ARBORICULTURE. 



91 



Replies to Correspondents. 



"MansfieIvD, Ohio. 

 "Can Catalpa be grown on steep hill- 

 sides without plowing the ground? I 

 have moist land too steep to plow that I 

 would like to plant in timber. 



"J. P. W." 



Gilead, Aspen, etc. These all make good 

 paper, and would probably succeed. 



It is not advisable to plant Catalpa trees 

 in such locations. They would grow, but 

 not profitably. Better plant black or 

 honey locust or walnut. We presume 

 there is no timber on the tract at present. 

 If the land is in brush or young timber, 

 and forest conditions prevail, Catalpa may 

 well be planted in such locations. 



"Marshall, Mich. 

 "Will the Catalpa do well on the Mich- 

 igan pine lands? If not, have you any- 

 thing that you can recommend for this 



purpose : 



H. J. C." 



The Catalpa speciosa is well suited to 

 the southern portion of Michigan, includ- 

 ing Marshall, Grand Rapids, Lansing and 

 Detroit. It has not been possible for me 

 to examine the northern portion of the 

 State, and I do not know whether or not 

 it has been tried. Catalpa bigiionloidcs 

 would not be hardy so far north, but we 

 believe speciosa would do well. Consid- 

 ering the importance of the subject and 

 the small expense and trouble of making 

 the experiment, some of your patriotic 

 citizens should make a thorough trial, 

 being sure of procuring true Catalpa spe- 

 ciosa. 



The next tree which should be planted 

 for trial would seem some form of the 

 poplar family — Cottonwood, Balm of 



"Frankfort, Ind. 



"In setting one-year-old Catalpa trees, 

 should they be tended to keep out sod, or 

 will they do well in sod if set six feet 

 apart? R. A." 



There are no trees which will thrive in 

 a grass sod. Labor and money would 

 both be lost in the attempt. 



Young trees of all kinds require to be 

 cultivated, unless forest conditions pre- 

 vail, with shade and mulching from fallen 

 leaves. 



"Jacksonville, III. 

 "What is the feasibility of planting 

 Catalpa speciosa trees on fence line? Is 

 the foliage heavy? Would it shade the 

 ground to interfere with the growing of 

 corn to a great extent? Do they sprout 

 from the root ? Will cattle browse them ? 



"S. B. G." 



There are many lines of Catalpa trees 

 in Illinois and Indiana. It is a common 

 practice, while any trees will shade the 

 ground somewhat, yet the benefits far ex- 

 ceed the little injury to crops. No two 

 things can occupy the same space at the 

 same time. 



Trees and farm crops obey this law. If 

 a row of corn is of greater importance 

 than a row of trees, then omit the trees. 



Catalpa never sprouts from the roots. 

 I never knew cattle to browse Catalpa, 

 but they may break them down while 

 brushing off flies. 



