560 BOARD OF AGEICULTURE. 



that far greater things are claimed for the catalpa than it can ever reach. 

 It is a good tree for its purpose, but it is put on the market now just 

 on the same plane as a patent medicine, and when you say that it is 

 good for everything it is a mistake. In the first place it is not a slender 

 tree. It is naturally a small branching tree. If the plant is given the 

 right kind of cultivation it grows readily. If you plant the tree and 

 give sufficient root space and cut it back to the ground you can get 

 good results. John P. Brown, of the Big Four Railroad, had a patch of 

 the catalpa trees near Brightwood, Indiana. At the end of five years 

 they did not give evidence of doing what was wanted— they grew low 

 and branching. He seemed discouraged, and asked what should be done. 

 I advised him to cut them back. He did so and they came out fine. The 

 entire twenty-five acres were cut back a year ago last March. The first 

 season's growth resulted in straight sprouts ranging in height from ten 

 to twenty-five feet without a branch. A picture of this will appear in 

 my next report, and will show this season's growth. The trees are far 

 ahead of what they were at the end of five years. I am firmly convinced 

 that this is the only way to treat the catalpa. 



The statement that the catalpa will last a hundred years I believe is 

 false. There may have been one that did that, but that is not evidence 

 that all of them will do it. 



A Delegate: What trees would you suggest to be planted in a 

 wood lot? 



Mr. Fi'eeman: If you will plant hickory, and oaks, and other valuable 

 trees you will have a good wood lot. Plant the best commercial hard 

 wood that we have. 



Prof. Latta: I would like to ask if a great deal of walnut is not 

 planted and protected in Central Indiana? 



Mr. Freeman: Not to my knowledge. 



A Delegate: When is the best time for trimming? 



Mr. Freeman: My experience has taught me that the time for this 

 is about the middle of June, or after the sap has returned again. After 

 full sap is in. The old law is probably as good as you can get. 



Mr. DeVilbiss: Would you plant the ruts in the fall? 



Mr. Freeman: Always. Last fall we gathered twenty-seven bushels 

 and put a pile of sand out in the ground. They were subject to the 

 freezing and thawing, and in the spring when they came out they were 

 bursting and .swelling. We planted them and in ten days they were 

 through the ground. I have a perfect stand and they are about two feet 

 high, and this is the first season's growth. 



