North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

I've harped on this before, but the main problem is that the commercial varieties are mostly Canadian selections from the dry Prairie Provinces where disease isn't a problem.  However, the genus Amelanchier is very widespread in North America and it should be possible to find locally adapted selections in many parts of the country if you but look.  Here, the Canadian types had over 75% infection with rust, while local forms had less than 5%.  The local types weren't as sweet, but I've no doubt that a serious explorer could find better quality selections if they look.  That was how the Canadians did it in the first place - looked for the best wild types and bred from them.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003. 
For even more grape lessons, go to  http://www.grapeschool.com
For growing supplies and more;  http://www.grapegrowersolutions.com

On May 20, 2007, at 6:44 PM, William C. Garthright wrote:


> I don't know if you have the same problem I have with Serviceberry but the fruit is attacked every spring by Quince Rust here in SoCar.  This is the first year in seven that they haven't been attacked and totally ruined by the rust.


Well, I must admit this thread is a little disappointing, since I'd been 
thinking that Serviceberries (Juneberry, Saskatoon, Shadblow, etc.) 
might be interesting to try. Somewhere, I read that they taste rather 
like a blueberry (which I love), but that they don't require acid soil. 
I was wondering how they'd do in Nebraska, and which varieties might be 
recommended for fresh eating (shrubs, by preference, though I might be 
able to handle a small tree).

Well, all fruit has problems, I suppose. I don't want to hijack this 
thread, but I'd be interested in other comments about Serviceberries in 
general.

Bill