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https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1476327661618225153.html

According to this article the american chestnut was amazing. Until it was wiped out by blight brought over from chinese chestnuts.

Wait, what? Why were chinese chestnuts being brought to America, when american chestnuts, and chestnut trees, were so much better?

Well, it could only be to undercut the market.

And where did the importation of this chinese chestnut blight happen?

In New York City.

Numerous american traditions, and ways of life, ruined by "someone" doing business in NYC, trying to undercut the american chestnut market.

Ask yourself who, and why.

I'm not saying its the usual suspects, but at this point I would not be surprised.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1476327661618225153.html According to this article the american chestnut was amazing. Until it was wiped out by blight brought over from chinese chestnuts. Wait, what? Why were chinese chestnuts being brought to America, when american chestnuts, and chestnut trees, were so much better? Well, it could only be to undercut the market. And where did the importation of this chinese chestnut blight happen? In New York City. Numerous american traditions, and ways of life, ruined by "someone" doing business in NYC, trying to undercut the american chestnut market. Ask yourself who, and why. I'm not saying its the usual suspects, but at this point I would not be surprised.

(post is archived)

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

Chestnuts were used to line streets due to their growth habits. There was a large market for chestnuts that was wiped out too.

Now look at the varroa mite and honey bees....

[–] • 2 pts

It's always the usual suspects. Fuck them.

[–] • 1 pt

Many a colonist and early American built their cabins with chestnut logs that still exist today. As time went on and more European traditional style homes were built many of them were sheathed over with clapboard siding to match that of their neighbors. A log cabin had become a sign of poverty. Throughout the latter nineteenth century during tear downs and or remodels or additions many a homeowner was surprised to find they had been living in a log cabin. Chestnut was also used in the wood structures inside of large brick or stone buildings in the cities. Massive chestnut beams and thick chestnut flooring planks are an extremely profitable prize of the salvage companies. It is a beautiful and strong wood that lasts forever. There are still stumps out there in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia that I know of that are to this day quite solid and robust cut down in the 1700’s. I once owned a cabin there rebuilt from a barn dated 1845. Wormy chestnut makes beautiful furniture if you can find it. It is still around here and there, but very pricey.

[–] • 0 pt

What a wonderfully informed reply. Thank you GoatHeadSoup.

[–] • 1 pt

Thank you GetCynical. I happened upon my interest in chestnut trees as a small child in the basement wood shop of my grandfather’s two story chestnut log home he had salvaged and rebuilt onto a hillside to allow for a half exposed basement. In it he had stacks of wormy chestnut that he made furniture from. He took me to a holler a few times in the early to mid sixties where a single surviving chestnut tree was to harvest the nuts for Christmas time. Years later when I moved back that way for a spell I tried many, many times to locate it, but never could find it. I’ve often thought about that grand ol’ tree, grandpa and collecting those chestnut burrs. There are other surviving American Chestnut trees out there. Hopefully someday they’ll find a way to bring them back.

[–] • 0 pt

Thankfully we still have Chinquapins in the south.