720 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICoLTURE 
stream in the lower Wabash country that had been in use as a fool 
bridge one hundred years and was still doing duty as such. The catalpa 
timbers in the government stockade at Vincennes, Indiana, were sound 
after being in the ground eighty years, long after the other timbers had 
fallen with decay. We have authenticated reports of catalpa fence 
posts that have been in use for fifty years and bid fair to last fifty more 
years. This wood is practically indestructable in the ground, or in con- 
tact with it; the lumber has a nice grain and takes a fine finish, does 
not warp, or even check. The catalpa trees have endured a temperature 
of thirty-five degrees below zero and started growing the next spring. 
In regard to growing the catalpa, first be sure to get the seed of ca- 
talpa speciosa and not catalpa bignonioides; the latter is a southern tree, 
tender as a peach tree and the wood of no value, as are also the Japanese 
catalpa and its hybrids; second, prepare your seed bed early and keep 
working it to get it in fine tilth and all the weed seeds near the surface 
to grow before planting the catalpa seed. About the last week in May 
or the first of June, when the ground is moist, not wet, plant the seed 
in a plat, drill about a foot wide and cover about one-fourth of an inch 
deep; sow the seed rather thick, as not all will grow. A good stand of 
plants will be of little trouble; make two or three different plantings a 
few days apart, so if the climate conditions are not right one time they 
may be another. The next spring the plants are ready to set in a grove. 
In my first grove I set the trees four feet apart each way, but that is toe 
close. For the next grove I shall set the rows about ten and one-halt 
feet apart and about three feet apart in the row; that gives a chance 
to grow two rows of corn or potatoes between each row of trees for 
two or three years while the trees need cultivation. After the trees arc 
large enough to use a team can be driven through to haul out the pole« , 
which is better than dragging them out by hand. After the trees ha^ e 
grown one or two years, cut them off at the ground with a sharp matto.k 
or ax when the ground is frozen. After they start in the spring, piii! off 
all but one of the best shoots; this will grow from six to eight feet tliat 
year, straight as an arrow. The next fall and winter care shoulc be 
taken that the rabbits do not injure the trees; after that there is not 
much danger. 
I believe a plantation of catalpa will yield more revenue than any 
cereal crop. We have reports of an annual income of twenty-one and 
one-half dollars per acre for fifteen years after deducting all expenses 
for labor and rent of land. Trim the catalpa and cut the posts in Novem- 
ber, or as soon as possible after the leaves fall. A limb cut when the 
sap is up will cause a decayed spot in the tree. A post cut in NoA ember 
is worth two cut in INIay. I believe one thousand posts can be gr\-wn on 
an acre of good land in ten years; it is surprising how much tim.jer will 
grow on an acre wiien it is as thick as it will grow. As the Sa;tchman 
said to his son, "Plant a tree Jock; it will be growing whiK you are 
sleeping." 
