From: Joe and Ellen Hecksel <jhecksel@voyager.net>
To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Hmmm...what am I missing
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 19:23:15 -0500
Gang:
I must be missing something here. If apple trees breaking at the graft
union are a major concern why not just drive a metal splice across the
graft union?
That will probably work for simple bending but will not be adequate for
torsional (or twisting) stresses. An earlier post mentioned a need for
three posts to address twisting.
Regarding Black Locust. Fast grower but not very shade tolerant. Some
people claim it has allopathic effects that dwarf Black Walnut. I am
pollarding mine instead of coppicing. I want to see if I can avoid
heavy suckering.
I see different species and cultivars the way I see the many tools in my
tool box. Black Locust is a bit like a ball peen hammer. There are
times when no other tool will do. And then there are times when use of
the ball peen hammer will cause much damage.