated female flowers were enough to mature and flower, scientists pollinated with pollen from specific trees. have been able to learn more about why Branches containing mature catkins were the American chestnut is so susceptible to collected from several Asian trees and hy- blight, and what steps should be taken to brids of Asian and American trees to be decrease this susceptibility. One of the used as pollen sources. The branches most promising methods involves crossing were kept on ice during the pollination to American trees with the more resistant maintain the viability of the pollen. The Chinese and Japanese chestnuts (c. catkins were first broken off and then molissima and C. crenata) (Burnham, brushed
28 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation SCIENCE across the isolated flowers. The bags were 100 seedlings were also planted at Lock- then put back on the pollinated flowers wood Farm, half of which were covered and labeled with the pollen source as a with a hoop frame and shade cloth. Be- record of the nuts that would later be pro- cause weeds compete with the seedlings duced. and can kill them, the survival of the new- In addition to the crosses made at ly planted seedlings depended on the area Lockwood Farm, three trees at Sleeping surrounding each seedling being weed Giant Plantation, male sterile (dentata X free. This was accomplished essentially by mollissima) hybrids, were crossed with hand pulling weeds and putting Horto- various dentata. A total of 474 bags were paper around the seedlings to inhibit re- put onto female flowers on chestnut trees growth of weeds. at Lockwood Farm and Sleeping Giant In addition to pollinating, trapping in- Plantation. sects, planting seedlings, and pulling Another project with which I was in- weeds, I also checked A. H. Graves' volved was the collection of the clear- records of the trees at the Sleeping Giant winged chestnut moth (Synanthedon cas- chestnut plantation against the trees that taneae) at Lockwood Farm, Goodwin are currently alive there. Using Graves' State Forest, and Rocky Hill. This insect grid-like layout of the originally planted has been found to cause serious damage in trees as a guide, I was able to update the chestnut trees with hypo virulent cankers records by adding to them the current and could possibly aid in the spread of the status and condition of each tree. This task chestnut blight (Anagnostakis, personal was somewhat difficult since the trees communication). Sticky traps and water were not planted exactly in a symmetrical pan traps, both baited with pheremone grid, but luckily many of the trees still had lures supplied by J. W. Snow (USDA, identifying tags on them. ARS, Byron, GA), were set at Sleeping Giant chestnut plantation, Lockwood RESULTS Farm, Rocky Hill, and at the chestnut The results of the crosses are as follows: plots in Goodwin State Forest. Funnel Lockwood Farm C. dentata X C. traps without pheremone lures were also mollissillla yielded 86 nuts. used in addition to the baited traps. The Lockwood Farm C. dentata X (crenata X insects caught in each water trap were mollissillla) hybrids yielded 31 nuts. collected and stored in jars containing Lockwood Farm C. dentata X (mollissima alcohol and labeled with the trap's location X seguinii) hybrid yielded 5 nuts. and date of collection. The insects caught Lockwood Farm C. dentata X C. crenata on the sticky traps were stored on the traps from Cheshire, CT, yielded 36 nuts. in a refrigerator and were labeled the same Sleeping Giant Plantation hybrids (dentata as the water traps. The insects from each X mollissima) X various dentata yielded location were then identified and counted. 81 nuts. To make the number of chestnut trees similar in the two experimental plots at The results of the insect trapping showed Goodwin State Forest, we planted addi- that Synanthedon castaneae is found tional American chestnut seedlings there. abundantly in the Sleeping Giant
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 29
SCIENCE
Plantation, moderately at Lockwood American chestnut can make a come- Farm and Goodwin State Forest, but not back. With continued research this hope at all at the Rocky Hill plot. From can become a reality. weeding around the yound trees we found that putting Horto-paper around ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the trees after they were weeded I would like to thank the American significantly inhibited the regrowth of Chestnut Foundation for providing the weeds and therefore helped the small Connecticut Agricultural Experiment trees establish themselves. Station with funds to hire me for the summer. I would especially like to thank CONCLUSION Dr. Sandra L. Anagnostakis for giving Although the restoration of the Amer- me the opportunity to work with her for ican chestnut as a dominant species in the summer, thereby giving me the the northeastern forest is still a while chance to participate in the restoration away, hopefully the projects I worked of the American chestnut. on in the summer of 1989 will help in speeding up the American chestnut’s REFERENCES recovery. By planting new seedlings Anagnostakis, S. L. 1987. Chestnut and maintaining older trees, we have blight: The classical problem of an been able to perform interspecific introduced pathogen. Mycologia 79:23- crosses which eventually could lead to 37. the development of an essentially Burnham, C. R. 1988. The restoration of American tree with the blight resistance the American chestnut. American of its Asian cousins. The success of Scientist 76:478-487. these crosses supports our belief that
30 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
SCIENCE
An Historical Reference for Chestnut Introductions into North America Sandra L. Anagnostakis The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06504
When people find chestnut trees of any "Darlington," "duPont," "Miller," "Mon- size growing in the New England woods cur," "Numbo," "Paragon," "Ridgely," they frequently call The Experiment "Scott," "Spanish," and "Styer." Station, sure that they have found an American chestnut tree resistant to chest- Japanese Chestnut Trees nut blight. It usually turns out that this tree In 1876, S. B. Parsons of Flushing, NY is Asian or an Asian hybrid. In previous imported a few trees of Castanea crenata centuries, chestnut trees were very and sold them as "Parson's Japan." Two of important to the people on this continent. these are still growing very well in Con- They took advantage of "new and differ- necticut; one in Old Lyme on the grounds ent" material much more than is generally of the Bee and Thistle Inn, and one in realized, and were planting Asian species Cheshire behind the Congregational long before chestnut blight was discovered Church. Major importation of Asian in New York City in 1904. The species of chestnut trees began in 1882 when chestnut are listed in Table 1. Since I am William Parry, of Parry, NJ imported 1000 often faced with the problem of telling an grafted C. crenata trees. Parry selected enthusiast that some nice tree is not "Parry" as his best, but sold several other Castanea dentata, I have started com- varieties as well. piling some information about the history In 1886 Luther Burbank imported of chestnut importations into North Amer- 10,000 nuts from Japan for selecting and ica. In Fig. 1 a time line with some of the hybridizing. In 1893 his "New Creations" important "chestnut events" puts this into catalog advertised his 'New Japan Mam- perspective. moth" chestnut and he sold three seedlings to Judge Andrew J. Coe of Connecticut. European Chestnut Trees These were sold in 1897 to J. H. Hale of The first recorded importations were South Glastonbury, Connecticut who those of Eleuthere Irenee DuPont de Ne- named them "Coe," "Hale," and mours, who in 1799 moved from France to "McFarland" and sold them from his nur- Bergan Point, NJ and then to Brandywine, sery and through catalogs starting in 1898. DE. He brought many European chestnuts There were 21 varieties of Japanese (Castanea saliva) with him, imported chestnuts listed in T. H. Powell's 1898 more later, hybridized lots, and planted Bulletin (#42, Delaware Agricultural them all over the area. By 1889 some of Experiment Station). These were the popular varieties of C.Saliva and discussed in gardening magazines such as saliva X dentata hybrids were The Rural New Yorker, and advertised in "Anderson," "Bartram," "Comfort," plant and seed catalogs. Mail order spread "Cooper," "Corson," "Dager," these Asian trees all over the country. By
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 31
SCIENCE the turn of the century Asian and plant explorers were sending seed to the European chestnut trees were available by U. S. In 1903 Dr. Charles Sprague Sargent mail from many nurseries such as Burbank sent C. mollissima seed to The Arnold Ar- (CA), Parry Bros. (N}), Hale (CT), Kerr boretum near Boston, Massachusetts for (MD), Biltmore (NC), Boehmer (Japan), their collection. No trees from this seed lot and Yokohama Co. of New York and have survived. In 1908 E. H. Wilson sent Tokyo. them seeds of Castanes henryi from West- Chestnuts were being grown as a crop ern Hupeh, China. This was planted in in many places, and some of the Eastern their collection as tree #6849, which sur- U. S. companies in business by 1900 vived better than most imports of this spe- were: cies, but finally died in 1934. Cuttings were sent to the U. S. Plant Importation The Albion Chestnut Company, office. CIementon, NJ Around the turn of the century several 150 acres of stump land grafted with plant explorers were traveling around the sativa ("Numbo") and crenata. world collecting things not found in North J. W. Beecher, PottsviIle, PA America. These people were often careful 80 acres with 18,800 grafted trees observers of plant ecology and their notes Arthur J. Collins, Moorestown, NJ make fascinating reading. When the defeat 30 acres, mostly with grafted "Alpha" of the Boxer Rebels (1901) opened China crenata, and "Paragon" sativa. to exploration, several expeditions were Henry W. Comfort, Fallsington, PA made. The most famous explorers are 56 trees on one acre, mostly "Numbo." probably Ernest H. "Chinese" Wilson, J. T. Lovett, Emilie, PA (near Trenton, who collected for an English Nursery and NJ) about 22 acres with 1,200 grafted later for the Arnold Arboretum, and Frank "Par agon" and 25,000 seedlings. N. Meyer, who was hired by David Fair- The Mammoth Chestnut Company, child to explore for the U. S. Plant Intro- Clementon, NJ duction division of the U. S. Department about 150 acres, mostly grafted of Agriculture. The two had very different "Numbo." personal styles, and their travels resulted Samuel C. Moon, Morrisville, PA in vast numbers of importations. I have originator of "Numbo" = Magnum found only one certain survivor of Frank Bonum saliva. Meyer's chestnut imports. The Rochester, Parry Brothers Nursery, Cinnaminson, NY Parks Department has a specimen of NJ many crenata seedlings and PI 36666 growing in their Durand- selections. Eastman Park as #G 25. Coleman K. Sober, Lewisburg, PA 300 acres, sprouts grafted with Paragon. Chestnut Blight Joseph Williams, Riverton, NJ Chestnut Blight, or Chestnut Bark Dis- 7,500 dentata seedlings planted, many ease, is caused by the fungus grafted with crenata and saliva scions. Cryphonectria parasitica, formerly called Endothia parasitica. Cankers were found Chinese Chestnut Trees on American chestnut trees lining the Chinese chestnuts are not mentioned in Avenues of the Bronx Zoo in New York the early catalogs that I have seen, but City in 1904. In
32 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation SCIENCE
1907 and 1908 the fungus attacked other Hybridization species of chestnut in the New York Bo- Many people took up Meyer's sugges- tanical Garden. Rapid spread of the dis- tion, and hybrids made earlier to improve ease followed, and within 50 years the the orchard qualities of chestnut trees were fungus was present throughout the native examined for their resistance to chestnut range of C. dentata; from Maine to Geor- blight. gia, and west to the edge of Michigan. Arthur H. Graves, of the Brooklyn Bo- In 1913 David Fairchild asked Frank tanical Garden, started planting chestnut Meyer to look for the disease in China, trees and making hybrids in the early and Meyer reported that he had found it in 1930s. Trees were planted on his property early June. He wrote: in Hamden, Connecticut, and on land owned by the Connecticut Agricultural "This blight does not by far do as much Experiment Station. His work was aided damage to the Chinese chestnut trees as to the by Hans Nienstaedt and Richard Jaynes, American ones. Not a single tree could be who both did their doctoral research on found which had been killed entirely by this chestnut at Yale University and the Con- disease, although there might have been such necticut Agricultural Experiment Station. trees which had been removed by the ever active and economic Chinese farmers." Now that we can keep American chestnut trees alive with biological control by Shear and Stevens grew cultures from hypovirulence, breeding can continue. Meyer's samples, and in July they in- Species and hybrids of chestnut were oculated the Chinese fungus into Amer- distributed by the Experiment Station to ican trees near Washington, D.C. Rapid home owners all over the Northeastern death of the sprouts confirmed that this U.S. Often records of origin are lost, tags similar-appearing fungus caused chestnut are unreadable, or row lines are confused blight. by the planting efforts of squirrels. I try to Meyer went to Japan in 1915 and was identify the trees found by citizens, using again first in finding chestnut blight. He leaf and twig characteristics. The pure wrote that the Japanese chestnut trees species are easy, but the complicated were generally more resistant to the blight hybrids must sometimes be a case of "best disease than the Chinese chestnut trees guess." that he had seen, and suggested: My file on chestnut history gets larger every year, as I find yet another catalog or "This Japanese chestnut, Castanea ja- letter from the early days of this century. ponica might be used as a factor in hy- Many fine Asian trees have withstood 50 bridization experiments together with to 120 years of New England winters, American, European, and Chinese species to bugs and blight. We can use these in create immune or nearly immune strains of present and future breeding programs, as chestnuts." long as we remember to write it down for the people trying to puzzle this out 100 years from now.
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 33
SCIENCE
USEFUL REFERENCES Fairchild, D. The discovery of the Trees chestnut bark disease in China. Science Buckhout, W. A. 1896. Chestnut culture 38: 279-299. for fruit. Bulletin #36, The Pennsylvania State College Agricultural Experiment Merkel, H. W. 1905. A deadly fungus on Station, State College, P A. the American chestnut. New York Zool. Soc., 10th Ann. Rep., NY. Frothingham, E. H. 1912. Second- growth hardwoods in Connecticut. U. S. Murrill, W. A. 1908. The spread of the Dept. Agriculture, Forest Service chestnut disease. Jour. N.Y. Botanical Bulletin # 96, Washington, D. C. Garden 43: 23-30.
Fuller, A. S. 1896. The Nut Culturist; A Shear, C. L. and Stevens, N. E. 1913. Treatise on the Propagation, Planting The chestnut-blight parasite (Endothia and Cultivation of Nut-bearing Trees parasitica) from China. Science 38: and Shrubs Adapted to the Climate of 295-297. the United States. Orange Judd Co., New York. Shear, C. L. and Stevens, N. E. 1916. The discovery of the chestnut-blight Meyer, F. N. 1911. Agricultural parasite (Endothia parasitica) and other explorations in the fruit and nut chestnut fungi in Japan. Science 43: orchards of China. U. S. Dept. of 173-176. Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin #204, Washington, D. C. People Cunningham, 1. S. 1984. Frank N. Powell, G. H. 1898. The European and Meyer: Plant Hunter in Asia. Iowa State Japanese chestnuts in the Eastern Univ. Press, Ames, IA. United States. Delaware College Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin Fairchild, D. 1938. The World Was My #42, Newark, DE. Garden. C. Scribner's Sons, NY.
Zon, R. 1904. Chestnut in Southern Sutton, S. B. 1970. Charles S. Sargent Maryland. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, and the Arnold Arboretum. Harvard Bureau of Forestry Bulletin #53, Univ. Press, Cambridge, MA. Washington, D. C. Sutton, S. B. 1974. In China's Border Blight Provinces: The Turbulent Career of Anderson, P. J. and Rankin, W. H. 1914. Joseph Rock, Botanist-Explorer. Endothia canker of chestnut. Cornell Hastings, Co., NY. Univ. Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin #347, Ithaca, NY.
34 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
Table 1
CHESTNUT SPECIES
Section Castanea [three nuts per bur]
Castanea dentata (Marshall) Borkhausen…………..…..American Chestnut Castanea sativa Miller…………………………………..European Chestnut Castanea mollissima Blume…………………………...….Chinese Chestnut Castanea crenata Siebold and Zuccarini…………….…..Japanese Chestnut Castanea sequinii Dode………………………...Chinese Dwarf Chinquapin
Section Balanocastanon [one nut per bur]
Castanea pumila (Linnaeus) Miller variety pumila……………………………….Chinquapin, Bush Chestnut variety ozarkensis (Ashe) Tucker……………………..Ozark Chinquapin Castanea X neglecta Dode……………………...hybrid (?) between dentata and pumila in the wild
Section Hypocastanon [one nut per bur]
Castanea henryi (Skan) Rehder & Wilson….….Chinese Timber Chinquapin Henry Chinquapin
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 35
SCIENCE
FIGURE 1 A time line with some of the important events in the history of chestnuts in North America.
-1972 Hypovirulent strains of chestnut blight imported by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
-1930 A. H. Graves starts making hybrids in Hamden, Connecticut
-1915 Blight found in Japan by Meyer
-1913 Blight found in China by Meyer
-1904 Blight found in New York City by Merkel
-1903 First Chinese chestnuts imported by Sargent 1900-
-1886 Japanese chestnuts imported by Burbank
-1882 Japanese chestnuts imported by Parry
-1876 First Japanese chestnuts imported by Parsons
1800-
-1799 European chestnuts imported by DuPont
36 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
SCIENCE
APPENDIX F. W. Bruggerhof, president of J. M. Thorburn, Co., New U. S. Government Imports York City 1905 12681 Castanea vesca [sativa] The numbers attached to trees have caused San Giovanni a Teduccio near great confusion in recent years. The USDA Naples through Damman & Forest Pathology group gave imports their own Co. numbers, and some of these refer to specific 13130 Castanea crenata trees planted in Bell, MD and Savanna, GA. T. E. Steele, Palmyra, NY The "famous" C. mollissima import #58602 is 13131 Castanea sativa also known by its FP numbers 685, etc. Trees T. E. Steele, Palmyra, NY called GN, GO, etc. were C. crenata planted at 1909 26230-231 Bell, and MAU, MAW, ... , MBC, MBG, ... Castanea pumila X Castanea were C. mollissima that were growing at Bell. crenata VanFleet, Little Some of these are discussed in files of the late Silver, NJ Arthur Graves at the Connecticut Agricultural 26232-233 Experiment Station. Castanea pumila X Castanea The records of the Department of Plant “Paragon"; VanFleet, Little Exploration and Introduction, Bureau of Plant Silver, NJ Industry, and US Department of Agriculture 26234-235 list their official importations of chestnuts from Castanea pumila X Castanea 1901 to the present. I have copied here some of crenata their records up until 1925 when large numbers F2 selfed, VanFleet, Little of seed and scions started to be collected in a Silver, NJ desperate search for blight resistance. I have 1910 27587 Castanea (Corean) included information on the collectors when Yokohama Co. (purchased they are well known people, and Forest from nursery) Pathology designations where they are known 28513 Castonopsis to me. "Ber shin tze," Wu chang, Hupeh, China 1912 34517 Castanea sp. Date P. I. # Species and Information Tientsin (wild)
1913 35891 Castanea mollissima 1901 6530 Castanea sp. "Lee tze," Frank Meyer G. D. Brill; Hankow, China #1867a; low branching, open 6533 Castanea sp. headed; San Tun Ying, China G. D. Brill; Ichang, China 35917 Castanea sp. 6634 Castanea sp. Seoul, Chosen, Korea; free G. D. Brill; "seed mixed, large from insect injury, very and medium" China sweet, loose pellicle 1902 8362 Castanea sp. 36666 Castanea mollissima Lathrop and Fairchild; Canton, "Lee tze," Frank Meyer China #1893a; Pang shan region, 8393 Castanea crenata north east of Peking; 250 Ibs "Japan Mammoth," L. of seed (!) Boehmer & Co., Yokohama, 1914 37547 Castanea mollissima Japan Frank Meyer #1103; Yatzeko 1904 12773 Castanea crenata
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 37
SCIENCE 1914 37547 (village), south of Sianfu, 40035, wild in mountains, mild China said to have large fruits, climate only very blight resistant 40209 Castanea sp. 37548 Castanea mollissima Nanking, Kiangsu, China "K'uei li tzu," Frank Meyer, 40508 Castanea mollissima #2005a; one day's journey Frank Meyer #2179a; "Qui Ii south of Sianfu; a "Lee tze" tzu," more resistant to blight type with very large nuts than normal Yatzeko, S of Sian- 37799 Castanea mollissima fu, Shensi, Chi na "K'uei li tzu," Frank Meyer 1916 43832 Castanea henryi #2006a; Yatzeko, China (same cuttings from the Arnold Ar- as 37548); not very hardy boretum probably #551 of E. H. north of Washington, DC Wilson from 1908 37800 Castanea mollissima 1917 44197 Castanea mollissima "Yin li tzu," (means Silver Frank Meyer #2324a; Pangshan Chestnut), Frank Meyer district NE of Peking; dark col- #2007a; ordinary local ored nuts chestnut, small nuts, low 44198 Castanea mollissima branching, not tall, leaves Frank Meyer #2325a; Pangshan persist until spring district NE of Peking light col- 38182 Castanea mollissima ored nuts Frank Meyer #2013a; Taishan 44448 Castanea mollissima region near Taianfu, Shantung, Anhwei province, China China very susceptible to 44440 Castanopsis sp. blight, nuts peculiar, bent in at Anchin, Anhwei province, tops China 39550 and 39551 45255 Castanea crenata Castanea sp. Y. Kin, China, Hangchow, Che- Nanking, China (collected in- kiang Province; large nutted va- side city) riety 39618 Castanea sp. 45256 Castanea crenata Songdo, Chosen, Korea as above; small nutted variety 39413 Castanea crenata "Imperial," 45329 Castanea neglecta Tokyo, Japan D. Grinnan, Madison Co., V.A. 1915 39717 Castanea sp. Rapidan River bank assumed to Anhwei, Nanking, China be a hybrid, pumila X dentata 39866 Castanea sp. 1918 45330 to 45342 China Castanea sp. 39721 Castanea mollissima various o. p. seeds from W. Van Tientsin, China Fleet, Bell, MD 39965 Castanea crenata 45507 Castanea sp. Buitenzorg, Java o.p. seeds from J. W. Killen, Fel 40035 Castanea sp. ton, DE Frank Meyer #2173a; 45670 Castanea henryi as 43832 Huihsien, Kansu, China; 45858 to 45866 medium tall, slender trunk, Castanea sp. bark smoother than cuttings from Van Fleet, MD mollissima; leaves, burs, and 45947 Castanea mollissima Frank nuts smaller, likes shade, damp Meyer #2457a; "Ta pan li tze" soil "large board oak" seeds lchang, 40036 Castanea sp. Hupeh, China (mountains) Frank Meyer #2174a; 45948 Castanea mollissima Chenghsien, Kansu, China as Frank Meyer #2458a; "Wa li tze" "bean chestnut" wholly re- sistant to blight, wild trees 3000 J. F. Rock #6683; yellow clay to 6000 above sea level, Wan- forest 6 mi from Paitoupu, tiaoshan, Hupeh, China China 45949 Castanea sequinii 56082 Castanea sp. Frank Meyer #2459a; "Moh pan J. F. Rock #6683a; as above, Ii," "hairy board oak" shrubby smaller burs, spines different chinquapin totally resistant to 56083 Castanea sp. blight; lchang, Hupeh, China J. F. Rock #6686; near Tal- 46780 Castanea mollissima Wushek (sic), N China ipingpu, W of Talifu, China 46822 to 46831 56118 Castanea sp. Castanea neglecta J. F. Rock (no number); Cape Henry, V A Kancha, N of Tengyueh, China 47330 to 47348 56119 Castanea sp. Castanea dentata J. F. Rock #6683; Paitoupu, scions of trees found by A. H. China Graves, collected by W. Van 56128 Castanea sp. Fleet may have some blight re- J. F. Rock #6714; 6500 ft, N of sistance Manchi, China 1919 48555 Castanea crenata 56129 Caslanea sp. Kobe, Japan; seeds being loaded J. F. Rock #6715; tops of ridges for shipment to America above Menglien, China 48556 Castanea crenata? 1924 58602 Castanea mollissima Foochow, China, seeds from the Nanking, China; seed purchased market from Prof. J. H. Reisner, Forest- 1922 55079 Caslaneve saliva ry, University of Nanking Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co., 58659 Castanea mollissima France; leaves of various Yihsien, Shantung, China shapes, "heterophylla" 58719 to 58724 55827 Castanea sativa Castanea mollissima C. S. Sargent; from T. H. Sym- Shantung, China ington's land in Morristown, NJ 61834 Castanea sp. 55930 Castanea mollissima P. H. Dorsett #790; Fa Hua Ssu J. F. Rock #6165; Yangpi Mts. temple, Taitzu, Chihli, China; near Tsangshan Range, China finest nuts and trees seen 55984 Castanea sp. 61835 Castanea sp. J. F. Rock #6256; 8000 to 9000 P. H. Dorsett #791; Fa Hua Ssu ft, Yangpi Mts., China temple, Taitzu, Chihli, China; 55983 Castanea sp. ordinary nuts and trees J. F. Rock #6256; wild trees, 62129 Castanea mollissima 8000 ft, Haitung Range cast of N China, hardy, blight-resistant Lake Trail trees 56080 Castanea sp. 1925 62257 Castanea sp J. F. Rock #6682; 8200 ft, W P. H. Dorsett #1677; "Hu chaoli Talifu and 12 mi from Yung- Tzu" "Tiger Paw," same as ping, China #61834 56081 Castanea sp.
39 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
SCIENCE
62258 Castanea sp. from C. S. Sargent, Arnold P. H. Dorsett #1678, same as Arboretum; probably their #61835 #551, as 43832 62393 Castanea mollissima 65619 Castanea mollissima F. A. McClure #23; "Fung J. H. Dorsett #4687; "Ta chao Lut," Lungtin, Kwangtung, li tze" Tiger Paw, China same as #61834 62763 Castanea sp. 65620 Castanea mollissima P. H. Dorsett #1871; same J. H. Dorsett #4688; "Pai lu li source as #61834, nuts ripen tze" "White Dew," same as later #61835 65450 Castanea henryi
40
40 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
SCIENCE
Noteworthy Chestnut Trees In Connecticut Sandra L. Anagnostakis
The recent renewed interest in chestnut tree breeding, due primarily to the ef- Chinese forts of Charles Burnham, has raised Castanea mollissima questions about the availability of 1. Two trees of USDA-PI #70315, valuable germplasm. Chestnut trees of "hardy trees native to North-eastern several species have been available in China" planted 1r929. this country for a long time (see 2. USDA-PI #78744, "Tiger Paw" "History" by Anagnostakis), and the from the Fa Hua SSu Temple near Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Beijing, planted 1932. station and a few private land owners 3. Six trees of USDA-PI #104061 and have many very fine trees. Some of my #104063 from Chekiang Province, favorites are listed here to illustrate the China, planted 1935. richness of the resource. Trees are in 4. At least three trees of USDA-PI Experiment Station plantings #39721 from Tientsin, China, planted (which includes over 750 trees) unless 1916 at the Bartlett Arboretum otherwise noted. American SPECIES Castanea dentata Japanese 1. About 300 trees, seedlings from Castanea crenata Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and 1. Two trees planted in 1876, probably Connecticut, kept alive by "Parson's Japan," both on private land. hypovirulence in the blight fungus 2. USDA-PI #78626, seed from wild population trees in Oguriyama, Amori Ken, Japan, planted 1933. Chinkapins 3. USDA-PI #104015, Noveka Castanea pumila Eirinsho, Miyasaki-Ken, Japan, 1. Var. ulmila, four trees planted 1935. 2. Var. ozarkensis, eight trees
Sequine HYBRIDS Castanea sequinii crenata X dentata 1. Three trees of USDA-PI #70317, 1. Two trees planted 1931 "Mojut-tsz" Chiuhwashaan, Anhwei, mollisima X dentata E. Central China, planted 1929. 1. Four trees planted 1960
Henry Castanea henryi 1. USDA-PI #101587, “Chu-Lee” or "Chun Lee" "Pearl chestnut," Hsi- aofeng, Chekiang, China planted 1935.
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 43
SCIENCE
dentata X mollisima Hebard, Experiment Station staff, and 1. Two trees planted 1936 others for crosses and experiments for several years, and are likely to be here (mollisima X dentata) X dentata for future use as well. 1. Two grafts of the Clapper tree and one tree from seed planted 1955 called Sandra L. Anagnostakis “Graves” The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station These trees have been used by New Haven, Connecticut 16504 American Chestnut Foundation scientist Fred
44 Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION Index to Vols. I, II and III
Vol. I, No. I-July, 1985 Vol. I, No. 2-August, 1986
Donald C. Willeke Donald C. Willeke Introduction to The Journal of the Introduction to this Issue of The Jour- American Chestnut Foundation nal of the American Chestnut Mary A. Hosier, Charles R. Burnham, and Foundation Paul E. Read Dennis W. Fulbright Breeding Strategy for Blight The Survival of American Chestnut Resistant American Chestnut Trees in Michigan David W. French, Edward Hayes, William H. MacDaniels MacDonald, and M.L. Double Recollections of a Lifetime of Work First Report of Chestnut Blight in with the Chestnut Minnesota Charles R. Burnham William L. MacDonald Chestnut Hybrids from the USDA- Hypovirulence: A Potential Control Connecticut Breeding Programs for Chestnut Blight Philip A. Rutter Charles R. Burnham The President's Message Progress in the Current Program for Breeding Blight-Resistant FOUNDATION NEWS: American Chestnuts Nurserymen's Support • Nurseryman Makes Philip A. Rutter Standing Gift to the Foundation The President's Message • State Coordinators Appointed by the Foundation• Minnesota DNR Plantings • FOUNDATION NEWS: Founding Members of the Foundation • State Coordinators of Information for the Directors Receive Awards • Grants to the Foundation • The Directors of the Foundation from the Laurel Foundation of American Chestnut Foundation. • Annual Pittsburgh and from Wallace Meeting of the American Chestnut Dayton • New Directors • The Directors of Foundation the American Chestnut Foundation • Annual Meeting of the American Chestnut Foundation • Suppliers of Chestnut Seed and Seedlings
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 45
Vol. II, No. 1-December, 1987 Philip A. Rutter Philip A. Rutter President's Message The President's Message Ellen V. Kearnes Dennis W. Fulbright The Ecology and Genetics of Letter from the Editor American Chestnut Sprouts on L. Inman the Mount Holyoke Range Proposed Strategies to Preserve Frederick L. Paillet and Restore the American Chestnut Tree Genetic Diversity in Post- Charles R. Burnham Blight Populations of American Historical Overview of Chestnut Chestnut: Past, Present, and Breeding in the United States Future Charles R. Burnham Backcross Breeding: 1. Blight- FOUNDATION NEWS: resistant American Chestnut Formation of State Chapters Authorized • Trees; II Hardier Chinese Transplanting Chestnut Sprouts for Chestnuts Breeding Stock • State Coordinators• Peter Velguth Recent Publicity: Getting the Word Out • Preliminary Studies of Pollen Copies Donated• National Geographic • Tube Growth in Castanea Elliston Resigns from Board Honors • New Zealand, Australia, and France Need FOUNDATION NEWS: You • The Dunstan Hybrid Chestnuts • A National Chestnut Research Center • New York and the National Chestnut Honors for our officers Research Center Vol III, No. 1-February, 1989
Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation 46
The Journal of the American Chestnut Foundation is published twice a year by The American Chestnut Foundation, West Virginia University, College of Agriculture and Forestry, P.0. Box 6057, Morgantown, WV 26506-6057.
The American Chestnut Foundation is incorporated in the District of Columbia. It is exempt from income tax under §501 C(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and is qualified as a public supported organization under §§(a){l) and 170 (b)(l)(A)(vi) of the Code, Donors to the American Chestnut Foundation may deduct contributions as provided in §170 of the Code.
Submissions for future issues are invited from members of the Foundation and from others interested in the history and future of the American chestnut tree. All scholarly submissions appearing in the "Science" section are peer reviewed.
Letters and manuscripts to be considered for publication in the Journal should be sent to:
Dr. Angus W. McDonald, editor The Journal of the ACF 1056 Thirteenth Ave., S,E. Minneapolis, MN 55414
Volume V, Number 1 • Fall/Winter 1990-91 47
AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION West Virginia University College of Agriculture and Forestry, P.O. Box 6057 Morgantown, WV 26506-6057
_ I would like to become a Founding Member of ACF at the $2,000 level. I understand that in addition to other membership benefits, I will receive a signed porcelain bowl made especially for the American Chestnut Foundation by internationally recognized artist Dean Schwartz using Sung dynasty technology. After firing these bowls ring like a bell and show the leaf clearly. Several were taken as gifts for scientific leaders in China by President Rutter.
_ I would like to make a special $1,000 donation. I will receive, in addition to other membership benefits, one of the beautiful 18" diameter chestnut bur wreaths made by Sue Bockenhauer.
_ I want to keep the American Chestnut Foundation going strong. Enclosed are my membership dues of
□ $500 Patron Member □ $100 Sustaining Member □ $50 Contributing Member □ $25 Family □ $15 Regular
_ I would like to upgrade my membership for an additional $35. I will receive (in Spring, 1991) a packet of American chestnut seeds and a planting guide with the understanding that the blight may find them in a few years. In the years ahead the Foundation hopes to send members who have upgraded their membership seed from blight-resistant trees for testing.
_ Please send me______packages of Chestnut theme Christmas cards (50 cards and envelopes for $25/pkg.)
_ Please send me______packages of Chestnut theme all-purpose cards (50 cards and envelopes for $25/pkg.)
Enclosed is my check for $______made payable to the American Chestnut Foundation.
Name:______Address:______
THE AMERICAN CHESTNUT FOUNDATION State Coordinators
California Minnesota Mr. Bemard Monahan Mr. Daniel Stubbs 1620 Loganberry Way 16320 - 154th St. North Pleasanton, CA 94566 Marine on SI. Crois, MN 55047 612-433-3708 Connecticut Mr. Philip Gordon New York Department of Biology Dr. John W. Kelley Kline Biology Tower Cornell University 918 KBT p.a. Box 6666 Department of Natural Resources New Haven, CT 06511-8112 Fernow Hall 203-432-3510 Ithaca, NY 14853-0188 607-255-2110 Illinois Mr. Melvin Gerardo Ohio Nursery Supervisor Dr. Greg Miller RR #1, Box 182 Empire Chestnut Company Jonesboro, IL 62952 3276 Empire Road 618-833-6125 SW Carrollton, OH 44615 216-627-3181 or 216-735-2651 Mr. John A. Sester Staff Forester Pennsylvania Division of Forest Resources Mr. Dominic Demangone 600 N. Grand Ave., West RD 2, Box 84 Springfield, IL 62706 Latrobe, P A 15650 217-782-2361 412-539-8605
Maryland Wisconsin Stronghold, Inc. Mr. Bruce Gabel 7901 Comus Road RR. 1, Box 25 Holly Road Dickerson, MD 20842 Bloomington, WI 53804 Attention: Mr. Mark Swick 608-994-2247 301-874-2024