FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION 415 



shade for live stock is the primary object and timber the secondary, 

 the catalpa is as suitable as any tree. 



Pruning is a matter of the utmost importance in growing ca- 

 talpa trees. Much has been said regarding the necessity of secur- 

 ing forest conditions, i. e., the shading of the soil by means of a 

 thick growth, in order to prevent the loss of moisture; to discourage 

 the growth of grass and weeds; to kill off side branches and to in- 

 sure an upright growth of the trees. This plan has been sufficiently 

 tested to show its impracticability. A catalpa grove is as much an 

 artificial product as an apple orchard. Forest conditions in a catalpa 

 plantation can be secured only at the expense of growth. Artificial 

 conditions are more economical, at least at first, but later, natural 

 conditions may be better. 



A strawberry plant is often the worst weed in a strawberry 

 bed and all surplus trees in a catalpa grove are weeds, or often 

 worse than weeds. Trees can compete with grass and weeds far 

 more successfully than with other trees, but competition of all kinds 

 should be reduced to a minimum. 



Cultivation does this for other crops and it serves the same 

 purpose for the catalpa. If one would grow a catalpa grove suc- 

 cessfully he must reduce the struggle for existence to the lowest 

 limit by artificial means. Side branches are more economically re- 

 moved by pruning than by close planting. An upright growth can 

 be secured at less cost than by overcrowding of the trees. In close 

 planting the original cost of the trees is several times greater than 

 need be ; the cost of thinning is considerable and the damage to the 

 permanent trees is very great. Pruning is done for two purposes: 

 (1) To secure a straight trunk or stem, (2) to secure a clean stem. 



It often happens that a young catalpa tree will have two stems, 

 or one crooked stem. In either case overcrowding would do no 

 good, for trees of these classes are found no matter how closely 

 they are planted. The only feasible plan is to cut such trees off 

 close to the ground and let them start again. It is better to do this 

 the latter part of the winter, or early spring, after the trees have 

 made two seasons' growth in the grove. Preserve only one sprout 

 and the growth will often be ten feet or more the first year. 



It is the only way to insure trees with straight trunks and it 

 has the further advantage of reducing the amount of pruning, be- 

 cause there are but few side branches on sprouts which spring from 

 the stumps of trees that are cut back. The best time to do all prun- 

 ing is late in winter or early in spring, although no harm will be 

 done by cutting off very small side branches in early summer. The 

 removal of much foliage in summer time, however, is harmful to 

 the trees. Regarding the distance the trees should be apart in the 

 permanent plantation, it is difficult to lay down a definite rule. 

 Much depends upon the purpose for which the trees are intended, 

 also upon the soil. 



The cost of growing an acre of catalpa trees must vary accord- 

 ing to local conditions; likewise the value of the crop will depend 

 upon the soil and care given, so that an estimate as to the probable 



