262 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 
planted, it requires too many years for the more vigorous to overcome and 
destroy the weaker, and thus secure sufficient space for successful growth; 
and that Catalpa speciosa is upright of habit, with long trunk, when sufficient 
space is afforded to give it opportunity. 
I do not find anything in Mr. Hall’s report indicating that close planting 
has prevented side branches. And my own observation of various plantations 
which I have visited leads me to the belief that it does not. In plantations 
4x4 feet, planted eight to ten years, | found many side branches sound and 
tenacious. Pruning is necessary and is entirely practicable up to twenty or 
even twenty-five feet from the ground, if desired. 
In looking up information for this report, it has been my object to follow 
practical lines as closely as possible. I have visited various plantations, all 
of which I found planted 4x4 feet or 3x6 feet, and the results obtained were 
found in all cases similar to those so fully reported upon by Mr. Hall. I have 
never found a tree in a close plantation which had grown large enough to 
indicate that it will pay any one to plant Catalpa trees with the idea of grow- 
ing timber suitable for cross-ties within a reasonable limit of time. 
I have, however, found many trees growing singly upon lawns and along 
roadways which show a remarkable growth. From many examples I will 
give the following: Several street trees at Colfax, Ind., planted twenty-six 
years ago, have attained a growth suitable for saw logs, or will make several 
cross-ties to each tree. Five trees growing on a lawn at Charleston, W. Va., 
have in thirteen vears grown large enough to make pole ties from each butt 
cut. Because of their upright tendency they were cut back at twelve feet from 
the ground, and the owner informed me recently that a sprout from the 
tree nearest his house had in five years made a growth of thirty-five feet, and 
that when he cut this sprout because it towered above his roof, it was found 
to measure six inches in diameter at the base. 
In southern Illinois I found many Catalpa trees still standing in the 
original forest groves. Two large trees had been recently felled, and the 
farmer was splitting them up for fence rails and posts. This gave me an 
excellent opportunity to measure the tree and examine the wood. One tree 
was cut up as follows: 
One 12-ft. log, 28 in. diameter at butt.,18 in. at top. 
One 18-ft. log, 
One to-ft. log, 14 1n. diameter at butt, 13 in. at top. 
One to-ft. log, 13 in. diameter at butt, 9 in. at top. 
8 in. diameter at butt, 14 in. at top. 
The second tree measured twenty-six inches at the butt, and tapered 
gradually to a nine-inch top, fifty-two feet up. It was straight and perfectly 
sound throughout. Several logs from each of these trees had been split once 
through the center, and all showed up perfectly clear and sound hearted through- 
out, the first cut eighteen feet long not even showing a knot. 
A larger tree standing near, measured eighty-four inches circumference 
two feet up: seventy-two inches circumference twelve feet up, the estimated 
height being sixty feet to forks. 
Another of about the same height measured seventy-six inches circum- 
ference at butt; sixty inches twelve feet up. 
