436 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



GROWING CATALPA SPECIOSA FROM SEED. 



Probably no forest tree is more difficult to grow from seed than is Catalpa 

 speciosa, yet in none are the seeds more generally fertile. 



A heavy rain may wash the seeds out of the ground, or may cover them 

 so deeply as to prevent their breaking through the crust of earth. 



Since the seed are very scarce and difficult to obtain, in purity, care should 

 be observed in planting to economize the seed. 



The germ, or seed proper, consists of a pair of flattened discs, one-eighth 

 inch diameter, which are connected and are enveloped in a light winged cover- 

 ing of fibrous nature, each end terminating with a broad pencil of filaments as 

 in Figure I. 



This covering is quickly dissolved by moisture after planting, when the 

 germ or true seed emerges as in Figure 2. 



The two discs open out like a bean, and form the cotyledons or first pair 

 of leaves as in Figure 3. 



The radicle or root extending downward is connected with the discs by a 

 crook-necked, tender stem, like that of a Lima bean. The stored energy of the 

 plant pushes the seed upward with such force that many seed are destroyed 

 by breaking the crook-neck stem. This occurs when too great a depth of earth 

 covers the seed. 



The soil should be, preferably, a fine sandy loam, prepared as carefully 

 as for small garden seeds. 



Shallow, broad furrows may be eighteen inches apart for garden, or three 

 feet apart for horse cultivation. 



The seed may be strewn in the furrows, twenty-five or thirty seeds to the 

 foot, covering carefully and quickly as they are strewn to prevent the wind 

 from carrying them away. 



The covering must not exceed one-fourth inch depth. 



The critical period is during the first two weeks after the plants appear. 

 Hoeing should be promptly done to prevent choking with grass and weeds. 

 After the second pair of leaves have been formed the plants will be perfectly 

 hardy and may be plowed. 



Clean, level cultivation is necessary to promote good growth. 



When the leaves fall in autumn, they should be taken up. tied in buildup 

 of probably one hundred, and heeled in for the winter, or shipped as may be 

 desirable. 



In heeling in, avoid wet locations, place the bunches in shallow trenches 



