26o PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



"4. It succeeds over a greater range of territory than any other valuable 

 tree of this continent. 



"5. Its habit of growth is upright, with long trunk, where it has an 

 opportunity, thus differing from all other forms of Catalpa. 



"6. The chemical constituents of the wood are so resistant of decay as to 

 make expensive artificial wood preservation entirely unnecessary. 



"7. The roots are strong, vigorous, large and deep, holding so firmly 

 to the earth that storms do not blow them over. I never found a Catalpa to 

 be blown over by the wind. 



"8. It is less subject to disease and attacks of insects than any other 

 tree of my acquaintance. Only one worm, the Catalpa sphinx, attacks it, and 

 that is easily controlled by spraying, while the trees are never seriously 

 injured by the sphinx. 



"9. The wood has the same texture as butternut, firm enough for tie 

 purposes, and holds a spike well. 



"10. For inside car finish it is admirably adapted, partakes of high 

 polish, has a handsome grain and is a superb wood for furniture and inside 

 finish. 



"n. It is easily manipulated with edge tools. 



"12. Its strength is ample for all requirements in railroad work." 



THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE 



has an exhibit in the Forestry Building at the World's Fair at St. Louis 

 which should be seen by all engineers, and, in fact, by any one at all inter- 

 ested in forestry. The exhibit demonstrates practically every point made by 

 Mr. Brown in this statement. The newel posts, balusters and railing enclos- 

 ing the exhibit are of Catalpa wood. The Barney and Smith Company have 

 finished a section of a passenger coach entirely in this wood. A handsome 

 stairway gives a fine example of interior finish. Desks, tables, a dressing 

 case, both plain and fancy chairs, and various other articles of household 

 furniture are shown. In the rear are cross-ties and telegraph poles in a good 

 state of preservation, which were taken out after a record of thirty-two years' 

 service, fence rails, posts, etc., with records of long service, all proving con- 

 clusively the wide scope of usefulness of this wood as well as its lasting 

 quality. 



One surprising point developed is the strength and toughness of the wood, 

 which most authorities declare soft and brittle. If they will try to break either 

 a piece of the new wood or one of the ancient fence rails in this exhibit, they 

 will no longer declare Catalpa brittle. The Barney and Smith Company 

 reported Catalpa a better wood for bending than is white ash. 



It will be seen from the foregoing that three most eminent authorities agree 

 upon the essential points, viz., that Catalpa trees may be grown profitably 

 as a commercial proposition : that the endurance of this wood is established 

 beyond question, and that it is suitable for cross-ties. 



The authorities disagree, however, upon one most important point. 

 namely, the method of planting snd treatment. 



