I think what you are describing is more accurately Lamarckian thinking rather than Lysenkoism. Lysenko's ideas were inspired by Lamarck's, but he also believed that all organisms helped each other so they should be crowded together. So he would suggest extra seeds be grown in the same plot because the plants would help their comrades.

But yes, the idea we are discussing bears some similarity to Lamarck's ideas. The big difference is that epigenetics has proposed and observed chemical mechanisms to explain it. Another difference is that Lamarck believed anything could evolve with the correct selective pressure, but epigenetic action is only an activation of already-evolved traits.

I hope they pass this, it's really the only safe and sensible way for things to be in cities.

Very nice work! It's a subtle thing, but this is a removal of a big roadblock to good urban development and affordable housing.

I hope other cities in New England follow Cambridge's example!

Long drive for me but I will give them a call tomorrow and ask some questions. Thanks for the tip!

Although they didn't have any Stayman Winesap apple trees, this turned out to be a good tip. One of the growers at their orchard wrote me back telling me that they had tried to grow some of this variety years ago and it wasn't as productive as other varieties and didn't produce very good apples.

Although I have always seen USDA zone 5 listed as within the range for this tree, that might just be included as the limit for where the tree would survive. Or perhaps it does better in other USDA zone 5 areas but doesn't tolerate the cold-warm weather swings common in the Northeast.

Thanks!

I'll have to get some land first; I don't think they would grow too well in my 2nd floor apartment.