Genetically Modified Forest Planned

[Mike Cantolina]

What do you think? Is this going too far?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/a...netically-modified-pine-tree-southwest-forest

 

[Meadow Beaver]

I know for a long time people have been cross breeding trees for the best qualities. The Colorado Blue spruce was made by cross breeding, my dad knew the guy who worked on making them.

Mike where are you located at in PA?

 

[PB]

I know for a long time people have been cross breeding trees for the best qualities. The Colorado Blue spruce was made by cross breeding, my dad knew the guy who worked on making them.

Mike where are you located at in PA?

Planting blue spruce is different than planting Euc trees in the southeast. I see that going bad, new pests, bad habitat for existing animals, escaped plants.

Remember when they thought it was a great idea to plant Australian pine?

Seems risky, crops are one thing but planting an ecosystem seems worse.

 

[Meadow Beaver]

We need to be more strict about what comes into this country. Just look at all the damge the Chestnut blight and the emerald ash borer did, and they both came from China.

 

[PB]

We need to be more strict about what comes into this country. Just look at all the damge the Chestnut blight and the emerald ash borer did, and they both came from China.

Honestly, those are nothing in comparison to what the first Europeans brought over with them. They thought dandelions were beautiful, same with puple loosestrife and phragmites. Earth worms, gobes in the great lakes, zebra mussels, etc.

Ship ballasts hold all kinds of crap.

 

[joesawer]

It is supposed to be genetically altered to not reproduce.
I remember the timber companies imported the Virginia pine to the SE. That went over Sooo well and we are still suffering from them.

But I doubt it could be any worse than private hedge or kudzu!

 

[forestryworks]

crappy choices. that's how it is with introduced species.

why not improve the genetics of what's already there?

 

[Gypo Logger]

Over a hundred years ago, Jack London the famous writer, planted trees in Calif from Australia.

" He experimented with innovative ideas such as growing spineless cactus, which was developed by his friend, the “Plant Wizard”, Luther Burbank (who lived in nearby Santa Rosa), for use as a cattle feed in arid regions; unfortunately, the cactus was not completely spineless and could not be used for feed. He imported thousands of Australian eucalyptus trees hoping the wood could be used for hardwood lumber and pier pilings, but the wood was found to be too soft."

http://www.getyourwordsworth.com/WORDSWORTH-JackLondon.html

 

[Meadow Beaver]

Only if they made trees that grew 6' diameter and 200' tall in a year.

 

[Hddnis]

Only if they made trees that grew 6' diameter and 200' tall in a year.

They are called poplar. lol

Weeds!



Mr. HE

 

[Meadow Beaver]

Yeah we've got em too, but they don't get that big. I'm talking black walnut, 200' tall, 6' through.

 

[Hddnis]

Yeah we've got em too, but they don't get that big. I'm talking black walnut, 200' tall, 6' through.

That would be nice. Walnut is fun wood to work with. I've been through some walnut orchards that seemed like endless miles of trees that were getting rather close to that big. It was a hot summer day and that stretch of highway felt cooler.


Of course, if we could get growth like that I would want 10' DBH and 300' Dougs, Redwoods, and cedars. There is just something about dropping long straight poles...


Mr. HE

 

[Gypo Logger]

There is just something about dropping long straight poles...


Mr. HE

I know exactly what you mean!
Gypo

 

[Hddnis]

Yukon, is that an Oak?

How long is the main trunk?




Mr. HE

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hello Mr. He. That's a Black Cherry. If I recall correctly I think it was between 28 and 32 feet. I believe I cut two tens and one eight out of it.
More Cherry.
Gypo