I 



PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 347 



is similar to that of which the reef of Keys extending southward from the 

 Biscayne Bay to and beyond Key West are composed. 



In composition this is principally lime and marl, varying somewhat in 

 hardness, although usually it is easily loosened with pick and mattock, the 

 crushed material being of excellent character for the growth of trees and 

 vegetation. Upon all this there is a surface covering of dried muck, forming 

 a rich soil. 



The value of these lands are quite high, owing to their specially favorable 

 climate, fertility, and capability of producing a high quality of fruits and veg- 

 etables. 



THE EVERGLADES FOR THfi CATALPA. 



The special effort of this paper is to point out the many advantages which 

 this large and at present little valued portion of the state of Florida possesses 

 for the growing of vast forests of Catalpa and other trees for the produc- 

 tion of fine lumber, telegraph and telephone poles, and many millions of dur- 

 able cross-ties for American railways. And if anything more is desired we 

 will add that wood pulp for book paper can be grown in this location ten 

 times as rapidly as the spruce will grow in its more northern clime. 



In its native habitat the Catalpa is a "slash" or wet land tree, growing in 

 the low overflowed lands of the lower Wabash River. It succeeds well on 

 higher and dryer soils, but endures the annual overflowing of the rivers, where 

 for several months the "slashes remain covered with water. 



Its relative, the Southern Catalpa, while of far less value, yet has similar 

 habits also, is found in the low bottom lands and margins of southern streams. 



The Catalpa is of much more rapid growth in Louisiana, Texas and Florida 

 than farther north, because its period of rest is very brief: almost a continuous 

 progress. 



The phenomenal success of the hardy Catalpa speciosa in Mexico as far south 

 as 20 degrees, and about Xew Orleans, Pensacola. Mobile and other southern 

 localities, mark it as the tree to plant in these glade lands, where conditions 

 seem to be so favorable for its culture. 



If a great drainage scheme should be undertaken in the everglades, there will 

 be many locations in which ordin?-y crops cannot be grown for several years. On 

 such tracts the planting of trees vvhich will thrive under moist conditions, will 

 pi-edily prepare the land for other uses if such be desired. 



WATER TRAXSPORTATION. 



The advantage of competitive transportation should not be overlooked as 

 the products of the forest are both bulky and weighty, and often water trans- 

 portation is more economical than by rail. 



Since the Catalpa tree gathers from both atmosphere and soil the special 

 antiseptic materials which resist decay, and builds into its every fibre all those 

 substances, thev can not be washed out by water as some materials are, which 

 have been artificially treated. Hence the great expense of chemical treatment 

 and tranMK>rt;<t ; on to and from the plant are avoided, and it is believed that time 



