I 



PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 365 



Upon the walls are ten large photographs of typical Catalpa trees as they 

 exist in nature, each in handsome frames of the same wood. 



A roll of paper and another of pulp, both made of Catalpa wood, are seen 

 upon the wall, demonstrating the adaptability of Catalpa for making paper. 



At the rear seen through the car windows are telegraph poles, eight inches 

 diameter and twenty-five feet long, which have served their purpose for thirty- 

 two years. 



Also mining timbers and fence posts. One of these 3^/2 inches in thickness 

 was broken to test its strength. This was a most remarkable trial, for it was bent 

 in four directions successively, under a pressure of 20,000 pounds, before breaking. 



The letter "B," in compliment to the author, is steam bent and highly 

 polished. 



The stairway and elegant house interior is stained and has a dull finish much 

 admired. 



The Buffet made by the Indiana Furniture Company of Connersville is 

 highly finished in golden oak stain. 



Two elegantly carved Roman chairs, one stained mahogany, the other 

 natural. 



A block of wood a section of Catalpa tree, showing twenty annual growths 

 is twenty-two inches diameter. 



To the rear of the stairway are a dozen Catalpa cross-ties or sleepers, as they 

 are called in Europe. 



These are in perfect condition as regards soundness, notwithstanding the fact 

 that they have withstood the hammering of innumerable trains on four of our 

 most prominent railways, the Southern, Big Four, Illinois Central, and Louisville 

 and N'ashville, for a third of a century. 



Were nothing else shown in this exhibit save these old sleepers, and the 

 section showing twenty years growth, the success of this exhibit would be com- 

 plete. Yet so many other articles are included, that the world is amazed at so 

 great value in an American forest tree almost totally unknown even in America. 



WHAT WAS PROVEN AT THE WORLD'S FAIR. 



(ist) That Catalpa speciosa will grow in twenty years to be twenty inches 

 in thickness and forty feet high. 



(2nd) That in fifty years it reaches a height of one hundred feet and 

 diameter of thirty inches, in forest. 



(3d) That for fence posts it- has lasted 85 years. 



(4th) In fence rails it has withstood eighty years of sunshine and storm. 



(5th) That as railway cross-ties the wood has resisted wear and decay for 

 thirty-two years. 



(6th) That it makes magnificent furniture. 



(7th) Interior house finish equal to any American wood. 



(8th) That every portion of a freight or passenger railway car may be 

 made of Catalpa. 



("9th) It may be carved into handsome chairs. 



doth) It is suitable for picture frames, receiving any stains and taking a 

 high polish. 



