11 



CATALPA SPROUTS. 



A study of the sprouting capacity of catalpa from stumps was 

 made in a mixed grove of catalpa, larch, and ash in Kendall County. 

 A number of the catalpa trees had been cut the year before, and the 

 way in which the stumps had sprouted is shown in Table 4. 



TABLE 4. Catalpa sprouts. 



The investigations show that with proper care catalpa planting 

 is profitable in many parts of Illinois. Good results can not usually 

 be expected, however, unless more attention is given both to spacing 

 and to thinning or pruning than is necessary with most other species. 

 The pronounced tendency to disease renders special watchfulness 

 imperative if catalpa plantations are to be placed on a paying basis. 

 Catalpa will grow fairly well on ordinary farm land, but is likely to 

 fail on heavy, poorly drained soil. On the other hand, it grows well 

 on sandy soil, where water is within a few feet of the surface or where 

 overflows are frequent. Without question it will pay to plant catalpa 

 on low bottom lands, where ordinary farm crops are only partially 

 successful. Catalpa produces excellent posts, w r hich can be used at 

 a small size, so that plantations should begin to give some revenue 

 from thinnings at 10 years of age. For ordinary situations a 20-year 

 rotation is advisable. 



EUROPEAN LARCH. 



In the table for European larch the plantations are arranged accord- 

 ing to age, the youngest plantation being No. 1 and the oldest No. 16. 

 In all cases the amount of products was determined by actual count. 

 The prices assigned to the products were: Poles, 15-foot, 20 cents; 

 18-foot, 30 cents; 20-foot, 40 cents; 25-foot, 60 cents; 30-foot, 80 

 cents; 35-foot, $1; 40-foot, $1.25; posts, first class, 6 cents; second 



[Cir. 81] 



