104 



ARBORICULTURE 



so that the vital part of the tree, and 

 which is never seen. bein<^ beneath the 

 ground, shall have room to expand and 

 gather strength for the supjwrt of the 

 tree. 



In the native forests of Catalpa the 

 trees are tall, straight, with few branches 

 along the trunk. ' 



This is nature's method of reproduc- 

 ing a forest of Catalpa : When a tree is 

 felled, a shoot from the stump, having 

 the force of the entire root system, 

 quickly springs up into a tall, strong 

 branchless stem, in a few years becoming 

 a full-grown tree. 



Akboriculture, following after na- 

 ture's method, recommends the devel- 

 opment of a strong root system, regard- 

 less of the irregular growth of the top 

 during two or three years, after which 

 the stem is cut oft at or near the ground 

 while the tree is dormant. 



The upright stem results; all surplus 

 buds that start should be removed, leav- 

 ing but one, the strongest. 



The distance, i6xi6 feet, seems to be 

 the most satisfactory for a permanent 

 plantation — 170 trees per acre. But in 

 order to occupy the ground, prevent in- 

 jury by winds and properly shade the 

 ground, four times as many trees are 

 planted, or 8x8 feet, being 680 trees to 

 the acre. 



As soon as these have attained a suita- 

 ble size, in seven to ten years, the tem- 

 porary trees are removed and used for 

 fence posts, mine timbers and other uses. 



The rapidity of growth will depend 

 upon the character of soil, length of sea- 

 son, cultivation given during the first 

 three years, and moisture obtainable. 



Shade and forest conditions, so called, 

 secured at the expense of root vitality, 

 will not compensate for loss of vigor and 

 absence of good cultivation during the 

 first three years. After first year culti- 

 vation should be very shallow. 



Branches of Catalpa are very persist- 

 ent. They do not fall away when dead, 

 but remain as dead pins. Each annual 

 growth of new wood encloses them until, 

 as the tree becomes mature, these dry 

 sticks lead from the heart of the tree to 

 its circumference. Shrinking away from 

 the surrounding wood a cavity is formed, 



into which air and water find their way 

 and carry germs of decay. 



The Catalpa must be hand-pruned if 

 one's bank account is to be benefited. 



Tlie best instrument for this purpose 

 is a three-inch sharp chisel upon the end 

 of a long pole. An upright thrust, or a 

 slight blow with a mallet, removes the 

 limb close to the tree. This soon be- 

 comes calloused over and covered with 

 new wood. 



No branch along the trunk should ex- 

 ceed two inches in diameter before re- 

 moval. 



On prairies a thick hedge of Russian 

 mulberry will protect the growing trees 

 from Avind and furnish food for birds. 



On the grounds of Mr. J. L. Ebner, at 

 \'incennes, Ind., I found a Catalpa 

 speciosa which had grown from the 

 stump of a small tree, probably four 

 inches in diameter. It was sixteen feet in 

 height, and so straight and symmetrical 

 that I employed a photographer to take 

 a picture of it. 



SIX MONTHS' GROW Til 1 ROM .\ C.VTALI'A STUMP. 



