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After
months of worry and waiting, the Georgia Chapter of TACF finally
reaped the benefits of all the hard work of the spring pollination
team. Within a week, all three pollination sites were harvested and
the nuts safely stored until spring planting.
It was a sunny, warm day for fall when the bags full
burs were plucked from the Carl Meyer tree in Walker County.
Approximately 70 burs of the BC3 (AB248) nuts were collected. These
were produced from the cross of Carl's tree and a Meadowview Research
Farm BC2 resistant tree.
It was a different story in Gilmer County for the
harvest of burs from the Fowler tree. The first scheduled day was
stormy and rainy and finally the harvest took place on the foggy
mountain top. The largest living American chestnut tree in Georgia
had a bad year as it continued to struggle against the blight.
Hurricane
Denise damaged it further and tore most of the protective bags from
the developing burs. Chapter members were anxious to pollinate the
tree this year and capture its genes since the trees condition is
deteriorating.
Thanks to the generous donations of ETC (Ellijay
Telephone Company- Fowler Tree) and Ezzell, Inc of Rome
(Meyer Tree) for providing bucket trucks and operators for the
harvesting work without cost to the chapter. |
Hill Craddock and John the bucket truck
driver harvest
The Carl Meyer Tree Harvesters
(l-r) Carolyn Hill, Carl Meyer, Martin Cipollini, Hill Craddock, Mike
Hinson, Ken McDaniel, Jim Hill |
