260 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 
4. It succeeds over a greater range of territory than any other valuable 
tree of this continent. 
Ase, 
5. Its habit of growth is upright, with long trunk, where it has an 
opportunity, thus differing from all other forms of Catalpa. 
“6. The chemical constituents of the wood are so resistant of decay as to 
make expensive artificial wood preservation entirely unnecessary. 
“7. The roots are strong, vigorous, large and deep, holding so firmly 
to the earth that storms do not blow them over. I never found a Catalpa to 
be blown over by the wind. 
“8. It is less subject to disease and attacks of insects than any other 
tree of my acquaintance. Only one worm, the Catalpa sphinx, attacks it, and 
that is easily controlled by spraying, while the trees are never seriously 
injured by the sphinx. 
“g. The wood has the same texture as butternut, firm enough for tie 
purposes, and holds a spike well. 
“to. For inside car finish it is admirably adapted, partakes of high 
polish, has a handsome grain and is a superb wood for furniture and inside 
finish. 
11. It is easily manipulated with edge tools. 
12. Its strength is ample for all requirements in railroad work.” 
THE, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE 
has an exhibit in the Forestry Building at the World’s Fair at St. Louis 
which should be seen by all engineers, and, in fact, by any one at all inter- 
ested in forestry. The exhibit demonstrates practically every point made by 
Mr. Brown in this statement. The newel posts, balusters and railing enclos- 
ing the exhibit are of Catalpa wood. The Barney and Smith Company have 
finished a section of a passenger coach entirely in this wood. A handsome 
stairway gives a fine example of interior finish. Desks, tables, a dressing 
case, both plain and fancy chairs, and various other articles of household 
furniture are shown. In the rear are cross-ties and telegraph poles in a good 
state of preservation, which were taken out after a record of thirty-two years’ 
service, fence rails. posts, etc., with records of long service, all proving con- 
clusively the wide scope of usefulness of this wood as well as its lasting 
quality. 
One surprising point developed is the strength and toughness of the wood, 
which most authorities declare soft and brittle. If they will try to break either 
a piece of the new wood or one of the ancient fence rails in this exhibit, they 
will no longer declare Catalpa brittle. The Barney and Smith Company 
reported Catalpa a better wood for bending than is white ash. 
It will be seen from the foregoing that three most eminent authorities agree 
upon the essential points, viz., that Catalpa trees may be grown profitably 
as a commercial proposition; that the endurance of this wood is established 
beyond question, and that it is suitable for cross-ties. 
The authorities disagree, however, upon one most important point. 
namely, the method of planting and treatment. 
