American Chestnut Foundation offering a reward for the largest chestnut tree

[dundee]

Also possible, but don't count your chickens...

Nature will counterbalance as best it can. Remember the Gypsy Moth? It was supposed to wipe out our forests here in the ADKs. While it did damage, the forests recoverd and we haven't had an attack in years.

I've read where woodpeckers may be able to control the damage in the forests; we'll see.

[DSettahr]

Originally Posted by dundee

That may be possible. AFAIK, the fungus does not directly attack the roots, only the above ground part of the tree. The roots will send up new growth, but that will in turn be attacked by the fungus. Maybe there is only so much stress a tree can take?

I don't think it is so much that the blight is beginning to affect the root structure as it is that after 100 years, the continual re-sprouting of small shoots is no longer providing enough carbohydrates to support the root structures.

[dundee]

Yes, that's what I meant. Maybe I should have said it differently.

[mgc]

I have dozen chestnuts that a friend of mine gave me. They are from a tree on his property in Livingston County. I am starting them this winter (along with some tree peony seeds) and hope that I can raise a few trees from them. I have seen the trees he owns. There are two of them. They seem to to quite healthy and are producing chestnuts every year.
The seedling trees that I bought from the chestnut foundation have not done too well. Critters ate a couple of them (deer, rabbits), a couple of them simply died, I weedwhacked one (not too happy about that) and my neighbor (obsessive compulsive trimmer/pruner) chopped one down the same day she devastated my Hazzlenut bush. There are two trees left....I hope at least one of them survives. They are beautiful trees.
I recently bought an American Chestnut board from an acquaintance in Canada....I paid the long loonie for it. The EH Gerrish canoe I have in queue has chestnut decks, seats and thwarts. One of the thwarts is not original (it's oak) so I'll use the board to make a replacement. I'm glad I was able to find wood. My backup plan was to buy an old dresser at an auction and turn it into boards.