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The experience of tree planters in tlie Middle West is demonstra- 

 ting that many of the claims made by the friends of the hardy ca- 

 talpa cannot be substantiated. It was formerly held that eatalpa 

 would quickly grow to a size 14rge enough for erossties, but it is 

 doubtful if there is a single tie of this species in existence today 

 that was cut from a plantation, though many of them are old enough 

 to have produced tie material if the trees had borne out the claims 

 of the promoters. As a matter of fact, it makes its rapid growth 



CATALPA PLANTATION IN INDIANA BADLY DAMAGED BY CATTLE WHICH PASTURED 

 ^ IN THE LOT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. .PHOTO BY CHAS. C. DEAM. 



only when young and there is little com- 

 parison between the rate of growth of a 

 large tree and that of a sapling. It must 

 now be admitted by all that the only reason 

 for growing the trees is to supply fence 

 posts. 



The eatalpa is not a good tree for a wind- 

 break, as the growth is too open. Plantations 

 cannot be pastured, except possibly by hogs, 

 for cattle will ride down young trees during 

 fly time, and, contrary to the prevailing 

 idea, will eat off the bark. One illustration 

 shows a grove of catalpas that were com- 

 pletely destroyed by Jersey cattle pastured 

 in the lot during the winter months. The 

 cattle were not confined to this lot only, but 

 had access to a woodlot also. 



It is also claimed that eatalpa is singu- 

 larly free from disease and insect attacks. 

 In reality the tree is very subject to damage 

 by a shelf fungus that rots out the entire 

 heart and renders the material unfit for 

 any use. It is not uncommon to find a plan- 

 tation in which the majority of the trees 

 are thus affected. The eatalpa sphinx is a 

 moth that eats the leaves and in some in- 

 stances is so troublesome that the trees can 

 make little if any growth at all. On one 



plantation in Indiana, which is twenty years old, the trees are only 

 about six feet high, due to the ravages of the moth. 



Another claim made is that when a plantation is once started it 

 can be reproduced indefinitely from sprouts. The eatalpa does sprout 

 readily, in fact, it sprouts too much, but no trees can be expected 

 to grow from such sprouts unless the entire stand is cut off. Where 

 single trees are cut out of a plantation, the sprouts from such stumps 

 soon die from lack of light. 



If one travels over the Middle West he wiU see many small planta- 



tions of catalfia, but it is unusu.-il to find one that is in thrifty 

 eonditioii, with the trees straight and sound. Too many are planted 

 on poor land and make only the most scrawny growth. Catalpa 

 must have good rich soil if it is to succeed. Such lands are not as 

 a rule the kind that should be given over to growing trees, as they 

 are capable of growing more valuable crops. 



The result is that when one comes to sum up the whole proposition 

 it is found that the catalpa has only a few good points and an 



excessive number of shortcomings. It has 



been extensively advertised and exaggerated 

 and as a result many plantations have been 

 made that will only disappoint. If one has 

 land suited to eatalpa and wishes to plant 

 a tree about which there is no uncertainty 

 he had better use our well known black 

 walnut. Where this tree is planted with 

 catalpa it invariably makes the better growth 

 after the first few years, and it has the 

 added advantage of producing a wood of 

 the highest quality and fitted for a large 

 number of purposes. The exploitation of 

 catalpa which was prosecuted so vigorously 

 a few years ago, as though the country's 

 salvation depended on this tree more than 

 any other, has now practically ceased, and 

 the subject has taken its place in history 

 among the fads which periodically come 

 and go. S. J. R. 



CATALPA PLANTATION IN INDIANA IN WHICH THE TREES HAVE BEEN ATTACKED BY 

 CORIOLUS VERSICOLOR ; MANY ARE ENTIRELY DEAD. PHOTO BY CHAS. C. DEAM. 



New Substitute for Mahogany 



A wood from the African Gold Coast has recently been introduced 

 into England, where experiments indicate that it may be treated and 

 stained in imitation of mahogany. The wood appears to have no 

 English name, but is known to botanists as Triplochiton johnsonii. 

 It weighs twenty-nine pounds per cubic foot, works easily with 

 machines or hand tools. It is said to be firmer and stronger than 

 yellow poplar. It glues easily and nails well, but lacks natural 

 figuie. 



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