SPACING. 



The distance that catalpa trees should be spaced is a point on 

 which few planters agree. The character of the soil, the annual 

 rainfall, and the care and cultivation that the trees will receive, 

 are factors that must determine the distance of spacing. Six by 

 six feet is the spacing generally recommended. This spacing is 

 quite satisfactory when all of the trees in the plantation are ta 

 grow until they are sixteen or eighteen years old. However, if 

 some of the trees are to be cut for posts or other purposes as 

 soon as they are large enough, and these cut promiscuously 

 throughout the plantation, the stand is left so open that grass and 

 weeds soon gain a footing and the trees around the opening de- 

 velop heavy limbs instead of tall, straight trunks. 



The sprouts growing from the stumps of cut-off trees in a plan- 

 tation seldom grow into satisfactory trees because the shade from 

 the surrounding trees prevents their development. There is, 

 therefore, little hope that a sprout from the stump will grow up 

 to take the place of the tree that was cut. 



Too wide spacing allows heavy limbs to develop near the ground 

 and the best form for post or pole production is not thus secured. 



Where intensive methods are to be practiced, the trees may be 

 spaced three and one-half by seven feet. By the .time the trees 

 are eight or ten years old they will be crowding each other badly, 

 and one-half of them should then be cut out. When the plantation 

 is thinned, the remaining trees are left seven by seven feet, which 

 is sufficient room to permit them to reach full development. 

 Crowding during their early period of growth is entirely benefi- 

 cial, as it causes the trees to develop clean, straight stems free 

 from heavy limbs. The stems in such dense stands are long and 

 slender, but after the thinning the crowns of the remaining trees 

 develop rapidly, and this is followed by an increased diameter- 

 growth of the stem. 



The trees that are cut out at eight or ten years of age are large 

 enough to make one post each and considerable stove wood. The 

 value of the posts and of the fuel will much more than pay for the 

 cost of their production. The three distinct advantages gained by 

 close spacing, three and one-half by seven feet, are: 



1. The crowding of the young trees develops the best possible 

 form. 



2. The dense shade keeps out grass and weeds and reduces the 

 amount of required cultivation. 



3. The litter falling from the trees provides a mulch that pro- 

 tects the soil and retains the moisture. 



