ARBORICULTURE 



79 



Profitable Character of Catalpa (Speciosa.) 



DESCRIPTION : Catalpa (speci- 

 osa) is readily distinguished from 

 the other species by the following 

 characteristics : Eirst, the tree grows 

 to a much greater height and diameter 

 with a fewer number of branches and 

 seedpods. Second — They come into 

 bloom from ten days to two weeks earlier 

 than other sorts. Third — The pods usu- 

 ally come in twos and threes, are quite 

 large, some of them being fully eighteen 

 inches long, the seed being about one- 

 third larger, with the end hairs not drawn 

 to a point, as in the common sort Catalpa 

 {Bis;iwnioidcs). Fourth — The bark be- 

 ing furrowed and adheres closely to the 

 trunk, similar to the Green Ash or Box 

 Elder. Catalpas with scaly bark belong 

 to the less valuable species. Fifth — Ca- 

 talpas do not leaf out until quite late ; the 

 leaves drop with the first hard frost. 

 When in full leaf the color and size of the 

 foliage produces a tropical effect. 



DURABILITY OF THE WOOD. 



When in contact with the ground the 

 wood is very durable. Much has been 

 written citing cases where the wood 

 from well matured trees, grown in 

 the Wabash valley, lasting more than fifty 

 years. The wood from young trees will 

 not last so long when in contact with 

 the ground, yet we have data enough to 

 assure us that young catalpa will outlast 

 the best oak. I have used young catalpa 

 posts since the spring of 1894, and they 

 are still in good condition, November 10, 

 1902. Late summer and early winter is 

 the best time to cut post and pole timber. 

 Catalpa cut in spring or early summer 

 will not make as lasting" posts. The 

 wood is valuable for all inside as well as 

 outside work. It is especially beautiful 

 for interior finish of railroad cars, making 

 one of the most artistic pieces of wood- 

 work to be found anywhere. For furni- 

 •ture it cannot be excelled ; however, it is 

 a little light in color for some uses. It 

 will be sought after for interior finish 

 on fine buildings, is almost as easily 

 wrought as white pine, and much richer 



in grain and color. Young trees can be 

 used for posts; small poles, rake tongue, 

 hayrack, hoe handles, etc. The wood 

 makes a fairly good fire, but cannot be 

 compared with oak or hickory for fire- 

 wood. 



Seedlings. — The inferior character of 

 many seeds and seedlings, together with 

 the early practice of planting trees in the 

 permanent plantation 4x4 feet, has caused 

 more trouble to tree growers than every- 

 thing else combined. The seed of the 

 inferior sorts being much easier to gather, 

 many seedsmen have sold such seed as 

 Catalpa (speciosa). In 1885 I planted 

 100,000 trees, they were bought for the 

 tall, erect growing tree, when to my sur- 

 prise, fully one-half are the common, 

 scraggy sort. Great care must be taken 

 in gathering the seed. Of late years I 

 only buy my seedlings from a nurseryman 

 who gathers all his own seed. I find it 

 much cheaper than to grow my own seed- 

 lings. 



GROWTH. 



During the last twenty \ears much has 

 been written about the growth of the 

 Catalpa. I believe for post and pole 

 stock that fairly good prairie soil will 

 give the best results. Because of the 

 more exposed situations, the trees make 

 a tougher piece of timb.T than if grown 

 on richer ground. The sandy bottom- 

 land of Eastern Kansas and Western Mis- 

 souri is an ideal place to grow Catalpa 

 for lumber purposes. With proper man- 

 agement the best soil will produce 1,000 

 feet of lumber per acre for each season's 

 growth ; that is, a well-grown Catalpa 

 forest will produce 30,000 feet per acre 

 in thirty years from time of planting. 

 Post stock can be taken out after the tenth 

 and pole stock the fifteenth year. The 

 skeptic will say of all artificial forest 

 grown in the West not one of them has 

 averaged 500 feet per acre for each sea- 

 son's growth. I admit the fact, but we 

 must remember the lessons we have 

 learned and paid for during these twenty 

 years. The Farlington forests in Eastern 

 Kansas, are now on an average of 



