144 Horticultural Department. [Bulletin 108 



on the College campus. These have been somewhat variable in form 

 and growth, but have, on the whole, made good growths and fine trees. 



Some of the trees set in a cooperative experiment with the divi- 

 sion of forestry, Department of Agriculture, are evidently of the 

 Southern species, Catalpa catalpa. They were killed to the ground in 

 February, 1899, and have been seriously injured by cold in other sea- 

 sons. Doubtless much of the dissatisfaction with the catalpa has 

 been caused by the setting of other species than speciosa. 



Posts set ten years ago in the Experiment Station vineyard are still 

 in very good condition, and there is no doubt that they merit the 

 general favor in which they are held. The wood not suitable for 

 posts makes very fair fuel. It burns readily and lasts well for so 

 light a wood. Plate 7 shows the cross-section of a catalpa planted in 

 1880 and cut in 1900. Plate 8 shows the section of a board cut from 

 the same tree. The trunk made a board eight feet in length, the 

 width of that shown in the plate. When cut, this was a fine, healthy 

 tree, with a spread of at least twenty-five feet. The best development 

 of the belt in which it grew demanded its removal. 



Trees of suitable size for sawing have been used by the mechan- 

 ical department for various purposes. Mr. W. L. House, foreman of 

 the college wood- working shops, says in regard to the catalpa wood : 

 "It has a beautiful grain, polishes easily, and takes a fine finish. It 

 has sufficient strength for the various kinds of cabinet work, and is 

 desirable in every way for this purpose. For wide surfaces it joins 

 nicely, matching the grain easily. It works easily, either with the 

 lathe or with hand tools, and is, in every respect, a valuable wood for 

 the finisher and cabinet-maker." 



NURSERY NOTES. 



Seedlings of the catalpa are easily grown. No difference has been 

 noted in the vitality of seed gathered in the fall and stored in a dry. 

 cool place and in that which had hung on the trees until spring. Good 

 stands have been secured by planting in rows of suitable width for 

 cultivation, dropping the seeds quite thickly in the row and covering 

 rather shallowly, about one inch deep. Plantings made when the 

 ground is in good, warm condition have succeeded better than plant- 

 ings made very early or very late. On good soil and with good care, 

 the growth of catalpa seedlings have been from one to five feet the 

 first season. One-year-old trees are best for planting. In the plant- 

 ing of 1888, yearling trees have made posts as soon as two-year-old 

 trees. The yearling trees are easily set by laying off the rows with a 

 plow or lister, followed by a little work with the spade, care being 

 taken to firm the soil well when flue tree is put in position. Setting in 



