344 Division of Forestry. [Bull. 165 



of future success." Speaking of the growth of the catalpa, in 

 this planting, he says: "The catalpa has made a growth of 

 from twelve to twenty inches from seed." 



In part II of the Fifth Biennial Report of the State Board of 

 Agriculture, 1885-'86, page 159, in "Notes from the Experi- 

 mental Tree Planting at the Agricultural College," Prof. E. A. 

 Popenoe says regarding the catalpas planted in 1872: "Ca- 

 talpa speciosa. On poor gravelly clay soil, planted much more 

 closely than the white ash, not thinned, excepting by the re- 

 movel here and there of trees for posts. Stand about twenty- 

 five feet in height, and have an average circumference of about 

 fifteen inches ; the largest trees twenty- two inches at four feet 

 from the ground. . Trunks more likely to fork or carry large 

 branches below than those of white ash." 



It will be noted from the foregoing quotations that the ca- 

 talpas, even on this exceedingly poor soil, were being cut for 

 posts when not more than thirteen years from planting. Hav- 

 ing been planted so long before the establishment of the Ex- 

 periment Station, accurate records are wanting. Some posts 

 have been cut nearly every season ; in 1901 sixty-five were cut 

 from this planting. It is evident from the information avail- 

 able that the ground has paid as high a rental as good land has 

 paid in farm crops. The trees have not renewed from sprouts 

 as readily as have the trees on lower, richer land, but have done 

 fairly well in this respect. At this date, November, 1901, 

 nearly thirty years from planting, and with good rent for the 

 past sixteen years, this plat of ground of about three- fourths 

 of an acre contains 350 trees, which would cut at least 610 

 good posts. This does not represent all the value of this plant- 

 ing, for the soil is evidently very much better than when the 

 trees were planted. The leaves have given texture to the soil, 

 which now shows some considerable humus in its composition. 

 The ground is now practically under forest conditions, and 

 seedlings of box elder, mulberry, elm, ash, oak and red cedar 

 are found growing among the catalpas. Plate I shows one of 

 the best of the trees now growing in this planting; it is twelve 

 inches in diameter and over thirty-five feet high. Some idea 

 of the growth of underbrush and young trees may be had from 

 the same plate. 



In the spring of 1888 the horticultural department of the 

 Experiment Station planted about two and sixth-tenths acres 



