PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 347 
is similar to that of which the reef of Keys extending southward from the 
Biscayne Bay to and beyond Key West are composed. 
In composition this is principally lime and marl, varying somewhat in 
hardness, although usually it is easily loosened with pick and mattock, the 
crushed material being of excellent character for the growth of trees and 
vegetation. Upon all this there is a surface covering of dried muck, forming 
a rich soil. 
The value of these lands are quite high, owing to their specially favorable 
climate, fertility, and capability of producing a high quality of fruits and veg- 
etables. 
THE EVERGLADES FOR THE CATALPA. 
The special effort of this paper is to point out the many advantages which 
this large and at present little valued portion of the state of Florida possesses 
for the growing of vast forests of Catalpa and other trees for the produc- 
tion of fine lumber, telegraph and telephone poles, and many millions of dur- 
able cross-ties for American railways. And if anything more is desired we 
will add that wood pulp for book paper can be grown in this location ten 
times as rapidly as the spruce will grow in its more northern clime. 
In its native habitat the Catalpa is a “slash” or wet land tree, growing in 
the low overflowed lands of the lower Wabash River. It succeeds well on 
higher and drver soils, but endures the annual overflowing of the rivers, where 
for several months the ‘‘slashes remain covered with water. 
Its relative, the Southern Catalpa, while of far less value, yet has similar 
habits also, is found in the low bottom lands and margins of southern streams. 
The Catalpa is of much more rapid growth in Louisiana, Texas and Florida 
than farther north, because its period of rest is very brief—almost a continuous 
progress. 
The phenomenal success of the hardy Catalpa speciosa in Mexico as far south 
as 20 degrees, and about New Orleans, Pensacola, Mobile and other southern 
localities, mark it as the tree to plant in these glade lands, where conditions 
seem to be so favorable for its culture. 
If a great drainage scheme should be undertaken in the everglades, there will 
he many locations in which ordin2“y crops cannot be grown for several years. On 
such tracts the planting of trees which will thrive under moist conditions, will 
speedily prepare the land for other uses if such be desired. 
WATER TRANSPORTATION. 
The advantage of competitive transportation should not be overlooked as 
the products of the forest are both bulky and weighty, and often water trans- 
portation is more economical than by rail. 
Since the Catalpa tree gathers from both atmosphere and soil the special 
antiseptic materials which resist decay, and builds into its every fibre all those 
substances, they can not be washed out by water as some materials are, which 
have been artificially treated. Hence the great expense of chemical treatment 
and transportation to and from the plant are avoided, and it is believed that time 
