>34 



AKI'.i )l<KrLTrRF. 



Ciilitornia Tule Lands Jbr Catalpa Speciosa. 



In tlio valley of California, where the 

 Sacramento. San joaiinin and other 

 rivers approach the bay. antl meet tide 

 water, are quite extensive swamps, 

 fomied from Tule growths. For half a 

 century these have been the subject of 

 speculation. When ])rotected by dykes 

 or levies these become wonderfully pro- 

 ductive, being a mass of decomiwsing- 

 vegetation. -Slany attempts have been 

 nuule. ami some successfully, to reclaim 

 these lands, but it is quite expensive and 

 when extreme high tides, together with 

 continuous heav\- rains, they bectMiic 

 ticK)iled. and crops are destroyed. These 

 swamj) lands would be admirable location 

 for growing Catalpa speciosa. 



When once the trees become estab- 

 lished and have secured a season's 

 growth, the overflowing would not be 

 detrimental. The growth Avould be ex- 

 tremely rank, almost continuDus, and 

 timber fonned with greater rapidity than 

 elsewhere. 



In the Catalpa slashes of the Wabash, 

 the water frequently overflows to depth 

 of several feet. 



Thus the environments of the Cali- 

 fornia swamp lands are similar to those 

 existing where the Catalpa is indigenous, 

 while climatic conditions are far more 

 favorable. 



Levies for this purpose need not be so 

 substantial as would be required for an- 

 nual crops. simy)ly enough to keep back 

 the water until the trees have grown one 

 season. 



In ten or twelve years, under these con- 

 ditions. Catalpa will make sawing timber, 

 telegraph jKjles and railway cross-ties to 

 a greater profit than attends any annual 

 crops. 



When established, a plantation be- 

 comes permanent, producing a succes- 

 sion of crops every ten years, being re- 

 •nevved from the stump when the trees 

 are cut. On the \\'abash the farmers dig 

 out the roots when they wish to destroy 

 the trees, so persistent are they in re- 

 newals. 



Each acre of such lands as are now- 

 covered with Tules. should y)roduce 34.- 

 000 feet of lumber, worth $2,000 in a 



dozen years, llu- land improving in value 

 all the while. 



( )wners of swamp lands who have 

 hesitated at the expense of reclamation, 

 should carefully consider the possibilities 

 of what ma_\ be accom])lished with this 

 extremely valuable timber. 



Wood of such character is not found 

 u])on the Pacific Coast, and will always 

 be in demand at remunerative jirices. 



I'DiroklAL NOTICE. 



Seed of Jiiiealy/^tits and Catalpa. 



(Jur articles upon these two forest trees 

 have brought numerous inquiries for seed 

 and plants. 



We have secured from Xew Zealand 

 a quantity of seed of Eucalyptus i:;lobiilis 

 or Australian Cium tree, for gratuitous 

 distribution among our southern patrons. 

 ( )tbers will be supplied at 25 cents per 

 ])acket — 50 cents per ounce. 



Seed of Catalpa speciosa, gathered un- 

 der direction of the society, from original 

 forest trees, $2.00 per pound, 50 cents 

 per packet. 



.Address Arboriculture, 



1639 [Michigan Ave.. Chicago. 



SCHOOL AD\'ANTAGES TO-DAY. 



With the progress of the age. improve- 

 ment in manufactures, commerce and 

 other afl'airs. educational facilities have 

 kept pace. The institutions of learning 

 of every degree have advanced w'onder- 

 fully during the i)ast half centurw and in 

 no particular more than text-books. 



Those who recall the well-thumbed 

 books of Cobb. Pike and others, used in 

 the schools of fifty years ago, and com- 

 pare them with tlie splendid text-books 

 of the i)resent will be willing to give due 

 credit to the American P)Ook Company, 

 which has provided the best of school 

 text-books, with illustrations which were 

 impossible a few years ago. 



Such books can only be prepared by 

 the ex])giditure of nuich money and the 

 labor of the best authorities. This the 

 American l^.ook Company is doing 

 s]3lendidly. 



