Proudly, I worked with the forest service here in Montana. To see this tree being grown now is a delight to me. I won't even live to use this wood but I sure like seeing it available again.
I found one on our hunting club here in Tennessee that’s about 12” across with several smaller ones around it. It was producing chestnuts last time I was there couple years ago.
I'm so happy to hear you're trying to preserve as much genetics and characteristics of the American chestnut as you can. You guys are doing God's work, don't give up!
@@technodrone313 Stewardship of resources is a foundational concept that goes back to ancient times. Indeed, allowing a field to go fallow is taught in the old testament.
@@pawpawstew That may be so, but their work still has nothing to do with god. If you are a god-goer you would have to admit the possibility that your god intended for the chestnut to be wiped out, an evil act to be sure!
we don't really need to argue about it being "gods" work or not. Some of us that are not religious, may think this is pure science, and cringe when hearing "god's work", while others, who are religious, still think it should be called such. Let's all agree, it WILL be great to bring back the Chestnut. We are gaining a lot knowledge in all parts of science. Some folks might not like it if "atheists" do this work, but let's all admit that this revival would be great. So in order NOT to bring up this type of confrontation, it might be best to try to live a bit more harmoniously with each other.
Wow. 1 mention of God and people get feisty. The fact of the matter is we have the tools and the intelligence to make a difference. Atheist or Saint, it has no bearing on the fact that people of the Appalachian area dearly miss this tree and these efforts to revive it are commendable. A big thank you to all involved in it's recovery.
Thank you so much for this update, and for all of the hard work you all are doing. It’s inspirational. I learned about the restoration project about 35 years ago and so look forward to the day when I can plant some blight resistant American Chestnut trees on my seven acre corner of the world. I know it takes time to get it right, and getting it right is so important. Perhaps I won’t be able to plant any in my lifetime, but hopefully my son can. 😊
I live in Norridgewock Maine. I planted two Castanea dentata seedlings about ten years ago. One died and the other is doing well. No blight and it is about 15' tall and healthy.
I ran across two very nice trees in Pisgah Forest not too far from Pisgah a few years ago. They were growing right next to each other on a steep slope at about 3800ft elevation. Both trees about the same size at around 40 to 50 feet and at the time were both hanging heavy in nuts. I have been thinking about a road trip this spring to check on them again. I have ran into a few of them over the years but none that made it above about 30 feet. These two were exceptional and exciting trees to see.
If I find them still in good shape I'll likely stop in at the Forestry Services office and find out who's the go to for that. They are on land maintained by the Forest Service and may already be know about? Hard to say, huge tract of land. They may even be on federal land, even better.
@@cookiesandcartoons this would be their demise because people who work with Chestnuts will come to work with them. These people will have fungus all over themselves and their cars and equipment no matter how clean they think they are. Best just to leave them alone.
@@TgWags69 They are professionals and can take such into consideration. Also the point is to find naturally occurring and blight resistant trees. All trees die eventually and at least by collecting seed the genetics can be preserved.
@@cookiesandcartoons The facts are that they can't as evidenced by the Stand found in Wisconsin. Stood for over 100 years quarrenteed by geography and prevailing winds. As soon as the "professionals" began to muck around, the blight was introduced and the trees are now dying. But their arrogance won't let them see it!
@@EZAZPI purchased from a mom and pop farm store in Williamsport Md near Hagerstown. Trees were grown in Florida and are special order. Sorry I just can’t recall name of farm store
@@EZAZPI is that the one with the chinese chestnut in it? if so. that is great. and good job. it seems the ones who suvived went sterile. and the way the smart people are trying to fix the problem is as usual wrong.
Just finished reading Richard Powers book The Overstory. The American chestnut has a lovely portion in the book. Think it was Rachel Carson who first suggested that if you remove one part of the web of life it disturbs more than is apparent at first glance. Still so much work to be done to realize our limitations when we act thoughtlessly in the natural world.
I have 3 very large and healthy chestnut trees on my property here in S.W. PA. Over 50 years old, my guess because they were here when we moved here in early 70's. They produce abundant quantities of chestnuts and the wildlife appear like clock work when they start to fall . I have already transplanted 3 saplings into the woods and they are doing fine.
I am trying to do my part. This was my father's favorite tree. Two of the five I am raising will be planted on his land in WV and his ashes will be planted underneath them. He will become a part of their story.
I know that the Native Americans, and from what I have read that the settlers as well, used chestnuts as a large portion of their winter food storage. I am sure it was nice to have something like the chestnuts, pop them in the wood stove, and then eat them. That was probably as close to instant food our ancestors had. I would like to see these blight resistant trees now be on the market at stores such as Walmart garden center, or Lowes garden center, just so people will start planting them as a food source again. I know that there was still quite few around during the great depression, as many relied on them. We need them for the next coming economic crunch, or at least as an extra added food source for when the global population hits 8 billion/food shortages.
The latest cross of the American Chestnut trees can be purchased by members of the American Chestnut Foundation in the spring. They’re sold as bare root trees 12-18 inches tall. 25 seedlings are $175.00. It will be many years before they are seen for sale in common nurseries like you suggested. The trees are still in a very tenuous state despite nearly 100 years of research/breeding in effort to restore the species.
@@Rhodesian_FAL That is high, but for 25 trees I suppose it is a good deal if one has the money for it. I would like to know if they will grow in Tennessee. I know our ancestors used to rely on Chestnuts to get through the winter, was a big depression era food, and food of our forefathers.
Love the video. I wish the D.E.C. cared about the upper Appalachian as much as you. Worthless pretty boys in gray in my area. All they do is sit in their trucks for 8hr shifts playing candy crush waiting for a Simi trailer or a train car to roll over. So I pick up trash at or around parks, because people suck.
It’s awesome to see the work being done to preserve the American Chestnut. I grew up in Southwest Va and saw numerous chestnut trees growing from the dead stumps of these trees. Almost all eventually died from the blight. I have seen several that did bear fruit but they were dying at the time. Only saw one tree that grew to be older with no blight. It was on our property on High Knob. This tree developed nuts for three years in a row. It was 23 years old and I planted its nuts all over our property. Sad thing is that some idiot cut it for firewood. I couldn’t believe it. Some of its nuts sprouted and are growing. I check them every year when I go back home.
Very interesting. Thank you. I had no idea that research and development have been going on for so long. Clearly this is not a trivial task. Good luck to you. it would be wonderful to see the American chestnut populate our forests once again.
Dutch Elm disease. Emerald Ash Borer. -most likely. Not to mention Dogwood Anthracnose. In Piedmont Maryland, our Ash trees are all dying. They can look fine until the moment they fall.
@@danbev8542 Most all of our ash here in Ontario are now in the last stages of dying off. You don't realize how much a part of life these trees were until they're gone. I'm old enough to remember the massively huge and spectacular elms that once grew everywhere. My Dad recalled a great chestnut that grew in their yard in the 30's. So sad.
@@MrLuridan Currently ash dieback, caused by a fungus of east asian origin, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus formerly known as Chalara fraxinea. Our native (made it accross from Europe before the English Channel broke through) ash is Fraxinus excelsior. Emerald ash borer is in the offing.
Excellent work. It will be a great day when the first commercial harvest of American Chestnut is done, and know that the species and it's connection to American life is again blossoming.
I spent about a quarter of a century planting trees throughout the west. The U.S.F.S. Was busy trying to develop blister rust resistant white pine, which was seriously driving the species towards extinction. They finally succeeded in their efforts and rust resistant w. pines are now a reality. I have faith they will succeed in this, too.
Kudos for this commendable effort. When I was younger I worked in an army ammunition plant. I ran and oven that heated brass rotating bands for the 7 in shell. The oven reached 1400 ˚. We would roast chestnuts on the outside of the oven. I hope that your efforts are successful, Losing such a integral part of the natural world is sad, very sad.
Thank you for all you do for the American Chestnut! My family has had a cabin in the woods of NH since I was in 2nd grade. My mom first showed me the Chestnut seedlings that still sprout up from former stumps along the pioneer road/trail and deeper in the woods. I've seen a succession of the sprouts grow to about 10 years, then get blight and die. A couple years ago I found a natural blight resistant Chestnut, about 7 inches wide. Hope it's still doing well! Is someone cross breeding from the very-rare naturally resistant trees? The hybrid program you have is sturdy and great. Chestnut wood has a beautiful grain. And is highly rot resistant. My mom taught me it had been a favorite for railroad ties, furniture (I have an antique chestnut chest).... As a kid I carved a mini-propeller from chestnut. Still have it.
Is there another seed that looks like the Chestnut? I ask because I'd swear I remember those smooth reddish brown nuts from when I was a child. The thing is, I grew up in Wisconsin, well outside the Chestnut range.
Horse chestnut (inedible, and not the same species) and "buckeyes" (a relative of the horse chestnut) both look pretty similar to an American Chestnut, at least, once the outer hulls are removed. Most obvious difference is that an American chestnut usually has a small "tail" that makes it look somewhat like a cartoon image of a beet or radish, where horse chestnut and buckeyes don't have that tail. In Wisconsin, you'd be in horse chestnut country, with a low but non-zero chance that you were encountering buckeyes.
Wow, I grew up by a site that had this blight on a post oak maybe. We called the tree, Mr Fatty Tree because it had a large butt swelling like that scarlet oak you showed here. It was a much larger swelling but looked identical. We lost most of the Chinquapin to this here in the Ozarks.
Organic is just a lie to rake in profits, almost everything we eat and use has been genetically engineered over centuries. The chestnut needs to be modified if it's to avoid extinction from the fungus that threatens it. It's like if you refused to have your appendix removed because doctors are modifying the inside of your body. Would you rather have an issue fixed that is killing you, or would you rather die from it
@Cal Irons So true. The act of fertilization in all plants and animals is primarily for reproduction, but also to add genetic improvements. The anti-GMO people frankly don't get that genetic modification is older than man.
@@DASVIZ0R I agree, look at dog species if those aren’t genetically engineered by humans I don’t know what is. Same for cattle, pigs,sheep,chickens lots of bred variants. Another example hemp vs marijuana one has more use for rope the other for intoxicant properties for about 3000 years. Take grapes for example if you drink a glass of any wine you are drinking a genetically modified species for let’s call it 3000 years maybe more, another example corn yup it started as a grass with small seeds and native Americans modified it to the giant ears of corn we all eat today. In fact, I doubt anyone that thinks they have some how avoided genetically modified species has ever done so today, it would be impossible and that includes your domestic car. Meow
Thanks for posting this video. As a coppice worker in the UK, I had heard of chestnut blight and its effects on the American chestnut, but some of the stills in the vid were graphic in showing the effects. Big question: What biosecurity measures does the US government have in place to prevent or reduce the likelihood of introduction of similar non-native plant pathogens in the future?
Have a few Dunstan hybrid chestnuts and Chinese chestnuts. They get smaller versions of the fungal cankers show in video, but swollen not sunken in. And the cankers don't progress to killing the trees. I've heard the Dunstans are just open pollinated seedings of hybrid chestnuts and mostly Chinese with a small fraction American chestnut. In any case, my trees are spreading and look like large apple trees. They're great for a nut orchard and none have the timber form needed to compete in forest. Hope some of your 94% American hybrids prove blight resistant and forest competitive. Agree with other commenter about need to start forest planting those engineered trees with the wheat gene that neutralizes the oxalic acid from the fungus. Both plant hybridization and intra-plant species gene transfer happen naturally, so I don't understand the red tape delays with starting forest planting of engineered trees.
Agree. If we could save the tree without introducing foreign genes, then great. But we can't. The next best thing is to keep the highest percentage of genetics we can. I don't think you can tell the difference between pure trees and wheat gene trees, so do it!
Dunstans are only 1/16 Chinese chestnut but when they are young the leaves appear much more like a Chinese. I've seen some 15-20 year old Dunstans at an arboretum, and they grow single trunk like an American without any blight. Unfortunately only male flower have been produced on those trees, no fruits...maybe they'll fruit when they get just a bit older.
I planted 2 Dunstan chestnuts in my back yard .( I choose Dunstan because it more resistant to blight ..... the drawback of planting chestnut tree near a house would be the spiky chestnut shell which you don't wanna go barefoot under chestnut tree.
Unfortunately that is impossible, the fungus cannot be contained or controlled. The best that can be done is to create a tree with 95% american chestnut and 5% asian chestnut. Besides it's not like populations of related species of plants don't already share genes naturally though hybridization at overlap of their ranges or by seeds occasionally being transferred great distances by water wind, animals or whatever which then filter back into the rest of the population through successive generations. "horizontal gene transfer" is actually pretty common in nature.
There was a small producing American Chestnut tree (20-25 ft) were I cut grass at a boat yard and marina in Lewes Delaware, but the owners developed the property and cut down the tree even after I had told them it was there and it's significants.
IDEA: Subaru Motors has been adverting a major tree planting program ... it seems like a no brainer to approach them to support/sponsor chestnut plantings.
I found some American chestnuts in a woody area of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I could hardly believe it for a while.The largest is about 8 inches diameter at chest height and a number of saplings maybe 2 inches and less. As I've seen no fruits over the 4 years since I found them, they're likely suckers from older trees now deceased (stumps in the area). Though I've seen no evidence of blight, I doubt they're resistant. The few plantings of hybrids I've seen up here don't look much like the American chestnut to me (leaf texture/color/shape/size). So sad. Thank you for your work.
I'm lucky enough to have a fairly large American chestnut tree in my backyard in Boonsboro Maryland. My wife watched a UA-cam video last year Townsend and son 18th century cooking she made a chestnut pie from the nuts the pie was actually good.
Hello Sir, Would it be possible to get some seeds , to be planted on my property ,i live in Washington county as well . I know of (3) other trees approx 24” at the base in the area thank you
How did all the American chestnut trees come to be originally confined to such a small area, compared to the area that it could have been very successful ?
Timothy, I planted about a dozen in Springfield West Virginia about 3 years ago and so far most are doing well. Although they were kinda of expensive due to their 6’ size but well worth it. Just curious as to what part of WV yours are planted Thanks
So the chestnut lived under ice during the last ice age? I'd love to look at this problem myself. they could be missing a major factor of plant health.
The ice didn't swallow the entire continent. Most of the glaciers stopped in Ohio and Pennsylvania. We used to go to the moraines that marked the ice limits on field trips in school.
@@tmdillon1969 the point I was trying to make was the dating is way off. There have been devastating environmental events that happen regularly every 12,000 years +/-. Makes the multimillion year claim wrong.
@@gsmscrazycanuck9814 if they can point to trees being in a geographic area for 10 million years via pollen, fossils, etc. then they are not wrong. And they can do that.
@@tmdillon1969 areas are being redated all the time. Glaciers thought to be millions of years old are being revised to thousands of years. I guess if they see these trees in coal formations they know that they have been around for at least 12,000 years.
About time someone saved the Chestnut trees instead of the never-die redwoods in Northern California that didn't need to be saved but do need to be saved from the only mill in the country now that is clearcutting and damaging the environment. Before the little mills were shut down there were healthy forest there that were cut selectively.
@@notthatguy4703 Humans will eat anything, even if is toxic in some way. Animals have the ability to sense toxic food and not eat it, even if they're starving.
So hunters were not the sole blame of decline for wild turkey and deer. One of their main food sources was eliminated from the ecosystem. I learned today.
Who does plant DNA. I have been told by four times by two professional botanists that my trees are American Chestnut but those are just opinions, which years ago were good but I would rather get DNA definitive proof. Any suggestions and I do not want the Chestnut Society who wants the coordinates of each tree and want to get free nuts and then sell them for $5 a piece. My trees are none of their business.
the american chestnut society only wants my money/ what is different in here? asks the rainbow family. why have i never heard of this research. when i live in the woods year round? it is now my job to help in any way possible. but only if you are not trying to sell me something
Proudly, I worked with the forest service here in Montana. To see this tree being grown now is a delight to me. I won't even live to use this wood but I sure like seeing it available again.
I have two chestnut growing in my yard, both blight resistant. So far so good.
if you haven't already, You might want to contact the forest service, they might be interested.
I found one on our hunting club here in Tennessee that’s about 12” across with several smaller ones around it. It was producing chestnuts last time I was there couple years ago.
I'm so happy to hear you're trying to preserve as much genetics and characteristics of the American chestnut as you can. You guys are doing God's work, don't give up!
They are doing established science.
@@technodrone313 Stewardship of resources is a foundational concept that goes back to ancient times. Indeed, allowing a field to go fallow is taught in the old testament.
@@pawpawstew That may be so, but their work still has nothing to do with god. If you are a god-goer you would have to admit the possibility that your god intended for the chestnut to be wiped out, an evil act to be sure!
we don't really need to argue about it being "gods" work or not. Some of us that are not religious, may think this is pure science, and cringe when hearing "god's work", while others, who are religious, still think it should be called such. Let's all agree, it WILL be great to bring back the Chestnut. We are gaining a lot knowledge in all parts of science. Some folks might not like it if "atheists" do this work, but let's all admit that this revival would be great. So in order NOT to bring up this type of confrontation, it might be best to try to live a bit more harmoniously with each other.
Wow. 1 mention of God and people get feisty. The fact of the matter is we have the tools and the intelligence to make a difference. Atheist or Saint, it has no bearing on the fact that people of the Appalachian area dearly miss this tree and these efforts to revive it are commendable. A big thank you to all involved in it's recovery.
Thank you so much for this update, and for all of the hard work you all are doing. It’s inspirational. I learned about the restoration project about 35 years ago and so look forward to the day when I can plant some blight resistant American Chestnut trees on my seven acre corner of the world. I know it takes time to get it right, and getting it right is so important. Perhaps I won’t be able to plant any in my lifetime, but hopefully my son can. 😊
I live in Norridgewock Maine. I planted two Castanea dentata seedlings about ten years ago. One died and the other is doing well. No blight and it is about 15' tall and healthy.
thank you for this video, the more people that know about the A. Chestnut the better
I ran across two very nice trees in Pisgah Forest not too far from Pisgah a few years ago. They were growing right next to each other on a steep slope at about 3800ft elevation. Both trees about the same size at around 40 to 50 feet and at the time were both hanging heavy in nuts. I have been thinking about a road trip this spring to check on them again. I have ran into a few of them over the years but none that made it above about 30 feet. These two were exceptional and exciting trees to see.
Report the location to the American chestnut foundation so that they can collect the genetics
If I find them still in good shape I'll likely stop in at the Forestry Services office and find out who's the go to for that. They are on land maintained by the Forest Service and may already be know about? Hard to say, huge tract of land. They may even be on federal land, even better.
@@cookiesandcartoons this would be their demise because people who work with Chestnuts will come to work with them. These people will have fungus all over themselves and their cars and equipment no matter how clean they think they are. Best just to leave them alone.
@@TgWags69 They are professionals and can take such into consideration. Also the point is to find naturally occurring and blight resistant trees. All trees die eventually and at least by collecting seed the genetics can be preserved.
@@cookiesandcartoons The facts are that they can't as evidenced by the Stand found in Wisconsin. Stood for over 100 years quarrenteed by geography and prevailing winds. As soon as the "professionals" began to muck around, the blight was introduced and the trees are now dying. But their arrogance won't let them see it!
I’ve planted about a dozen of the blight resistant trees on my land in West Virginia.
So far so good👍👍👍
where did you buy them?
@@EZAZPI purchased from a mom and pop farm store in Williamsport Md near Hagerstown.
Trees were grown in Florida and are special order. Sorry I just can’t recall name of farm store
@@wecandobetter9821 Tractor Supply
@@EZAZPI is that the one with the chinese chestnut in it? if so. that is great. and good job. it seems the ones who suvived went sterile. and the way the smart people are trying to fix the problem is as usual wrong.
Just finished reading Richard Powers book The Overstory. The American chestnut has a lovely portion in the book. Think it was Rachel Carson who first suggested that if you remove one part of the web of life it disturbs more than is apparent at first glance. Still so much work to be done to realize our limitations when we act thoughtlessly in the natural world.
Wonderful sources and your helpful insight and enthusiasm
Good work. Thanks to all of you.
Great work yall! American history in the making and saving.
I have 3 very large and healthy chestnut trees on my property here in S.W. PA. Over 50 years old, my guess because they were here when we moved here in early 70's. They produce abundant quantities of chestnuts and the wildlife appear like clock work
when they start to fall . I have already transplanted 3 saplings into the woods and they are doing fine.
They may be Chinese Chestnuts, they are immune to the blight. They are close enough to American Chestnuts to cross pollinate and produce hybrids.
If they are fairly large trees I would bet they are Chinese Chestnut.
@@buckrockerm Could be but I think they are a hybrid mix of the two.
You need to get in touch with local forrest service. They are looking for large specimens.
I never cared for chesnuts too much growing up, appreciate them more now a days
thank you for your efforts
As a child I could remember chestnut trees on our farm being wiped out!
So pleasing that this work is under way!!
I am trying to do my part. This was my father's favorite tree. Two of the five I am raising will be planted on his land in WV and his ashes will be planted underneath them. He will become a part of their story.
We're heading towards a second pangaea with so many "invasives". Hope we get to see some massive chestnuts in the future.
It is excellent to see such efforts to restore a native key species tree. Enjoyed the videos very much. Iain (Scotland)
Truly superb presentation!! Thanks.
I know that the Native Americans, and from what I have read that the settlers as well, used chestnuts as a large portion of their winter food storage. I am sure it was nice to have something like the chestnuts, pop them in the wood stove, and then eat them. That was probably as close to instant food our ancestors had. I would like to see these blight resistant trees now be on the market at stores such as Walmart garden center, or Lowes garden center, just so people will start planting them as a food source again. I know that there was still quite few around during the great depression, as many relied on them. We need them for the next coming economic crunch, or at least as an extra added food source for when the global population hits 8 billion/food shortages.
The latest cross of the American Chestnut trees can be purchased by members of the American Chestnut Foundation in the spring. They’re sold as bare root trees 12-18 inches tall. 25 seedlings are $175.00. It will be many years before they are seen for sale in common nurseries like you suggested. The trees are still in a very tenuous state despite nearly 100 years of research/breeding in effort to restore the species.
@@Rhodesian_FAL That is high, but for 25 trees I suppose it is a good deal if one has the money for it. I would like to know if they will grow in Tennessee. I know our ancestors used to rely on Chestnuts to get through the winter, was a big depression era food, and food of our forefathers.
Love the video. I wish the D.E.C. cared about the upper Appalachian as much as you. Worthless pretty boys in gray in my area. All they do is sit in their trucks for 8hr shifts playing candy crush waiting for a Simi trailer or a train car to roll over. So I pick up trash at or around parks, because people suck.
Good news in a swirl of bad news. I love this.
It’s awesome to see the work being done to preserve the American Chestnut. I grew up in Southwest Va and saw numerous chestnut trees growing from the dead stumps of these trees. Almost all eventually died from the blight. I have seen several that did bear fruit but they were dying at the time.
Only saw one tree that grew to be older with no blight. It was on our property on High Knob. This tree developed nuts for three years in a row. It was 23 years old and I planted its nuts all over our property. Sad thing is that some idiot cut it for firewood. I couldn’t believe it. Some of its nuts sprouted and are growing. I check them every year when I go back home.
This is so refreshing, "to see Science instead of $cience ".
Very interesting. Thank you. I had no idea that research and development have been going on for so long. Clearly this is not a trivial task. Good luck to you. it would be wonderful to see the American chestnut populate our forests once again.
I hope you guys manage to produce more hardy Chestnut trees, I have watched the Elm tree go in England and now the Ash is following it.
What's happening to them? Is it disease, or climate related?
Dutch Elm disease. Emerald Ash Borer. -most likely. Not to mention Dogwood Anthracnose.
In Piedmont Maryland, our Ash trees are all dying. They can look fine until the moment they fall.
@@danbev8542 Most all of our ash here in Ontario are now in the last stages of dying off. You don't realize how much a part of life these trees were until they're gone. I'm old enough to remember the massively huge and spectacular elms that once grew everywhere. My Dad recalled a great chestnut that grew in their yard in the 30's. So sad.
@@MrLuridan Currently ash dieback, caused by a fungus of east asian origin, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus formerly known as Chalara fraxinea. Our native (made it accross from Europe before the English Channel broke through) ash is Fraxinus excelsior. Emerald ash borer is in the offing.
Excellent work. It will be a great day when the first commercial harvest of American Chestnut is done, and know that the species and it's connection to American life is again blossoming.
I spent about a quarter of a century planting trees throughout the west. The U.S.F.S. Was busy trying to develop blister rust resistant white pine, which was seriously driving the species towards extinction. They finally succeeded in their efforts and rust resistant w. pines are now a reality. I have faith they will succeed in this, too.
Keep up the great work I'd gladly plant one in my backyard I live in Northwest Ohio
The native Americans depended on it for thoughsand of years it was a big staple in there diet! Very important!
Great Work guys, very nice video. Best LCI
Where can we order those restoration quality seedlings?
Kudos for this commendable effort. When I was younger I worked in an army ammunition plant. I ran and oven that heated brass rotating bands for the 7 in shell. The oven reached 1400 ˚. We would roast chestnuts on the outside of the oven. I hope that your efforts are successful, Losing such a integral part of the natural world is sad, very sad.
Incredibly interesting.
ive been plantin this tree on my place since about 2020 in wv they seem to be doin great
Thank you for all you do for the American Chestnut! My family has had a cabin in the woods of NH since I was in 2nd grade. My mom first showed me the Chestnut seedlings that still sprout up from former stumps along the pioneer road/trail and deeper in the woods. I've seen a succession of the sprouts grow to about 10 years, then get blight and die. A couple years ago I found a natural blight resistant Chestnut, about 7 inches wide. Hope it's still doing well! Is someone cross breeding from the very-rare naturally resistant trees? The hybrid program you have is sturdy and great. Chestnut wood has a beautiful grain. And is highly rot resistant. My mom taught me it had been a favorite for railroad ties, furniture (I have an antique chestnut chest).... As a kid I carved a mini-propeller from chestnut. Still have it.
Is there another seed that looks like the Chestnut? I ask because I'd swear I remember those smooth reddish brown nuts from when I was a child. The thing is, I grew up in Wisconsin, well outside the Chestnut range.
Horse chestnut (inedible, and not the same species) and "buckeyes" (a relative of the horse chestnut) both look pretty similar to an American Chestnut, at least, once the outer hulls are removed. Most obvious difference is that an American chestnut usually has a small "tail" that makes it look somewhat like a cartoon image of a beet or radish, where horse chestnut and buckeyes don't have that tail. In Wisconsin, you'd be in horse chestnut country, with a low but non-zero chance that you were encountering buckeyes.
@@felsinferguson1125we had a cow that would come wobbling across the pasture drunk on the buckeye nuts every year she was hooked lol
Wow, I grew up by a site that had this blight on a post oak maybe. We called the tree, Mr Fatty Tree because it had a large butt swelling like that scarlet oak you showed here. It was a much larger swelling but looked identical. We lost most of the Chinquapin to this here in the Ozarks.
I hope the approval comes soon for genetically engineered American Chestnut trees. A 30% survival rate for the cross bred trees isn't going to cut it.
Not to mention a hybrid will always be a hybrid. The Darling 58 is the American chestnut + one gene from wheat.
@@cookiesandcartoons Another bonus is, a lot of people won't use the wood or eat the chestnuts because hey, GMO!
Organic is just a lie to rake in profits, almost everything we eat and use has been genetically engineered over centuries. The chestnut needs to be modified if it's to avoid extinction from the fungus that threatens it. It's like if you refused to have your appendix removed because doctors are modifying the inside of your body. Would you rather have an issue fixed that is killing you, or would you rather die from it
@Cal Irons So true. The act of fertilization in all plants and animals is primarily for reproduction, but also to add genetic improvements. The anti-GMO people frankly don't get that genetic modification is older than man.
@@DASVIZ0R I agree, look at dog species if those aren’t genetically engineered by humans I don’t know what is. Same for cattle, pigs,sheep,chickens lots of bred variants. Another example hemp vs marijuana one has more use for rope the other for intoxicant properties for about 3000 years. Take grapes for example if you drink a glass of any wine you are drinking a genetically modified species for let’s call it 3000 years maybe more, another example corn yup it started as a grass with small seeds and native Americans modified it to the giant ears of corn we all eat today. In fact, I doubt anyone that thinks they have some how avoided genetically modified species has ever done so today, it would be impossible and that includes your domestic car. Meow
Thanks for posting this video. As a coppice worker in the UK, I had heard of chestnut blight and its effects on the American chestnut, but some of the stills in the vid were graphic in showing the effects. Big question: What biosecurity measures does the US government have in place to prevent or reduce the likelihood of introduction of similar non-native plant pathogens in the future?
I wonder if I could plant these newer trees in New Jersey ?
Have a few Dunstan hybrid chestnuts and Chinese chestnuts. They get smaller versions of the fungal cankers show in video, but swollen not sunken in. And the cankers don't progress to killing the trees. I've heard the Dunstans are just open pollinated seedings of hybrid chestnuts and mostly Chinese with a small fraction American chestnut. In any case, my trees are spreading and look like large apple trees. They're great for a nut orchard and none have the timber form needed to compete in forest. Hope some of your 94% American hybrids prove blight resistant and forest competitive. Agree with other commenter about need to start forest planting those engineered trees with the wheat gene that neutralizes the oxalic acid from the fungus. Both plant hybridization and intra-plant species gene transfer happen naturally, so I don't understand the red tape delays with starting forest planting of engineered trees.
Agree. If we could save the tree without introducing foreign genes, then great. But we can't. The next best thing is to keep the highest percentage of genetics we can. I don't think you can tell the difference between pure trees and wheat gene trees, so do it!
Dunstans are only 1/16 Chinese chestnut but when they are young the leaves appear much more like a Chinese. I've seen some 15-20 year old Dunstans at an arboretum, and they grow single trunk like an American without any blight. Unfortunately only male flower have been produced on those trees, no fruits...maybe they'll fruit when they get just a bit older.
I planted 2 Dunstan chestnuts in my back yard .( I choose Dunstan because it more resistant to blight ..... the drawback of planting chestnut tree near a house would be the spiky chestnut shell which you don't wanna go barefoot under chestnut tree.
I believe preserving the American chestnut trees would be better than producing hybrids
Unfortunately that is impossible, the fungus cannot be contained or controlled. The best that can be done is to create a tree with 95% american chestnut and 5% asian chestnut. Besides it's not like populations of related species of plants don't already share genes naturally though hybridization at overlap of their ranges or by seeds occasionally being transferred great distances by water wind, animals or whatever which then filter back into the rest of the population through successive generations. "horizontal gene transfer" is actually pretty common in nature.
There was a small producing American Chestnut tree (20-25 ft) were I cut grass at a boat yard and marina in Lewes Delaware, but the owners developed the property and cut down the tree even after I had told them it was there and it's significants.
That's actually awful! A tragedy
@@10thletter40 Yea, it was growing right on the edge of a wooded area just on the other side of a fence.
damn that’s the history of american forests in a nutshell
IDEA: Subaru Motors has been adverting a major tree planting program ... it seems like a no brainer to approach them to support/sponsor chestnut plantings.
I found some American chestnuts in a woody area of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I could hardly believe it for a while.The largest is about 8 inches diameter at chest height and a number of saplings maybe 2 inches and less. As I've seen no fruits over the 4 years since I found them, they're likely suckers from older trees now deceased (stumps in the area). Though I've seen no evidence of blight, I doubt they're resistant. The few plantings of hybrids I've seen up here don't look much like the American chestnut to me (leaf texture/color/shape/size). So sad. Thank you for your work.
I would love to grow this in my backyard. I am restoring a section of forest in Northern Virginia.
I'm lucky enough to have a fairly large American chestnut tree in my backyard in Boonsboro Maryland. My wife watched a UA-cam video last year Townsend and son 18th century cooking she made a chestnut pie from the nuts the pie was actually good.
Hello Sir, Would it be possible to get some seeds , to be planted on my property ,i live in Washington county as well . I know of (3) other trees approx 24” at the base in the area thank you
@@garyfunk1346 Are you from the Mt. Lena area I know a few people around here with the name funk. Yea you can have all the seeds you want
I wish I could have a chestnut in Colorado. I think my growing season is too short, and yards are too small to fit proper trees.
there's one on the salmon river in idaho near shepp ranch
I didn’t realize the American Chestnut was huge!
can’t tell ya, never seen a mature one
I Still love chestnuts
My dad used to rave about the American chestnuts.
In my hometown the chestnut tree disappeared due to over building.I saw beautiful chestnut trees cleared for houses.
How did all the American chestnut trees come to be originally confined to such a small area, compared to the area that it could have been very successful ?
One person I know in northern Michigan vhas a fully mature chestnut
I have planted about 50 of Dr Dunston’s blight resistant American chestnuts in Wva which are about 5 years old now just starting to bear
Timothy, I planted about a dozen in Springfield West Virginia about 3 years ago and so far most are doing well.
Although they were kinda of expensive due to their 6’ size but well worth it.
Just curious as to what part of WV yours are planted
Thanks
The CCC planted 40acres of American Chestnuts not far from where I live now. Near Wellston Michigan.
Mycorrhization roots of seedlings chestnuts can help fight with this disease. Wheter someone checked this method?
Do you wear the hard hats in expectation of chestnuts falling some day?
My neighbor has a huge one. Atlanta ga
So the chestnut lived under ice during the last ice age? I'd love to look at this problem myself. they could be missing a major factor of plant health.
The ice didn't swallow the entire continent. Most of the glaciers stopped in Ohio and Pennsylvania. We used to go to the moraines that marked the ice limits on field trips in school.
@@tmdillon1969 the point I was trying to make was the dating is way off. There have been devastating environmental events that happen regularly every 12,000 years +/-. Makes the multimillion year claim wrong.
@@gsmscrazycanuck9814 if they can point to trees being in a geographic area for 10 million years via pollen, fossils, etc. then they are not wrong. And they can do that.
@@tmdillon1969 areas are being redated all the time. Glaciers thought to be millions of years old are being revised to thousands of years. I guess if they see these trees in coal formations they know that they have been around for at least 12,000 years.
@@gsmscrazycanuck9814 sure....
Less the Ash, around 9:20. . . .
About time someone saved the Chestnut trees instead of the never-die redwoods in Northern California that didn't need to be saved but do need to be saved from the only mill in the country now that is clearcutting and damaging the environment. Before the little mills were shut down there were healthy forest there that were cut selectively.
Hopefully, these new breed of Chestnut, if it survives, bears fruit that is edible for animals as well as humans.
it does. Why wouldn't it?
@@notthatguy4703 Humans will eat anything, even if is toxic in some way. Animals have the ability to sense toxic food and not eat it, even if they're starving.
So hunters were not the sole blame of decline for wild turkey and deer. One of their main food sources was eliminated from the ecosystem. I learned today.
sole blame? where does someone even find this kind of nonsense?
Send me about 5 to 10 chestnut saplings , I'll be glad to plant them in my yard
Who does plant DNA. I have been told by four times by two professional botanists that my trees are American Chestnut but those are just opinions, which years ago were good but I would rather get DNA definitive proof. Any suggestions and I do not want the Chestnut Society who wants the coordinates of each tree and want to get free nuts and then sell them for $5 a piece. My trees are none of their business.
Sad that the radical anti science facebook mom type people are so opposed to the gmo chestnut
You aren’t as smart as you think you are
There is nothing wrong with wanting to preserve a pure species. Same as in the American Bison 🦬 most of them are crossbred with cows
grafting
I am believing if we do grafting I think that can change the trees. or like growing a chestnut and a walnut tree togethor will change the world
Sure sounds to me that the chestnut tree (LIKE ALL TREES} is conscious
What
So, what is it thinking?
@@Bob_Adkins how dumb this tree hugger is
@@mr.underhill2761 Don't be rude please
Such a shame what has happened to the American Chestnut
The Earth is 6000 years old.
Most every species of anything are keystone species.
that’s literally not the definition of keystone but OK
What wealthy family is responsible for bringing in these diseases, merchant or who? Native Americans had it together.
One thing I would think about doing is cross breeding thing
It doesn't work
Wrong on the millions of years
how
Mythic quality, yes, but at no time did anyone think about the possibility that it was being used up. Then a blight came.
Now there's oak wilt Kill ng oaks in Wisconsin.
the american chestnut society only wants my money/ what is different in here? asks the rainbow family. why have i never heard of this research. when i live in the woods year round? it is now my job to help in any way possible. but only if you are not trying to sell me something
How do you rate the tree as hundreds of millions of years old? That is foolish talk and kinda ruins your credibility right off the bat.
ok