17 



catalpa posts and poles an important industry. The demand for 

 the posts comes largely from the plains region lying farther south 

 and west. The Kansas plantations are nearer the field of con- 

 sumption than is any other source of supply. This shortens the 

 distance that the products must be hauled, and saves immensely 

 in cost of transportation. The lightness of the wood is another 

 factor favoring the catalpa. The air- dried wood weighs only about 

 half as much as the same volume of Osage orange, its closest com- 

 petitor. The uniform size and smoothness of the catalpa posts 

 allow them to pack closely in the car. In the range country the 

 posts are frequently hauled long distances, again the lightness 

 ness of the posts and the compactness of the load are a big factor. 

 On average country roads a team can easily haul from 250 to 300 

 posts at a single load. 



In considering the possibilities of growing the catalpas on a 

 commercial scale, the first point to get absolutely clear is that the 

 land selected is suitable for their thrifty growth and within rea- 

 sonable distance from a shipping point. If the land is on or near 

 a main line of road, so much the better. 



In selecting the planting-stock, great care must be exercised 

 to be sure of getting the Catalpa speciosa. The common catalpa is 

 not worth planting and will be a source of endless grief. The dis- 

 tinction between the two species is most clearly seen in the ma- 

 ture trees; indeed, it is only from the characteristics of the ma- 

 ture trees or of the seeds that the species can be definitely deter- 

 mined. The desirable trees should be marked for their seed 

 crop. The seedlings are easily and cheaply grown; if the planter 

 requires several thousand, he can well afford to grow them him- 

 self. In case he buys his seedlings, he should buy only from reli- 

 able nurserymen who make a specialty of catalpas and who sell 

 them at a figure that will allow the planter an opportunity to grow 

 them at a profit. 



Before setting out to plant and grow catalpas on a commercial 

 scale, the prospective grower should clearly understand that the in- 

 vestment is a long-time one, that it will be ten years before there 

 are any returns from the planting and at least fourteen or sixteen 

 years before the entire crop can be cut and marketed. In view of 

 this fact, the original cost of the establishment of the plantation 

 will practically determine the financial success or failure of the 

 undertaking. The rule of compound interest must be applied in 

 such investments. Five per cent, compound interest is a very 

 reasonable rate to require of such an investment. On this basis, 

 if $1 is put out at five per cent, compound interest, it will in six- 

 teen years amount to $2.18. To determine the future worth of 



