43 



SHADE TREES FOR NORTH CAROLINA. 



of wealth, and brings great damage to other industries. As such a re- 

 source, it should be \visel_y used and in such a way that young trees may 

 always come up in the forest land to take the place of those that are cut. 

 It is important to the owner that every acre of his land should be pro- 

 ducing something of value, and since in many parts of the State we cannot 

 grow grass on land which has become washed or worn, or which is very 

 steep, such land should be planted in trees that it may be growing some- 

 thing of use and value, for idle lands like idle hands are a' reproach to 

 both owner and State. And since the forest is one of the primary sources 

 of wealth like our water-powers and our fisheries, the State should seek 

 by wise laws to perpetuate them, and we should try to retain their owner- 

 ship and use so far as possible among the people who live in the State, and 

 have their homes here, in order that the wealth that the forests create as 

 they rise in value, may remain at home. We should look forward with the 

 hope that eventually the greater portion of our hardwoods will be manu- 

 factured into finished products within the State, keeping skilled men busy, 

 and building cities where only towns stand to-day ; and that the wood will 

 not go out as mere rough lumber to supply the factories of other States. 



These are all profitable suggestions for Arbor Day, and will serve to 

 show what the true significance of the day should be — the relation of our 

 forests to our wealth and prosperity. 



DESCEIPTION OF TREES SUITABLE FOE PLANTING. 



Hardy Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa), a native ol the Mississippi Valley, 

 is now naturalized around most of the larger towns of this State. 



A small or middle-sized tree seldom attaining a greater height than 40 

 feet, it makes rapid growth in youth, passing its prime before thirty years 

 old. The short, stout trunk covered with scaly gray-brown bark, excurrent 

 in young specimens, but deliquescent in old, divides into a few stout 

 spreading branches which form in old trees a broadly oval, usually unsym- 

 metrical crown. 



The catalpa has large, ovate-cordate leaves which cast a dense shade; 

 they appear late in. spring but are early deciduous. The large pale blue- 

 purple flowers which appear in early sujnmer are very ornamental. The 

 twigs are stout and slightly curved and the numerous, long slender pods 

 are pendant from them during winter lentil the succeeding spring. 



The shallow root system develops rapidly and large specimens are easily 

 transplanted. The crown, even in old trees, will endure vigorous pruning. 

 The wood is rather brittle and easily broken by the wind and the crown is 

 apt to become ragged in old age. Its rapid growth, ease of rooting, toler- 

 ance of the knife and pleasing winter appearance commends it for road- 



