The Mary Belle Price Chestnut Tree, which was planted on the Dalton
State College campus in October of 2006, has recently been
pollinated in an effort to increase the number of blight-resistant
trees throughout the state.
“This was the first time we pollinated the tree,” said Dr. Don
Davis, Professor of Sociology and the founding president of the
Georgia Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, which sponsored
the pollination efforts.
“We placed pollen from pure American chestnuts on the tree in order
to create blight-resistant trees that have more American
characteristics. The nuts will be harvested in the fall and given to
chapter members.”
Davis, who helped establish the Georgia Chapter in 2004, said
membership in the chapter has grown to more than 200 members
statewide. The chestnut hybrid that was planted on the Dalton State
campus honors Mary Belle Price, who is a Dalton native and a key
American Chestnut Benefactor, Davis said.
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Professor Don Davis of Dalton State helped pollinate the hybrid
chestnut tree that was planted on the campus in 2006.
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