PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 275 



There is a very great difference in these two trees, yet a confusion has 

 always existed, many persons mistaking the varieties. 



The names Catawba, catalfa, and other local pronunciations of the Indian 

 name catalpa, are still used in the South. 



F. Andrews Michaux, in his "North American Sylva," v. 2, page 57, says: 



"The French of Upper Louisiana call it (the catalpa) Bois Shavanon, 

 from the Shavanon, or Shawnee Nation, which once existed in West Tennes- 

 see on the borders of the river of this name, called by the English the Cum- 

 berland." 



Thus it will be seen that this refers specially to Catalpa bignonioides, 

 which is common in the South, and existed on the Cumberland River in Ten- 

 nessee. 



Seeds of this Southern catalpa were distributed throughout Europe and 

 large numbers of the trees c.rist upon the continent from this source so it 

 is plain to be seen why there should be much confusion, and in the minds 

 of those best informed there should be a feeling of disgust inhen it is proposed 

 to plant catalpa trees for production of forests. 



However, genuine Catalpa speciosa trees have been sent by the Inter- 

 national Society of Arboriculture to all parts of the world which in a few years 

 will demonstrate their value for forests. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SPURIOUS SEEDS. 



We recently spent a week in Washington city searching for Catalpa spe- 

 ciosa trees but there are none to be found. 



Numerous specimens of Catalpa bignonioides are found at Georgetown 

 and on the public grounds in the city. Also large numbers of Japanese ca- 

 talpa, with their very abundant, long slender seed-pods, often twenty in each 

 cluster; but after a thorough search in every park, all the public grounds, 

 Botanical Gardens, Capitol grounds, and about the Smithsonian and Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture grounds, as well as on all public street lines, / failed to 

 find a single specimen of Catalpa speciosa. 



The managers of the Botanical Gardens did not know of one tree in the 

 District of Columbia. Inquiry at the office of public grounds and city streets 

 brought the same reply, and I do not believe there is a tree of this valuable 

 American forest product in or about Washington. 



This solves the question of suth violent opposition to the catalpa by the 

 United States Forestry Bureau, whose observations have been confined to 

 the two varieties which are so abundant in Washington and all other cities 

 of this continent. No wonder the Bureau decided that seed of the Catalpa big- 

 nonioides was pure speciosa. 



The specimens existing in Washington are all remarkably crooked, de- 

 formed, scrubby, and worthless samples of even the Southern bignonioides Ca- 

 talpa, and would naturally create disgust in a forestry expert. 



A pilgrimage to Evansville, Indiana, Princeton, in Gibson County, or to 

 almost any of the native forests of Catalpa speciosa would greatly benefit the 

 doctors of the Forestry Department in their judgment of the catalpa tree, 



