North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Joe and Ellen Hecksel <jhecksel@voyager.net>]

Erdman, Jim wrote:


> Never did get any specific recommendations about 
> varieties to try to grow for wood.  We need to replant some 
> trees in some fields that we have replanted to trees 
> for timber, 


I think we got distracted by issues of color of wood, grain, strength, 
etc.  I think that if I were to plant apple for *timber* I would focus 
on rapid growth rate and good form, i.e. sparce branching.  Resistance 
to canker is also an issue.

I think I would stick to triploids.  In my experience the vigorous 
diploids (like Northern Spy) tend to branch heavily.  I have grown 
Spigold and think it would be a dandy timber tree.  The relatively light 
crops of fruit taste excellent as well.  Winterhardiness might be an 
issue for you.  Gravenstein and Ribston Pippen are triploids and are 
supposed to be easy growers and hardy but I have not personally grown 
them.  Mutsu/Crispen grows like a house-a-fire but I have lost a few to 
canker.

> and I thought it would be good to grow 
> something other than maple, oak, walnut, butternut, etc.,  
> especially as my son likes to carve spoons, turn 
> bowls, etc.,  and he finds that apple, lilac, and plum give 
> nice results.  




--
-Joe Hecksel
My personal website: http://my.voyager.net/~jhecksel