Kansas State Agricultural College 



EXPEEIMENT STATION. Circular No. 20 



DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY 



CHAS. A. SCOTT, State Forester 



The Hardy Catalpa. 



( Catalpa speciosa Warder.) 



INTRODUCTION. 



Probably there has been no other tree so generally recom- 

 mended for planting throughout the State as the hardy catalpa. 

 Many of the plantations that are fifteen years of age or older have 

 made good financial returns, but a large number have scarcely 

 paid for the cost of their establishment and maintenance; still 

 others have been complete failures. The failures have been due 

 to one or more of several factors'. However, these failures are 

 usually accounted for by concluding that the wrong kind of catal- 

 pas were planted and that the agent from whom the trees were 

 bought was not a reliable man. Such conclusions are very often 

 true, but unfavorable climatic conditions and lack of cultivation 

 ;count for many more failures. 



The proper species is the first factor to be considered in plant- 

 ing. The Catalpa speciosa is the only catalpa that is worth plant- 

 ing. It is not an easy matter to be really sure that the seedlings 

 purchased for planting are true to name. This is because the 

 seedlings of all catalpas are so much alike that it is impossible to 



11 the plants of one species from those of another. This being 

 the case, it is necessary that the selection of planting-stock be 

 lade when the different species can be identified with certainty. 



>rtunately, the characteristics of the seed is one of the best 

 teans of identifying the species. The only means by which a 

 )lanter can be absolutely sure that he is planting the species that 

 te wants, is knowing the seed from which the planting-stock was 

 ;rown. 



Seed that will produce plants true to type can be secured if due 



