DESCRIPTION OF TREES SUITABLE FOR PLANTING. 



43 



side planting. The leaves are frequently eaten by a caterpillar, which 

 makes it objectionable for a street tree. It is exacting as to soil, requiring 

 a good loam or clay. Eeproduction is easily procured by seed and there 

 are no difficulties in propagating nursery stock. Two-year-old seedlings 

 should be cut back to the root to secure a straight unforked stem. In 

 planting along highways, the trees should be spaced 20 feet. It can 

 readily be distinguished from the common catalpa, which is more com- 

 mon but is of far less value, by its shorter and more slender pods, seldom 

 one-fourth inch thick. 



Umbrella Catalpa (Catalpa hungei, var. nana) is a smaller tree than 

 the preceding but with similar foliage and twigs, but neither flowers nor 

 fruits. It forms a broad umbrella-shaped crown. When planted in rows 

 it should not be spaced more than 15 feet. Stock can be secured from 

 nurserymen. It is propagated only by grafting. 



Paulonia (Paidonia imperialis) , a native of Japan, is now naturalized 

 in many portions of the State. It is a middle-sized tree seldom attaining 

 a greater height than 35 feet. Very rapid growth is made in youth, and 

 since it is a short-lived tree, it reaches its best development before its 

 twentieth year. The stout trunk covered with dark gray-brown, slightly 

 rough bark divides at a low height into a few large spreading or almost 

 horizontal branches, which form a broad flattened crown. 



The paulonia has very large, thick, orbicular-cordate leaves which form 

 a dense foliage ; they appear late in spring, many usually dropping during 

 the summer, and are early deciduous. The very large clusters of pale 

 purple flowers which appear before and with the leaves in mid- April are 

 extremely fragrant. The twigs are stout, slightly up-curved at the tips 

 and bear during the winter the large erect panicles of velvety brown 

 flower buds as well as the clusters of fruit capsules (PL VII, A). 



The root system is shallow and develops rapidly and easily in trans- 

 planted trees, assuring the successful moving of even large specimens. 

 The crown will endure vigorous pruning. The M'ood is extremely brittle 

 and limbs are easily broken in storms. It decays rapidly, necessitating 

 considerable care to maintain the crown and trunk in healthy condition 

 during old age. It is not exacting as to soil and makes rapid and healthy 

 growth under adverse conditions, if abundantly supplied with light. Ee- 

 production is easily secured from seed as well as by root shoots, which are 

 borne in abundance. Two-year old seedlings of nursery stock should be 

 cut back to the ground to facilitate the formation of clear straight stems,- 

 which will be -sufficiently tall and stout for transplanting by the third 

 year. Trees should be spaced 25 feet. 



