520 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



December, 



Orange hedge, though not growing so 

 tall, will generally protect them. 



The proper spacing used in planting is 

 from 4 by 4 to 4 by 6 feet. The Catalpa 

 planter who sets his trees thinly upon the 

 ground will find them growing with 

 spreading tops in spite of his most care- 

 ful efforts to prevent it. The most im- 

 portant advantage of close planting for 



The development of large side branches 

 unfits the Catalpa for practical use. 

 While the stand may become so dense 

 as finally to shade them out, they cling 

 with such persistence to the growing 

 trunk that it cannot cast them off. 

 New wood is deposited around the dead 

 branches, but does not unite with them. 

 The holes thus formed lead straight 



SECTION SHOWING THE PROPORTION OF HEARTWOOD, SAPWOOD, AND BARK ON A 

 20-VEAR-OLD CATALPA TREE (REDUCED FROM 9>^ INCHES)'. ', 



the Catalpa is that it kills the lateral 

 branches while young. If the lateral 

 branches die before becoming more than 

 one-half inch in diameter, they are eas- 

 ily pushed off by the tree and do no 

 damage ; but if they reach a larger size 

 than this, as they are sure to do in thin 

 planting, they cling to the tree for years, 

 even after they die. 



into the heart of the tree, and the angle 

 of the branches is just right to conduct 

 water and germs of decay into the trunk. 

 When the branch is finally released, it 

 leaves a great hole leading to the decaj^ed 

 heart of the tree. The tree thus ruined 

 sooner or later breaks down a com- 

 plete loss. 



Cutting back the young trees after 



