16 



When the trees are cut while they are in a perfectly healthy 

 condition, whatever their age, and the posts thoroughly seasoned 

 before they are set, the wood is very durable and satisfactory for 

 fence-post purposes. The wood is light, but strong enough to 

 resist the required strain of the fence, and it holds staples very 

 satisfactorily. The posts are clean, smooth, pleasing in appear- 

 ance, and easily handled. 



In general repair work on the farm, the catalpa is a very ser- 

 viceable wood. It has been used with entire satisfaction for 

 sweeps on horsepowers, for tongues of all sorts of implements and 

 vehicles, and for doubletrees, singletrees, and neckyokes. 



RANGE OF SUCCESSFUL GROWTH. 



The hardy catalpa is an introduced tree in this State, its natural 

 range being throughout southern Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, eastern 

 Missouri, and southward. The range for growing the catalpa on 

 a commercial scale in Kansas is confined to the eastern half of the 

 State. To draw a line defining the western limit of successful 

 groves of catalpa, the line between Jewell and Smith counties pro- 

 jected south to the southern boundary of the State is a safe division. 

 West of this line the catalpa can be grown successfully only ia 

 favored sites on low ground along the water courses. Under no 

 consideration should the catalpa be planted on the high prairie 

 land of western Kansas. It cannot endure the dry summers and 

 prevailing wind of that section of the State. 



CATALPA GROWING AS A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE. 



The possibility of growing catalpas on a commercial scale is re- 

 ceiving considerable attention throughout the State, especially in 

 the southern part. The plantations within the State that have re- 

 ceived proper treatment have without exception proved good finan- 

 cial investments, and without exception the owner of the planta- 

 tions are enthusiastic catalpa men. 



The commercial product of a catalpa plantation is posts and 

 poles. The market for the products is good and will continue to 

 be good, as the demand for posts and poles is increasing and the 

 supply of natural timber suitable for such uses is diminishing. 

 As the supply from the natural sources decreases, the demands 

 on the artificial plantations will increase. In this State the catal- 

 pa is practically without a competitor. As a tree, it is easily 

 handled and grows into commercial size in a comparatively short 

 time. When cut, it makes the most desirable post on the market. 

 Geographically, Kansas is ideally situated to make the growing of 



