Natural Regeneration from a 40-year Old Chinese Chestnut Planting

A Chinese chestnut planting of PI 58602 stock was established successfully 40 years ago in Killingly, Conn. In 1965, 36 of the original 50 trees were alive and fruiting. Five acres of an adjacent old field were sampled for the amount of chestnut regeneration. Natural regeneration of chestnut has occurred in the old pasture for at least 15 years, averages about 50 chestnut trees per acre, and occurs up to 700 feet from the original planting. Some of the older volunteers have already begun to fruit. Stem form is poor both for the original trees and the seedlings even though they have developed in situations ranging from full exposure to heavy shade. The value of Chinese chestnut trees as nut producers for wildlife is stressed.