ARBORICULTURE 



75 



cally every point made by Mr. Brown in 

 this statement. The newel posts, balus- 

 ters and railing enclosing the exhibit are 

 of Catalpa wood. The Barney and Smith 

 Company have finished a section of a pas- 

 senger coach entirely in this wood. A 

 handsome stairway gives a fine example 

 of interior finish. Desks, tables, a dress- 

 ing case, both plain and fancy chairs, and 

 various other articles of household furni- 

 ture are shown. In the rear are cross ties 

 and telegraph poles in a good state of 



no longer declare Catalpa brittle. The 

 Barney and Smith Company reported Ca- 

 talpa a better wood for bending than is 

 white ash. 



It will be seen from the foregoing that 

 three most eminent authorities agree upon 

 the essential points, vi::.; that Catalpa 

 trees may be grown profitably as a com- 

 mercial proposition : that the endurance 

 of this wood is established beyond ques- 

 tion, and that it is suitable for cross ties. 



The authorities disagree, however. 



iT'ii i' 'ItniWfrTliTir" 



SECTION OF CATALPA SPECIOSA. TREE HAD AMPLE SPACE FOR DEVELOPMENT. 



preservation, which were taken out after 

 a record of thirty-two years' service, 

 fence rails, posts, etc., with records of 

 long service, all proving conclusively the 

 wide scope of usefulness of this wood as 

 well as its lasting quality. 



One surprising point developed is the 

 strength and toughness of the wood, 

 which most authorities declare soft and 

 brittle. If they will try to break either a 

 piece of the new wood or one of the an- 

 cient fence rails in this exhibit, thev will 



upon one most important point, namely ; 

 the method of planting and treatment. 



Mr. Hall recommends close planting in 

 rows 4 by 4 feet, in order to prevent low 

 branching, and declares that "without se- 

 vere crowding the Catalpa will not pro- 

 duce the straight pole growth necessary 

 for best use. With plenty of room, it is a 

 spreading, round-topped tree, with almost 

 no tendency toward an elongated, central 

 axis, and pruning, while it may somewhat 

 improve the form, will not sufificiently 



