Homestead mailing list

[Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net>]

I got a reply on the old apple tree topic from the Vintage Virginia  
Apples folks, included below for the benefit of the list.   Thanks to  
Susan Jane, in Maine, for suggesting them.

Roy


Begin forwarded message:

> From: <fruit AT vintagevirginiaapples.com>
> Date: April 11, 2008 11:30:48 PM EDT
> To: Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net>
> Subject: Re: The Old Apple Trees here
>
> Roy and Celia,
>
> The best way to identify your trees is from the fruit, and time of
> ripening.  Is it possible to get fruit to us?  If you have any info on
> varieties that might have been grown on the farm from local historians
> or neighbors, that would be helpful.
>
> As far as preserving the tree through grafting, it is probably too  
> late
> this year.  You need one-year wood (at the tip of upper or outside
> branches or, secondarily, watersprouts) with tight buds.  Once buds
> break dormancy,it is too late to bench graft.  You can bud graft in  
> the
> field, but we have no experience with that.  Someone like Tom Burford
> might be able to help with that.  If you are moving from your farm,  
> try
> to get permission to collect scion wood next winter (Feb or Mar).
>
> Thanks for your interest in Vintage Virginia Apples.
>
> Regards,
> Chuck Shelton
> 434-297-2326
>
>
>
> On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:54:17 -0400
>  Roy Morgan <k1lky AT earthlink.net> wrote:
> > Hi Sheltons,
> >
> > Folks on the Homestead mailing list encourage us to preserve the
> >  possibly old variety apple trees we have.  The oldest part of our
> >  house was built in the 1780's and we have a couple of apple trees
> >  that *seem* that old.  (We are in Lovettsville, across the river
> > from  Point of Rocks.)
> >
> > We'd like to learn about how to identify them, and most likely how to
> >  graft some parts onto new hearty root stock.  It's quite possible
> >  that we will move from here by  early-summer, so we want to do what
> >  we can before then.  I see that you hold workshops.  No doubt one of
> >  them would be good for us, but I see we missed the March grafting
> >  workshop.
> >
> > Any suggestions would be most welcome.  And, of course, if our trees
> >  turn out to be of interest to you, we'd be thrilled to share them
> >  with you.
> >
> > Roy and Celia Morgan
> > 13033 Downey Mill Rd
> > Lovettsville, VA 20180