12 



along the water courses, but will not endure swampy soils. A lime- 

 stone soil seems to be especially favorable. It is tolerant of shade 

 and thrives in mixture. 



Two-year-old seedlings are best for planting. The young trees 

 should be set from 4 to G feet apart, according to situation and need 

 for cultivation. It may be planted pure or in mixture with such 

 trees as cottonwood, Osage orange, green ash, black locust, honey 

 locust, or white elm. 



HARDY CATALPA (Catalpa speciosa). 



Wherever conditions are favorable, catalpa is one of the most val- 

 uabie trees for economic planting. Catalpa wood cut from the liv- 

 ing tree is almost immune from attack by fungous disease, and is 

 one of the most durable timbers known. When used for fence posts 

 it often remains sound for thirty or forty years. 



Hardy catalpa is adapted for planting only in the most favorable 

 portions of the semiarid region. It will thrive on loamy soils in west- 

 ern Kansas in localities where ground water occurs at a depth of 

 from 10 to 20 feet. Unless the roots can reach the water table it is 

 useless to plant catalpa in the plains region, since ordinarily an 

 annual rainfall of at least 25 inches is necessary for its growth. 

 With thorough cultivation, however, it may succeed on loamy soils 

 where the precipitation is from 18 to 20 inches. It will not tolerate 

 a strongly alkaline soil. Hardy catalpa matures early, and under 

 cultivation is one of the most rapid-growing trees planted in the 

 West. Under favorable conditions mam^ trees in a plantation grow 

 to a size suitable for posts in from 10 to 12 years, and the stand 

 becomes merchantable at from 15 to 20 years after planting. 



The chief value of the catalpa in the plains region is for posts. 

 There is little profit in planting it except on sites of the first quality, 

 where it will grow rapidly and give early returns. Catalpa planta- 

 tions should be started with one-year-old seedlings. Because of the 

 severe climatic conditions of the region wide spacing and thorough 

 tillage is advisable. A distance of 4 feet by 8 feet or 6 feet apart, 

 each way, is advisable. While catalpa has thus far been planted 

 chiefly in pure stands, an associate tree of slower growth and greater 

 tolerance may prove desirable. This associate or " filler " would 

 assist in pruning the catalpa and in forcing it into straight upward 

 growth. The Eussian mulberry and Osage orange are well adapted 

 to this purpose. 



Catalpa requires especial care if the best results are to be secured. 

 Cutting back is advisable during late winter or early spring after 

 one or two seasons' growth in the plantation. During the early part 

 of the following summer all of the sprouts except the most vigorous 



[Cir. 99] 



