Selve (fruit growing)

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Chestnut selve in Corsica ( Niolu region ), used as a campsite
No longer cultivated chestnut grove on Corsica

A selve is a high-stem fruit plant made from refined sweet chestnuts . The name is widespread on the southern side of the Alps and on Corsica , among other places , and is derived from the Italian selva (cf. Latin silva ) for "forest". Mostly these are loose groves that are fenced and often used and maintained by small farmers or cooperatives.

The selves were used in many ways. The grass was cut under the trees in late spring, and in summer the cattle were grazed in the shade of the large trees. High up that grew Maroni zoom undisturbed to mature in September and October. Towards autumn the cellos were then “clean”, so that the falling chestnuts could be picked up as so-called “plump fruits” without any problems. Grazing cattle or invading wild boars were then undesirable in the selves at the latest. The leaf litter was used as stable litter. The litter was still in the 19th and early 20th centuries an important addition to use in European forests, but also the Selven. This also counteracted possible acidification of the soil. The wood from tree care was ultimately used as firewood and construction wood. The prerequisite for this diverse use is a light tree population and intensive care.

This form of management is labor-intensive and is therefore still on the decline. With the end of traditional agriculture and rural exodus, the selves lost their importance and became forested in many places.

In some places, the Selvae are being revived because they enjoy a high status in the montane cultural landscape . Educational trails , so-called "chestnut trails " were created, for example in Bondo - Castasegna ( Bregaglia ) in Bergell, Arosio in Ticino , Weggis on Lake Lucerne , Murg on Lake Walen and in Fully in Lower Valais and on Corsica in Évisa ( Corse-du-Sud ).

Individual evidence

  1. Information on chestnut groves from Mergoscia (TI)  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 78 kB)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.mergoscia.ch  
  2. 'The Horticulture - Dossier': Trees - Companions of Humans  ( page no longer available , search in web archivesInfo: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF)@1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.kastanien.net