North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Melissa Kacalanos <mijwiz@yahoo.com>]

As far as I know, there is only one chestnut tree in this neighborhood. It 
had impressive bristly hulls, which it dropped in fall. They had stunted 
little chestnut shells in them, with no nuts.

Is this the sign of a lonely tree with nothing to pollinate it? If I were to 
attempt to play matchmaker and try to fit one chestnut tree into my yard, how 
close does it have to be to the neighbor's tree to get pollination? Do I have 
to worry about bloom times or other compatibility issues when choosing a 
variety?

I'm thinking along these lines because I like chestnuts, but don't think I 
have room for two trees in my own yard, not because I'm really feeling for 
the lonely tree.

Melissa