247 



I have recently examined a grove of about 100 catalpas, of the various kinds, set 

 eight years ago, on a farm which has been occupied by lenters, and the trees neglected, 

 and many of them injured and broken by stock. They have consequently not made the 

 growth they would with better treatment, but as all have fared alike, a careful measure- 

 ment may be supposed to show their comparatiA'e rapidity of growth. As in every 

 instance that has come under my notice, the Japan Hybrid has far outstripped all the 

 others. It measured 25 feet high, and 33 inches in circumference, a foot above the 

 ground. Speciosa came next, 20 feet high, and 24 inches in circumference. Bignonioi- 

 des, 14 feet high, and 19 inches in circumference. These were all represented by 

 numerous specimens. There were but one or two Kmmpferi, and they were small, — pro- 

 bably the result of accidental causes, as it is a good grower. Had these trees been cut, 

 the tops of the stumps would measure in square inches, — the common 31, speciosa 50, 

 and the Japan hybrid 95. Taking the height of the trees into account, the difference is 

 still more apparent. 



The well-known character of the catalpa for durability, and the close resemblance 

 between the wood of this and that of its parent, the speciosa, leave little room to doubt 

 its being similar to the others in its power to resist decay. As a timber tree it promises 

 to be of the greatest value, and to take a place in the very front rank, on account of the 

 wonderful rapidity of its growth, which equals that of the most luxui'iant trees of tem- 

 perate climates, while its hardiness has been repeatedly demonstrated by its standing 

 uninjured, with the thermometer at twenty-five degrees below zero, showing that it is 

 abundantly hardy for the latitude of Kansas, Missouri, etc., though it has not yet been 

 so fully tested as speciosa in the extreme north. 



We have grown several thousands of these seedlings, and it seems like being a well- 

 established variety, though, of course, there are some variations in growth, habit, colour, 

 foliage, etc., among the seedlings, but these variations scarcely appear greater or more 

 strongly marked, than are seen in different trees of speciosa or bignonioides. 



While its vigour, hardiness, freedom from insects, etc., recommend this new tree so 

 strongly for timber plantations — the same qvialities, added to its stately habit, the magni- 

 ficence of its bloom, its fragrance and the beauty of its ample and diversely shaped 

 foliage, cannot fail to make it popular as a tree for shade and ornament. 



SOME OF THE BEST TREES TO GROW FOR TIMBER IN MICHIGAN. 

 By W. J. Beal, Lansing, Michigan. 



Michigan Agricultural College is located at Lansing, about seventy miles north of the 

 Ohio line. This neighbourhood was nearly all a wilderness thirty years ago. It is not 

 ten years since people rolled up large heaps of logs and burned them to get them out of 

 the way. As a people, in Michigan we are hardly yet " out of the woods." 



Our most valuable forest trees found in abundance were Black Walnut, White Pine, 

 White Ash, White Oak, Shag-bark Hickory, Black Cherry, Tulip-tree, Rock Elm, Sugar 

 Maple, and Arbor Vitse. Of these, White Oak, Tulip-tree, Rock Elm, Arbor Yitse, 

 Sugar Maple grow too slowly to be desirable trees to plant for growing timber. 



I have been Professor of H orticultui'e in Michigan Agricultural College for nine 

 years, and in many ways have done the best I could to advance agriculture. But little 

 means has been offered for making experiments. Of all the efforts made, I can now 

 think of nothing which gives more satisfaction in proportion to the cost than a couple of 

 acres planted with a large variety of the seeds of trees. The interest in our little arbo- 

 retum must continue to increase rapidly as the trees become larger and the country grows 

 older, 



I will only give you my notes on a few species, at this time. 



Except Popidus balsami/era, I have only some very young specimens of poplars. 



In the spring of 1873 I sowed some seeds sent by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, When three years old, they were transplanted to their present position. They 



