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The Rural Voice, 1999-08, Page 55Andrew Grindlay 1 1 Bringing back the American chesnut Nineteen farmers in southern Ontario are helping to restore the American chestnut tree to its position of prominence in our forests. Another five will join in the project this fall. All 24 have agreed to plant chestnut seed- lings that came from nuts on trees that are believed to be blight -free and to care for them for at least 15 years. If the experiment is successful, we should, in a few years' time, see that magnificent tree growing wild in our forests as it did almost a century ago. Biodiversity, the biologists point out, does not mean introducing new species; it means restoring native species and protecting them. The American chestnut is a native species that needs help. Each farmer in the project was given 50 chestnut seedlings to plant in approximately one acre. Some planted them as a windbreak. Some planted them in a plantation, usually mixed with trees of some other species. And some people planted the seedlings among existing trees in a woodlot. However they were planted, each seedling was given sufficient room to get plenty of sunlight and provided with protection from mice and other animals. To protect the seedlings from the chestnut blight, that has nearly wiped out these beautiful trees, none is planted within one mile of an existing chestnut tree. The American chestnut is a threatened species, meaning that if steps are not taken to protect it, it could join the endangered list and no longer be seen growing naturally in Canada. Recognizing the danger, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) assembled a coalition of about a dozen farm and natural resources groups who agreed to supply funding, expertise and labour in an attempt to restore the American chestnut. Even the farmers who agreed to plant the seedlings were asked to contribute $400 to help defray the costs. Many contributed more. The American chestnut is quite different from the more common horse chestnut that we see around many farm houses. The horse chestnut, with its beautiful blossoms in the spring of the year, has a cluster of five leaves at the end of each twig - like the fingers of your hand. The American chestnut, however, has leaves that are 6-8 " long, 2-3 " wide and arranged alternately along the twig (not in pairs). Some of the nuts used to create the seedlings for the project were gathered from a single tree on a tobacco farm in Brant County. The tree is 34" in diameter and 80' tall; it is believed by experts to be pure American chestnut and to be blight - free. The rest of the nuts came from eight trees in New York State. All of the nuts were planted in the nursery of the Grand Valley Conservation Authority at Burford and the seed- lings carefully labelled. As the trees grow to maturity foresters will monitor their progress and be able to draw some conclusions about the best seed sources and growing conditions. The American chestnut can grow to a height of 100 feet with a trunk diameter of six feet. The wood is rot -resistant and straight - grained. It was used for split -rail fences, railroad ties, shingles, musical instruments and fine furniture. The sweet -tasting nuts, the ones we sing about at Christmas, contain less than two per cent fat. In the 1940s there were approximately two million American chestnut trees in Ontario, almost all within what is called the Carolinian zone, an area south of an imaginary curved line between Grand Bend and Toronto. In 1997, the Canadian Chestnut Council recorded only 136 sites with chestnut trees in excess of .4" in diameter. Woodlot owners are encouraged to keep a close watch for American chestnut trees and if they find one, to GREY BRUCE! FORESTRY SERVICE Getting the Most $ From Your Pine Plantation The market for poor quality tree stems is very limited. A variety; of management techniques are required to improve the quality and value of your pine plantation: On-going white pine weevil pruning in young plantations (starting who' 3' high) will protectstem quality. Crop tree lower limb pruning will produce clear, knot -free lumber. Plantations as young as 20 yrs old should be thinned, to open up the canopy for more vigorous growth. Our experienced staff can evaluate and provide the management requirements of your plantation. Call now for more information! A Co-operative Program Between: Grey Saublc Conservation Authority R.R. #4, Owen Sound N4K 5N6 (519) 376-3076 gsca@bmts.com Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority R.R. #l, Hanover N4N 3B8 (519) 364-1255 svca@bmts.com AUGUST 1999 51