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2. One of my garden club members is the Past President of the Board of directors <br />of Fernwood, and I am also acquainted with the (an) Berrien County Agricultural <br />Extension person affiliated with Michigan State. If you would think it would be helpful, <br />I could ask these persons for suggestions or with help obtaining written opinions from <br />appropriate professionals as to the effect of pruning on the health of the tree. <br />3. I would be willing to spend some time looking at old records to see if I can find <br />documentation of the age of the "old" walnut tree. I would welcome any suggestions as <br />to possible source material, but will otherwise start with the library and the Center for <br />History. I have counted tree rings on a section from a smaller walnut tree which was <br />previously cut on this property and is still in our garage. The tree appears to be about <br />25-30 years old, both by ring count and this would also have been my estimate judging <br />simply from the size of the tree. I can make an estimate of the average annual growth <br />rate and estimate the time it would take to reach the size of the "old" walnut tree if we <br />assume a constant average growth rate based that number. My rough estimate is still <br />that the large walnut tree in question is probably older than the house. <br />4. As I recall, you said one reason for the request made by Mr. Philippis is that <br />the walnuts damage his roof. I believe that statement is not correct for several reasons. <br />1. The section of garage roof which is immediately below the tree has nobroken <br />shingles or other obvious damage. I will bring pictures to document this. <br />2. When I recently discussed with Mr. Philippis the damage to the roof on his <br />house which occurred this past winter when he was out of town, he made the <br />following points: <br />a. A roofer who had given him a repair estimate has said that the damage to <br />his house roof was due to poor air circulation in his attic and to improper <br />ventilation. Also, the walnut tree is not positioned in such a way as to easily <br />allow nuts to fall on the house roof, and particularly not on those sections <br />that have caused damage to the interior of his house during the past winter. <br />b. Mr. Philippis stated also that the roof on our house (2119 Portage/ <br />Marble-Brinley House) and that on his were done at the same time by the <br />same roofer. We have even more walnuts falling on our roof than does Mr. <br />Philippis, and yet we did not have water damage. Our attics are very high <br />and we do have ventilation which maybe adequate. Many other homes in <br />the area had roof damage this winter, and this also was not the fault of our <br />walnuts. <br />c. I would ask Mr. Philippis for evidence to support his claim. I am a <br />scientist by training and see no evidence to support this particular assertion. <br />5. I would be willing to help Mr. Philippis clean up the walnuts on his property <br />this fall. However, I am not as fastidious as he is, and will not promise to do the job to <br />