PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



IN CATAI.PA KOKKST 



this tree above Jl others of our great 

 list of valued forest trees encouraged 

 me to continue my investigation during 

 this long period of years. 



The subject has been one of slow 

 progression, here a little and there a 

 little, and while much has been ac- 

 complished, there remains more to be 

 learned. I visited the localities when 

 the trees were indigenous, and have 

 seen most of those which have been 

 preserved, having studied them in the 

 forests, observed the minute differences 

 in tree foliage, flowers, seed, and hab- 

 its of the trees, learning to characterize 

 the true Catalpa speciosa from the in- 

 ferior varieties and numberless hv- 

 brids, for I found that no forest tree 

 was more easily hybridized, by insects 

 carrying the pollen from flower to 

 flower, than is the catalpa. 



In pursuing these researches T have 

 traveled three hundred thousand miles, 

 traversing every State, as well as 

 . Canada. Mexico and Central Ameri- 

 ca, and have founded and recorded 

 many thousands of catalpa trees which 

 have been transported from their home 

 in the AYabash Valley, in order to de- 

 termine the extent of territory to 

 which the trees were adapted, the soils 

 suited to their growth, and their hardi- 

 ness in rigorous climates, as well a* 

 their behavior under tropic conditions. 

 The result has been that apparently 

 there is no limit, yet found, between 

 latitudes 45 deg. north and 40 deg. 

 south of the equator. 



There has been no assistance ren- 

 dered in all this work by the govern- 

 ment or State, the expenses having 

 been met by my own labors as civil en- 

 gineer and other employment, until in 

 1807 the organization of the Inteni:i 

 tional Society of Arboriculture was 

 effected, since which time the society 

 has steadily grown, and has for the 

 most. part borne the expense. Ex-Pres- 



