126 



.\Rr.()RUTLTrRF. 



In the Catalpa Slashes. 



On jainiary 13. 1903, 1 ai^ain visited 

 the Catalpa forest in iCd wards Connty, 

 Illinois, a short ilistance from the Wa- 

 bash River, and took- i)lK)to^rai)hs of a 

 large niunber of native Catalpa trees 

 which are engraved for this number of 

 Akuoriciltikf.. 



Here are growing maple, ash. walnut, 

 hickory, hackberry and Catalpa. just as 

 nature ])lanted them. The trees are all 

 tall, straight, symmetrical and none ex- 

 ceed the Catalpa in size or straightness 

 of trunk. 



These trees have not been crowded, 

 but had ample room for development of 

 roots, trinik and branches. They elTectu- 

 ally disprove the theory that 2,700 trees 

 should be planted upon an acre of land to 

 produce straight stems. 



If the future planters of Catalpa trees 

 will visit this localil\. they will learn a 

 valuable lesson from nature and avoid 



severe losses which always accompany 

 unnatural crowding of forests. Here are 

 trees loo feet in Iieight. 65 feet to tirst 

 large branches, ranging from 18 to 30 

 inches diameter, and not one shows any 

 signs of disease. 



W ithin a short distance are several 

 long lines of Catalpas. planted eight and 

 icn years ago. along the roadside, which 

 are now from 8 to 16 inches diameter; 

 some would make fine telegraph poles, 

 others two cross-ties each. 



These were set 8 feet apart in one 

 single row. 



Near by is a growth from the same 

 seed, set 4x4 feet, which are still worth- 

 less — not a tenth as large as some in 

 these rows, where ample space was given. 



ArbgriciltlkI'; has secured seed from 

 these native trees for distribution, and 

 hopes to have a tree for exhibition at the 

 World's Fair. 



Decay of the Catalpa. 



Discarding all scientific explanations 

 a little common sense will show why a 

 tree, the wood of which is so extremely 

 durable, often decays while it is growing. 

 As shown by the chemical analysis of Ca- 

 tali>a wood on j^age 102. there are anti- 

 septic substances gathered from the soil 

 and built into the tissues of the wood 

 which resist the action of those fungii 

 which cause decay. While the tree is full 

 of sap an<l these resinous and oleaginous 

 materials are greatly diluted, they have 

 not such resistive jx^wers as when con- 

 centrated aufl have dried or become fixed 

 in the wood, as when so fixed they can 

 only be dissolved with alcohol or other 

 powerful dilutent. W'ater will not dis- 

 solve them. 



It is a peculiarity of the Catalpa that 



the dead branches remain on the tree for 

 many years, each annual growth enclos- 

 ing them. Ciradually these branches ad- 

 mit air and moisture bearing germs of 

 (leca\- which attack the diluted sap, and a 

 rotten heart is the result. A wound made 

 at the time of flowing sap does not heal 

 quickly, while in w inter the same wound 

 dries and with ne.xt seastMi's growth it 

 becomes covered with new wood. 



Posts made from yoimg timber, if cut 

 while full of sap, decay sooner than those 

 cut after cessation of flow. 



Well matured wtmhI. thoroughly driefl. 

 and even young trees well seasonefl are 

 remarkably durable — in other words re- 

 sist deca.w 



Catalpa trees in the forest .show little 

 symptoms of disease or decay. 



