ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 601 



extent with seasoning. It clings tightly to the seasoned wood and is not 

 objectionable on the post. 



The reason for thoroughly seasoning posts or poles before setting them 

 is that drying the wood increases its durability. Destructive bacteria and 

 fungi require moisture for their development, and cannot injure a post 

 that is thoroughly dry. 



DUBABIIJTY OF CATALPA WOOD. 



The catalpa wood is very durable, second only to osage orange and red 

 cedar. In spite of this fact many complaints have been received to the 

 effect that the posts are short-lived and not satisfactory. An investigation 

 of several such criticisms has shown that in such cases the posts were 

 either set before they had been seasoned, or the trees were infected with 

 fungus and the strength and durability of the wood seriously injured 

 before the trees were cut. 



"When the trees are cut while they are in a perfectly healthy condition 

 and the posts thoroughly seasoned before they are set, the wood makes 

 very durable fence posts. It is light, but strong enough to resist the 

 required strain of the fence, and it holds staples very satisfactorily. The 

 posts are clean, smooth, and neat in appearance. 



For general repair work on the farm the catalpa is very serviceable. 

 It has beep used with entire satisfaction for sweeps on horse powers, for 

 tongues on all sorts of implements and vehicles and for double-trees, 

 single trees and neckyokes. 



The following statements from catalpa growers throughout the state 

 show the value they give the tree for the various purposes mentioned: 



"The catalpas have done fairly well for me, because I planted them on 

 good corn ground and gave them thorough cultivation and trimmed them 

 while young. I think the hardy catalpa is the best post tree to grow in 

 this section of the state. However, I know of several other plantations 

 in this vicinity that have been failures because the trees were not culti- 

 vated and the grass sod practically choked them out. A year ago I sold 

 two acres of my grove to a neighbor for two hundred dollars. He did 

 all the work of cutting and hauling and was well satisfied with his bar- 

 gain. He used the trees for posts and poles. 



At this rate my catalpa grove has paid me $5 per acre per year for the 

 use of the land. I had in addition to this the benefit of protection 

 afforded by the trees, which I valued quite highly. The sprouts from 

 the stumps made a remarkable growth last summer, many of them ex- 

 ceeding 12 feet in height. I now believe we will have a better grove of 

 trees in eight or ten years than we had before cutting. 



(Signed) GEORGE S. WALLER, 



Pioneer, Iowa.' 



"A short time ago when visiting at my old farm I looked the catalpa 

 trees over for the first time in years, and was surprised at the rate of 

 growth they have made. Some of the largest measure 42 inches in cir- 

 cumference and are tall and straight. My son has cut posts from this 

 grove for the past eight years, and says that he believes the catalpa posts 

 to be as good as white oak posts, if not superior. 



