Mar. 1910.] Conditions in Central and Western Kansas. 349 



of the Southern species, Catalpa catalpa. They were killed to 

 the ground in February, 1899, and have been seriously injured 

 by cold in other seasons. Doubtless much of the dissatisfac- 

 tion with the catalpa has been caused by the setting of other 

 species than speciosa. 



Posts set ten years ago in the Experiment Station vineyard 

 are still in very good condition, and there is no doubt that 

 they merit the general favor in which they are held. The 

 wood not suitable for posts makes very fair fuel. It burns 

 readily and lasts well for so light a wood. Plate 36 shows 

 the cross-section of a catalpa planted in 1880 and cut in 1900. 

 Plate 37 shows the section of a board cut from the same tree. 

 The trunk made a board eight feet in length, the width of 

 that shown in the plate. When cut, this was a fine, healthy 

 tree, with a spread of at least twenty-five feet. The best de- 

 velopment of the belt in which it grew demanded its removal. 



Trees of suitable size for sawing have been used by the 

 mechanical department for various purposes. Mr. W. L. 

 House, foreman of the College wood-working shops, says in 

 regard to the catalpa wood : "It has a beautiful grain, polishes 

 easily, and takes a fine finish. It has sufficient strength for 

 the various kinds of cabinet work, and is desirable in every 

 way for this purpose. For wide surfaces it joins nicely, match- 

 ing the grain easily. It works easily, either with the lathe or 

 with hand tools, and is, in every respect, a valuable wood for 

 the finisher and cabinet-maker." 



Nursery Notes. 



Seedlings of the catalpa are easily grown. No difference has 

 been noted in the vitality of seed gathered in the fall and 

 stored in a dry, cool place and in that which had hung on the 

 trees until spring. Good stands have been secured by plant- 

 ing in rows of suitable width for cultivation, dropping the 

 seeds quite thickly in the row and covering rather shallowly, 

 about one inch deep. Plantings made when the ground is in 

 good, warm condition have succeeded better than plantings 

 made very early or very late. On good soil and with good care, 

 the growth of catalpa seedlings has been from one to five feet 

 the first season. One-year-old trees are best for planting. In 

 the planting of 1888, yearling trees have made posts as soon 

 as two-year-old trees. The yearling trees are easily set by 



