PERTH AMBOY ELM TREE OF 1815.

CRYOPRESERVE 1815 ELM TREE

Perth Amboy , New Jersey, has, in its city hall yard, an Elm tree planted in 1815 which has

withstood bouts of Dutch elm disease and poundings of brutal storms for over 200 years. The tree is

considered a symbol of the sea coast town 's strength and ties to the nations history.

Agriculture researchers and the officials of the city want to ensure the genetic heritage of this

tree. Originally, the plan was to save the elm's seeds by the cryopreserve method, but it was found

because there was no other elm tree nearby to pollinate the flowers, therefore there were no embryos

within the seeds. Now, twigs, cut from the aging trees branches, will be stored in a 'flash frozen ' state

for decades or even centuries. That's what the crypreserve method is.

New Jersey's DEP , USDA, the national laboratory of Genetic Resources Preservation in

Colorado are the principals involved in this effort.

Abstract from article by Jan Suszkiw, in the March 2017 issue of Country Folks Grower

newsletter of Palatine Bridge, New York .