390 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 
SCIENTIFIC WORK IN PLANTING TREES. 
Creditable Achievement of International Society of Arboriculture. 
(From Indianapolis Star, February 11, 1906.) 
The planting of forests upon an extensive scale in the United States has 
never before been undertaken either by any State or by the National Government, 
nor yet by individuals or corporations. True, there have been some local plant- 
ings done with white pine in the East, and under the timber-planting act there 
were many groves planted in the Western States, most of which have failed from 
lack of proper information, instruction and assistance, and the moral support of 
the United States authorities, although Congress, in enacting this important meas- 
ure, intended it to accomplish the re-afforestation of the land. 
It has been left to a volunteer society, without either financial or moral sup- 
port from the Government, to inaugurate this most important timber-planting 
scheme and carry it to a successful conclusion. 
The manager of this great international movement is Mr. John J. Brown, 
editor of ARBoricuLTURE, and Secretary of the International Society of 
Arboriculture, whose life has been devoted to study of economic fores- 
try. By appeals to the presidents of the great railways, and pre- 
senting to them the facts regarding the rapidly diminishing forests, and probabil- 
ity of the railways soon being compelled to adopt other materials than wood for 
railway construction and maintenance, unless speedy efforts are made to provide 
a continuation of the wood supply; and further, by showing the rapid growth, 
great durability and usefulness of the Catalpa speciosa tree, has induced these 
railways to begin the planting of great forests of these valuable trees. 
OVER A MILLION TREES. 
There are now being planted considerably more than one million Catalpa 
trees under direction of this society by American railways. Fully as many more 
are being planted by farmers and land owners in various portions of the country, 
while within the past four years more than ten million trees have been planted: 
all through the influence of this society. 
Mr. Brown has made a thorough study of economic timber trees and rate of 
growth of all species, and has amply demonstrated the importance and value of 
Catalpa speciosa, its great range of successful growth and utility in commerce, 
manufactures and the arts. 
