The range for economic planting coincides with the natural range 

 and may in places be extended beyond it. 



HABITS AND GROWTH. 



The coffeetree grows naturally and best on the richest bottom- 

 lands, along banks of upland lakes and water courses, and in moist 

 ravines; in such situations it attains its maximum development. It 

 is adapted, however, to the drier, less fertile, and more sandy and 

 gravelly soil of the uplands, but in such situations it grows more 

 slowly and is smaller. It is not susceptible to climatic variations, 

 and will endure the cold winters of Minnesota or the hot winds of 

 western Oklahoma with no sign of injury. 



The tree is essentially light-demanding, and, because of the thin, 

 open nature of the foliage and its habit of coming into leaf late in the 

 spring, does not shade the ground sufficiently to keep down grass and 

 weeds if planted in a pure stand. 



In barren soil the coffeetree is a slow-growing, long-lived species, 

 which seldom attains a commercial size. Under normal conditions 

 it is a rapid and moderately persistent grower. Under most favor- 

 able conditions the height growth for the first thirty or forty }^ears 

 often averages 1 to 2 feet annually, while the annual diameter incre- 

 ment may vary from one-fourth to one-half inch. 



The root system of the coffeetree is extensive, and the roots often 

 extend as far as 100 feet from the tree. When the tree is cut down 

 the roots send up a large number of suckers. 



The coffeetree is not known to be subject to injurious insect attack. 



ECONOMIC USES. 



The wood is heavy, moderately hard, very stiff, of coarse texture, 

 and durable in contact with the soil. The heartwood is reddish ; the 

 thin sapwood, yellow. The wood shrinks and checks considerably in 

 drying, works and stands well, and takes a good polish. It is used to 

 a limited extent for cabinet work and posts, but is little known at 

 present. 



The coffeetree in the past has not been extensively planted in com- 

 mercial quantities, but there seems ample reason why its future ex- 

 tension should be encouraged. It occurs in a variety of soils, and 

 may be grown successfully throughout the greater part of the Middle 

 West, being especially suited to moist river valleys and the soil along 

 water courses. It has an advantage over many hardwood species 

 adapted for western planting in that the wood is of more general 

 value, being suitable for general construction purposes and durable 

 in contact with the soil. 



[Cir. 91] 



