American chestnut attempts

ln NCE ONE of the most plentiful Vand useful woods in U.S. forests. American chestnut (Castanea dentata) has long since fallen on hard times. But a current upswing in interest and research is aimed at returning the beautiful, durable hardwood to its former prominence.

Long ago, about one ofevery four trees in the eastern United States was an American chestnut. But in the early 1900s, a devastating fungal plague hit New York, quickly spreading to destroy virtually every chestnut in its path. Although some American chestnuts can be found today in the West, young trees and sprouts struggling to grow out of dead trees in the East eventually succumb to chestnut blight themselves. Blighted trees are termed "wormy chestnut."

The growing American Chestnut Foundation, Morgantown, W.V., recently established a research farm in Virginia, hoping to turn things around for the hardluck hardwood. And for good reason.

American chestnut's value is obvious. Trees average 80 to 100-ft.

tall and 3 to 4-ft. wide. They attain this height quickly, often adding a half inch or more in diameter annually.

The heartwood is pale brown with wide growth rings. It resembles oak without the broad "silver ray" figure. The wood is straight-grained, lighter in weight than oak and also easier to work. It is remarkably rotresistant, nails and glues well, and stains and polishes to an excellent finish.

Story at a Glance

Previously prolific American chestnut now a rarity due to blight. . . foundation aims to reinstate it. fast growing hardwood boasts beauty and durability.

American chestnut has low bending strength, medium crushing strength, moderate steam bending capabilities, and very low stiffness and resistance to shock loads.

Its uses include furniture, interior woodwork, office desks and equipment, coffins, tanks, utensils and fence posts. Wormy chestnut may be used for furniture and picture frame mouldings.

Its bark provides tannin, which can prove valuable in tanning leather but also can corrode metal with which it comes into contact under damp conditions. Most noteworthy are the tree's tasty chestnuts, long considered a delicacy.

Related species include the Spanish or European chestnut (Castanea sativa), Chinese chestnut (Castanea milissima), and Japanese chestnut (Castanea crenata), all of which are more resistant to the blight than the American chestnut. The water chestnut, Cape chestnut, Moreton Bay chestnut and horse chestnut (buckeye) are a different genus and species.

The majority of chestnuts used commercially in the U.S. are imported. And stopping the chestnut blight is a prerequisite for the hardwood to regain its homegrown abundance and stature.

Also: Southern Yellow Pine K.D.