Steadyjohn
American Chestnut (some survivors & a revival)
NOTE: Photo above is from Wikipedia :American Chestnut Nuts with Burrs and Leaves. Photo by Timothy Van Vliet 2004 from his Orchard in New Jersey
Note the figures of the two men standing amongst these huge trees. Before the chestnut blight these trees often towered 100' and had diameters of 8-10'.
The American chestnut was once one of the most important trees in our eastern hardwood forests. It ranged from Maine to Georgia, and west to the prairies of Indiana and Illinois. It grew mixed with other species, often making up 25 percent of the hardwood forest. In the virgin forests of the Appalachian Mountains, the ridges were often pure chestnut. Mature trees could be 600 years old and average 4 to 5 feet in diameter and 80 to 100 feet tall. Specimens as large as 8 to10 feet in diameter were recorded.
The American chestnut's annual production of highly nutritious nuts was extremely reliable. At the turn of the 20th century it was ranked as one of the most important wildlife plants in the East. Many wildlife species depended extensively on them. Bear, deer, wild turkey, squirrels, many birds and small mammals - and once, the huge flocks of passenger pigeons – all waxed fat for the winter in the chestnut forests.
Eastern rural economies depended on the nuts as well. Livestock were fattened on them, and the nuts were a major cash crop for many families in Appalachia. Railroad cars full were shipped to the big cities for the holidays, because of the high demand for this finest-flavored of all chestnuts.
Go to linked source below for more information, most especially for details on the fungus blight that all but wiped out these magnificent trees, and, of the present attempts to bring about reforestation.
Read more about American Chestnut revival:
Chestnut trees may get a dose of good health
American Chestnut (some survivors & a revival)
NOTE: Photo above is from Wikipedia :American Chestnut Nuts with Burrs and Leaves. Photo by Timothy Van Vliet 2004 from his Orchard in New Jersey
Note the figures of the two men standing amongst these huge trees. Before the chestnut blight these trees often towered 100' and had diameters of 8-10'.
The American chestnut was once one of the most important trees in our eastern hardwood forests. It ranged from Maine to Georgia, and west to the prairies of Indiana and Illinois. It grew mixed with other species, often making up 25 percent of the hardwood forest. In the virgin forests of the Appalachian Mountains, the ridges were often pure chestnut. Mature trees could be 600 years old and average 4 to 5 feet in diameter and 80 to 100 feet tall. Specimens as large as 8 to10 feet in diameter were recorded.
The American chestnut's annual production of highly nutritious nuts was extremely reliable. At the turn of the 20th century it was ranked as one of the most important wildlife plants in the East. Many wildlife species depended extensively on them. Bear, deer, wild turkey, squirrels, many birds and small mammals - and once, the huge flocks of passenger pigeons – all waxed fat for the winter in the chestnut forests.
Eastern rural economies depended on the nuts as well. Livestock were fattened on them, and the nuts were a major cash crop for many families in Appalachia. Railroad cars full were shipped to the big cities for the holidays, because of the high demand for this finest-flavored of all chestnuts.
Go to linked source below for more information, most especially for details on the fungus blight that all but wiped out these magnificent trees, and, of the present attempts to bring about reforestation.
Read more about American Chestnut revival:
Chestnut trees may get a dose of good health