ARBORICULTURE. 



315 



ers responded, so that a magnificent col- 

 lection was prepared. 



Practical Arboriculture, on pag-e 

 362, gives a list of articles in this exhibit, 

 together with several illustrations from 

 photographs. 



From Arboriculture, September, 

 1904, now out of print, we reprint the 

 following: 



WHAT HAS BEEN PROVEN AT THE WORLD'S 

 FAIR. 



1. That the CcDtalpa speciosa will grow 

 in twenty years to be twenty inches in 

 thickness and forty feet high. 



2. That in fifty years it reaches a 

 height of 100 feet and a diameter of thir- 

 ty inches, in forest. 



3. That as a fence post it has lasted 

 eighty-five years. 



4. As a fence rail it has withstood 

 eighty years oi sunshine and storm. 



5. That as railway cross-ties the wood 

 has resisted wear and decay for thirty- 

 two years. 



6. That it makes magnificent furni- 

 ture. 



7. Interior house finish equal to any 

 American wood. 



8. That every portion of a freight or 

 passenger railway car may be made of 

 Catalpa. 



9. It may be carved intO' handsome 

 chairs. 



10. It is suitable for picture frames, 

 receiving any stains and taking a high 

 polish, 



11. That firm, straight telegraph poles 

 may be secured in a dozen years. 



12. That it may be bent, and retain its 

 form. 



13. That for cabinet work it does not 

 shrink or warp. 



14. That fine book paper may be maae 

 from the wood. 



15. 'That it is straight and upright in 

 habit O'f growth. 



16. While an oak tree requires twelve 

 times as long tO' grow as its term oi dur- 

 ability in the ground, Catalpa has lasted 

 for ties twice as long as the period of 

 growth. And for rails and fence posts, 

 four times its period O'f growth. 



17. For mine timbers it has no' supe- 

 rior for strength or durability, and may 

 be quickly grown in mining regions. 



There is no article of furniture which 

 is now made O'f oak, walnut, maple and 

 other woods but can be made as well of 

 Catalpa, which is handsomer than any of 

 the common woods. 



It caa be but a brief period when 

 something must be substituted for the 

 quartered oak, which is now the fashion- 

 able furniture material, for the supply is 

 fast being exhausted. It will require two 

 centuries to produce other white oak 

 trees suitable for quarter sawing, while 

 in two decades an abundant supply of 

 Catalpa can be secured if only the trees 

 shall be planted. 



Building lumber is still advancing, and 

 innumerable contracts for house con- 

 struction have been annulled because of 

 the excessive cost of timber. 



There is not a sill, joist, stud, floor,^ 

 shingle, casing, door, window, or other 

 portion of a house, be it a common 

 shack or a palatial residence, but can be 

 constructed from the Catalpa tree. 



Not only that, but the building will be 

 more durable and more easily con- 

 structed. The carpenters will find the 

 Catalpa as easiK' worked as is white pine, 

 while it is far stronger; and it may be 

 polished as finely as cherry, walnut, or 

 mahogany. 



Mr. Wm. R. Smith, Director of the 

 U. S. Botanical Gardens, says that in 

 Japan blocks of Catalpa are used in the 



