question the durability of the Speciosa variety. Indeed all 

 the numerous examples of durability were found to be all 

 Speciosa, and that it was the only variety found m the forests 

 of Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. 



December 2, '78, he writes from New Madrid: "Two import- 

 ant facts are clearly established, viz. : that the speciosa eatalpa 

 grows wild, or native, in its pure and perfect distinctiveness, 

 at various points along the Mississippi River, -not to speak of 

 other localities not yet explored; and secondly, that its timber 

 possesses the wonderful durability tor which the eatalpa lias 

 become so noted. Just now a new idea occurs to me. May it 

 not be possible that the eatalpa growing east and south-east 

 are what we call common, and all the wild ones West speciosa? 



"As the trees in cultivation have nearly all been distributed 

 by the nurseries, or grown from seed of trees so distributed, 

 and as in nursery work, as in other matters, it is ' westward 

 the star of empire,' &c.,.it is hardly to be wondered at that 

 the eastern variety should have covered the east half of the 

 continent before the difference and great superiority of the 

 western was recognized." 



The more I thought of the matter, the more its importance 

 grew upon me, and I felt so important a question should be 

 established by the testimony of at least two unimpeachable 

 witnesses. I therefore also arranged with Dr. Jno. A. Warder, 

 'President of the American Forestry Association, and who, in 

 1853, had, with Mr. Teas, christened this variety Speciosa, 

 to make a full investigation of the same Subject. The rail- 

 roads, deeming the matter of sufficient public importance, 

 promptly furnished passes to both. 



Dr. Warder's investigations confirm Mr. Teas' in every par- 

 ticular as to durability of the Speciosa, and establishes the 

 fact that it is the only variety of eatalpa native to the forests, 

 also of Indiana, Western Kentucky and Tennessee, as well an 

 Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas; and that it is unmistakably 

 a western tree, having clearly denned and well marked char- 

 acteristics that are uniformly transmitted in the seed. 



His report, condensed for this pamphlet, from a much fuller 

 and more elaborate one, will be found on page 17. 



The facts that seem to be so clearly established by Mr. Teas 

 and Dr. Warder's investigations are exceedingly important 

 and interesting to the botanist and the practical forest tree- 

 planter, and richly pay for all the time and money expended 

 in obtaining them, and the gratitude of the whole country is 

 due the two indefatigable workers who, through great labor 

 and much personal discomfort, have obtained them. 



If what I have printed shall incite to an increased interest 

 in forest tree-planting, I shall be amply remunerated for all 

 time and money expended. E. E. B. 



