LILAC-LEAVED CATALPA-TREE. 407 



ern states of the American union, and is first met with, in a wild state, on the 

 Atlantic coast, on the banks of the river Savannah, and west of the Alicghanies, 

 on those of the Cumberland, between the thirty-fifth and thirty-sixth degrees of 

 latitude. Further south, it is more common, and abounds near the borders of all 

 the rivers which empty into the Mississippi, or water the westerly part of Florida. 

 In a cultivated state, it is to be met with, as an ornamental tree, in most of the 

 cities and large towns, from New Orleans, in Louisiana, to Newburyport, in IMas- 

 sachusetts ; but in the latter place, it dwindles down to a mere shrub, and is often 

 killed back by the frost. 



This species was introduced into Britain, by Mark Catesby, in 1726, and is 

 frequently to be met with in gardens and collections, both in that country, and 

 on the continent of Europe. 



The largest recorded tree of this species in Britain, is at Syon, which is fifty- 

 two feet in height, with a trunk three feet in diameter, and an ambitus or spread 

 of branches of fifty feet. 



The largest catalpa in France is at the Sceaux, which, in thirty years after 

 planting, had attained the height of fifty feet, with a trunk two feet in diameter, 

 and that of the head thirty feet. 



At Schwobber, in Hanover, Germany, there is a tree of this species, exceeding 

 thirty feet in height. 



In Austria, at Vienna, in the university botanic garden, there is a catalpa, 

 which, in twenty-six years after planting, had attained the height of forty feet, 

 with a trunk eighteen inches in diameter, and an ambitus or spread of branches 

 of twenty-four feet. 



In various parts of Italy and the south of France, particularly in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Milan and Montpellier, the catalpa is planted as a road- side tree, 

 and along the avenues to houses in the country, where, with the Melia azcda- 

 rach, and the tulip-tree, (Liriodendron,) and in some places, where the soil is 

 moist, with the Magnolia acuminata, and other species, it forms a scene of splen- 

 dour and beauty, worthy of a climate so congenial to vegetation. 



About the first tree of this species, which was introduced into New England, 

 is said to stand in front of the late residence of Major Babcock, in Washington 

 street, Hartford, in the state of Connecticut. It is represented as being of a large 

 size, and when in bloom, appears like one solid mass of elegant flowers. It is 

 believed to exceed fifty years of age. 



Propagation., &j'c. The catalpa is generally propagated by seeds ; but it will 

 grow readily from cuttings of the root ; and, when thus raised, it will flower 

 much sooner than when propagated by seeds. The tree is of rapid growth till 

 it reaches the height of twenty feet, which, in a deep, free soil, it will usually 

 attain m ten years. Seedling plants generally begin to flower, under favourable 

 circumstances, in twelve or fifteen years; and in soils and situations where the 

 wood is well ripened, they continue flowering every year, making a splendid 

 appearance, not only from the large size and lively colour of the blossoms, but 

 from the fine pale-green of their leaves. 



Properties and Uses. The wood of the catalpa is remarkably light, of a very 

 fine texture, and is susceptible of a brilliant polish. Its colour is of a grayish- 

 white; and, when properly seasoned, it is very durable. It resembles the wood 

 of the sycamore, (Platanus,) with this exception, that the latter is of a reddish 

 hue, and is less durable when exposed to the alternations of moisture and dry- 

 ness. It is sometimes used for posts to rural fences, and in cabinet-making. If 

 a portion of the bark of the catalpa be removed in the spring, a venomous and 

 offensive odour is exhaled. In a thesis, read at the medical college of Philadel- 

 phia, the bark of this tree was mahitaincd to be tonic, and more powerfully 



