A tree will actually survive best isolated from other trees, as it is less likely to get the blight. BUT they are not self pollinating so you need two trees to get fertile nuts. The problem with TACF's hybrid program they were working on is that as as soon as you cross one of their hybrid trees with a pure American chestnut the resultant nuts/seedling only get 1/2 of the Chinese genes for blight resistance. The hybrid program was s loosing battle, as there are genes for blight resistance on all 12 of the Chinese chromosomes. Therefor it is impossible to get a tree that is mostly American for restoration, and still have enough of the Chinese blight resistance genes... Can't have their cake and eat it too ,,,Just will not work.