130 



ARBORICULTURE 



pruning for two or three years, as most 

 trees naturally shoot upward if they have 

 the opportunity. 



Later, some pruning of side branches 

 will be necessary. 



This is cheaper than the old method 

 of extremely close planting, which dwarfs 

 the trees and stunts them by suppressing 

 the growth. 



The first important matter is to create 

 a strong, healthy root system. 



What the vital organs are to the animal 

 world, the roots are to the plant world. 



Every artificial plantation made under 

 the 4x4 system has come to naught, 

 because the roots in six years occupy all 

 the space, and can not extend or gather 

 moisture or nutriment to support the 

 growing trees ; their suppression thus 

 results. 



Certain trees are renewed from the 

 stump ; others grow from pieces of the 

 roots. The latter make many suckers, as 

 is the case with locust and abele. Chest- 

 nut and catalpa are instances of stump 

 growth. 



Examine a catalpa tree with a micro- 

 scope ; you will fail to find the adven- 

 titious buds which exist along the bark ; 

 but if the trunk be broken off at a height 

 of fifty feet or cut at the ground, these 

 buds are forced into growth and a new 

 trunk formed. Thus a catalpa forest oncr 

 planted becomes permanent. 



CATALPA SPECIOSA IN THE 

 EVERGLADES. 



[From The Homeseeker, Miami, Fla.] 



In the January number of The Home- 

 seeker we made a note oi planting and 

 distributing quite a quantity of the above 

 named trees m the lower portion of Dade 

 County. We have watched with interest 



the growth of these trees, and have made 

 careful inquiry of those to whom we sent 

 trees, and there is but one report, and that 

 is that they are doing magnificently. We 

 planted several on the back portion of our 

 home lot in the city, where we could have 

 the opportunity to study their growth, 

 condition, etc. When we planted them 

 they were no larger than a lead pencil, 

 and now the largest measures three and 

 one-quarter inches in circumference and 

 is now growing like a weed. We also 

 planted a few on the edges of the Ever- 

 glade, where water stands when high. 

 These trees have also made a most won- 

 derful growth, and to every appearance 

 they are perfectly adapted to both soil and 

 climate. We notice also those planted on 

 the high pine lands are doing equally as 

 well. We planted several on the bay 

 front, within a few feet of the shore. 

 While these trees are growing, the salt 

 spray from the bay aflfects the leaves more 

 or less, and the trunks are not develop- 

 ing as rapidly as those planted on higher 

 ground or those farther away from salt 

 water. 



While we know that it takes "more 

 than one swallow to make a summer," 

 we realize that it is yet too soon to come 

 to any correct conclusion regarding the 

 future growth of this valuable tree in this 

 climate and soil. But it is true that 

 should the catalpa continue to grow as 

 rapidly for several successive years, the 

 problem for railroad ties, fence posts, etc., 

 will be solved. 



There are thousands of acres of low, 

 flat pine woods along the east coast of 

 Florida where the catalpa could be suc- 

 cessfully grown. 



To our Florida readers we would ad- 

 vise planting catalpas on portions of the 

 farm that are not available for other 

 purposes. 



