Dale: A number of years ago--at least 20 or so, I talked to an individual who had some good information, I think, about the history of the planting of NS in America. I lost my notes, and doubt I could find the person again. Anyway, here is a summary of what I know.
First, many Norway spruce are older than they might seem on first glance. There is fairly good indications of surviving NS planted at about 1835 or so. I know of several such trees. There is one I saw in Brooklyn Township in PA--a former AFA national champ--that looked to me to be about that old. What may be the oldest NS based on its appearance and maybe a guess about the history of the house, is in Leesburg, VA at the mansion at Morvin Park (open to the public). It is the very old one growing right next to the house. I would love to know its age, but I would not be surprized if it was planted at about 1800, possibly before. Yes, I know appearances can be deceiving, but I am making an educated guess, having seen a number from the period around 1835. The first time NS was planted in any numbers--according to a story I was told--was at the time of the Columbian Exposition in Chicagi in 1893. NS seedlings were distributed to people who visited the German pavilion. There is an old German tradition of planting "bride and groom" trees in the front yard of houses, one on each side of a front walk. You see many, many of these pairs of trees all across the larger northeastern US. Often one is gone, but the other survives. Many of these may date from 1893. There are a several such pairs surviving here in Winchester, VA The first real "mass" planting was done by the CCC in the 1930's. There are hundreds and hundreds of such plantations. A lot of them have been cut, unfortunately, but a lot survive. There have been a fair number planted since, many as Christmas tree plantations that were not harvested and have grown up. My stands have this origin, and were planted in 1966. --Gaines ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On Jan 4, 11:45 am, Dale Luthringer <[email protected]> wrote: > James, > > I'm reluctant to core the tree. It's the only one on site of its stature, > and in a state natural area. It's part of an old family plantation, the > General Irvine estate. He was a Rev War era general who after the war > received partial pay in a large land grant. I'd defer to Scott or Will who > would know more about when the first Norway's were introduced into > Pennsylvania. It certainly wouldn't go any older than that, but I wouldn't > be surprised that it'd make it to over 100 years old. > > Dale > > On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 11:12 AM, James Parton <[email protected]>wrote: > > > > > Dale, ENTS > > > Does anyone have an estimate on the age of the Anders Run spruce? > > > JP > > > On Jan 4, 9:43 am, Dale Luthringer <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > Gaines, Will, > > > > The last time I measured the Anders Run Norway spruce it was at 10.5ft > > CBH x > > > 135.2ft high on 10/18/06. A Norway in the 140ft class would be an > > > incredible find for the Eastern U.S. > > > > Dale >- -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
