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TOPIC: Live Oak Project, Ms. State Champion Live Oak
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/5fd6bf2ba66cf496?hl=en
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== 1 of 6 ==
Date: Sat, Jun 14 2008 6:14 pm
From: Larry


ENTS, Well I finally got up to Pearl River Co., in Southwestern
Ms., to locate, Photograph and Measure our State Champion Live Oak. I
wasn't disappointed, what an Awesome Speciman! CBH-36'5", Spread-165'
and Height-73'! Making it the new # 3 Live Oak on the
Listing!

The day began traveling to Poplarville Ms., for the annual Blueberry
Festival they are famous for. I had already decided while I was in the
area that I would locate the champ near Picayune Ms. about 30 miles
away after taking in the Festival. The temperature was in the high 80's
with high humidity making the trip slightly unpleasant, but once I
located the champ I forgot how hot it was. If you have never
experienced a South Ms., summer you don't know what your missing!
After talking to some locals about the tree location it was time to go
find it. It is located near the Pearl
River in the community of Walkaih on private property. After I got in
the area I flagged down a local and asked for directions to the tree.
He said' " follow me I'll take you right to it. After a short drive we
found it, I thanked him and pulled up to the property. Luckily, Mr.
George Watts the owner was home, he invited me in and we talked tree
for a good while, then I went out to gaze at the biggest Live Oak I'd
seen since Oak Alley! Wow what a tree, the last few Hurricanes have
broken a couple of limbs but in all the tree looked quite well.
Spanish Moss was everywhere in the tree as was ressurection fern. This
tree is smaller than Middleton but not by much, maybe a future volume
tree! We have permission to volume it anytime we wish. The Champ is
located in a country setting growing on a rise adjacent to the Pearl
River Flood Plain. I got several photos I'll post them on the file
page and I updated the listing.

Larry Tucei

== 2 of 6 ==
Date: Sat, Jun 14 2008 6:27 pm
From: "Edward Frank"


Larry,

Sounds very impressive! Did you get some photos of the tree? Upload to the discussion list files section if you have photos.

Ed Frank

== 4 of 6 ==
Date: Sat, Jun 14 2008 6:32 pm
From: "Will Blozan"


Sweet!

The dimensions you got are a bit different from those on the MS Champion
Tree List.

http://www.mfc.state.ms.us/pdf/Pubs/35-05%20Champion%20Trees.pdf

I look forward to the photos!

Will

== 5 of 6 ==
Date: Sat, Jun 14 2008 7:09 pm
From: Larry


Will, Yeah the tree hasn't been measured in many years. The Height I
got was 72.95' with the ENTS method and Spread 165'. The CBH was also
wrong it was listed at 30', I got 36'5". This is a big tree but not as
big as the Middleton! I need to get back down to Louisiana, that's
where I think the biggest volume Live Oaks are located. Best growing
conditions, Soil, Water, Sunlight, Climate, etc. Larry

== 6 of 6 ==
Date: Sat, Jun 14 2008 7:35 pm
From: "Edward Frank"

Larry,

Why do you think there was the big difference in girth? Was the previous measurement taken at a different height?

Ed

== 3 of 3 ==
Date: Sat, Jun 14 2008 10:10 pm
From: "Paul Jost"


It only needed to grow about 1 foot radially to accomplish this large
increment in girth. These big live oaks have fairly thick annular rings,
right? Do we have any idea how long ago it was measured?

PJ

==============================================================================
TOPIC: Live Oak Project, Ms. State Champion Live Oak
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/5fd6bf2ba66cf496?hl=en
==============================================================================

== 1 of 4 ==
Date: Sun, Jun 15 2008 5:32 am
From: Larry


Paul, You are correct. The last measurement was over 10 years ago
and we know they can grow .25-.375" radially a year, or more!

== 2 of 4 ==
Date: Sun, Jun 15 2008 5:39 am
From: dbhguru@comcast.net


Larry,

That is a whopper! It needs to be modeled.

Bob

== 3 of 4 ==
Date: Sun, Jun 15 2008 5:47 am
From: Larry


Bob, I'll get working on it. Larry

== 4 of 4 ==
Date: Sun, Jun 15 2008 6:04 am
From: "Paul Jost"


Sure, and with low branching trees like a lot of typical live oaks, the
girth measurement point will be the narrowest point less than or equal to
4.5 feet off the ground.

I believe that side branches and leaning trunks will put on growth rings
that are narrower on the upper side and thicker on the downward sides, so a
wide spreading multitrunked or low-branched live oak form, at the point that
we measure, could likely put on greater girth faster than a straight,
vertical, single-stemmed tree.

Otherwise, on a single-boled tree, some foresters measure the girth too
high, starting from the highest point that ground touches the bark, ignoring
obvious upward ground heave by the roots.

There are lots of reasons for girth measurements to vary both over time and
between different measurers not following the same standard.

Paul