128 



ARBORICULTURE 



SUMMARY OF THE CATALPA SITUATION. 



From thirty years' study of the Catalpa 

 speciosa as an economic tree, making a 

 thoroug-h examination of the various 

 plantations of the United States, investi- 

 gating conditions under which this tree 

 is growing in ahuost every state, and 

 thoroughly searching the remaining for- 

 ests in which the Catalpa is indigenous, 

 mv conclusions difYcr very materially in 

 many imp^ortant particulars from those 

 expressed in the recent publication of the 

 U. S. Forestry Bureau. 



(i) First in importance, and a point 

 ignored in the authoritative Government 

 Report, is the absolute necessity of secur- 

 ing good and true seed of Catalpa 

 speciosa. Otherwise there can only be 

 dismal failure. 



(2) No trees succeed as well on poor 

 soil as on that of good quality, and it 

 is economy to plant on land of fair fer- 

 tility, if one has a choice of locality. 



('3) With the best of soil, under most 

 favorable conditions of climate, and with 

 the choicest trees obtainable, success will 

 not be assured if a starvation diet is 

 forced upon the trees. That is, if more 

 trees are crowded upon a given area than 

 can obtain moisture and nourishment. 



(4) Experience has proven that the 

 roots of each Catalpa speciosa tree three 

 years of age demands 16 square feet sur- 

 face space. 



At eight years, 64 square feet. At ten 

 years, 100 square feet, and at sixteen 

 years, 250 square feet. With less space 

 the trees will be dwarfed and stunted for 

 want of food and water. 



It will require many years for the more 

 vigorous to overcome and destroy the 

 weaker and secure sufficient space for 

 successful vigorous growth. 



Failure to appreciate this fact, and 

 overcrowding tlie trees has caused the 

 loss of millions of dollars to forest 

 planters. 



(5) Dense planting will not eliminate 

 side branches. They must be removed by 

 pruning. Systematically performed, be- 

 fore the branches have attained large 

 size, this is an inexpensive operation. 



(6) Having once established a strong 

 vigorous root system, the Catalpa will 

 rapidly push up a straight stem with few 

 side branches. 



(7) The intermixture of Oriental Ca- 

 talpa and bignonoides, with C. speciosa, 

 produces numerous hybrids, all of which 

 are inferior to the great forest tree of the 

 Wabash, in proportion to the influence of 

 the parent stock. 



(8) There are diseases peculiar to all 

 trees ; none are exempt ; Catalpa has less 

 than most other species of timber and is 

 easily controlled. To prevent disease re- 

 move lower branches close to the trunk 

 before they have attained large size. 



(9) There are less insect enemies 

 which attack Catalpa than any known 

 tree. 



(10) In exposed prairie regions a 

 great advantage may be secured to the 

 young trees by planting belts or hedges 

 of thick, low growing timber to break 

 the force of prevailing winds. These 

 should be repeated at intervals if the 

 plantation is extensive. Russian mul- 

 berry is the best tree for this purpose. 



Although the common peach, planted 

 as a hedge will serve the purpose admir- 

 ably and die out in due season. 



(11) Tlie cost of a plantation is 

 quadrupled where the 4x4 system pre- 

 vails, or 2,722 trees per acre, over the 

 more reasonable plan of 8x8 feet, or 680 

 ])er acre. Upon this increased cost, in- 

 terest must be considered and a vastly 

 greater capital employed, while there are 

 no compensating advantages, and the 

 final income is greatly reduced from un- 

 thrifty trees. 



(12) No greater mistake can be made 

 than to plant a forest of mixed varieties 

 of trees for economic purposes. What- 

 ever object is to be subserved, whether 

 fuel, fence posts, mine timbers, cross-ties 

 or lumber, plant for that special pur- 

 ]X)se, and that only, confining the forest 

 to one species of tree, which promises 

 best results. If imaginary forest condi- 

 tions are desired, before the Catalpa can 

 supply sufficient shade, wild cherry or 

 common peach may be planted and can 

 easily be destroyed when desired. Un- 

 der no circumstances permit Osage or- 

 ange. Cottonwood or Russian mulberry, 

 which exhaust the ground, drain it of 

 moisture, injure the pennanent trees, are 

 f'.ifficult to destroy and possess no 

 economic value ; the exception being for 

 Russian mulberry as a hedge for wind 

 j)rotcction outside the plantation. 



