North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Heron Breen <breen@fedcoseeds.com>]

Hi All,
Just to report in:
A final word on the Maine originating variety "Cherry Pippin". It has 
officially 
passed from this earth, and is in no one's collection I know of. Speak now or 
forever hold your peace. The owners of the property/family that had the tree 
reported it died maybe 10 years ago with no attempts to propagate it. This 
tree was 
over 100 years old. Its passing took place before my involvement with 
heirloom 
fruit. Others knew of it, but did not propagate it. There is some dislike 
among 
certain "collectors" and "explorers" in Maine for each other, so that one 
person's 
work is not taken up by another. I believe it is called a peeing contest?
A lesson learned again: If you hear of an old tree, don't hesitate, put your 
BS 
aside and propagate it, even if it turns out to be a false lead. 
Another one bites the dust.
But along the way, and here is the silver lining, I talked to a random older 
person 
who knows where another Maine cultivar has been hiding...right under my nose 
on a 
road I drive 100 times a year. I'll be there this week, you can be sure.
Heron Breen
zone 4b, Maine