THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
259 
RtOS 
Planting Catalpa for Railroad Ties. 
Header, Hillsboro, III.—The soil in w.liicli 
I ihlnk of planting Catalpas for railroad 
lies is rich black prairie land. How long, 
with good cultivation, would it take to 
prow a Catalpa large enough for a rail¬ 
road tie? Would it be practicable to grow 
from 4,000 to 5.000 trees to the acre? For 
what other purpose would the Catalpa be 
good, other than ties or posts? I think 
there are two varieties of Catalpa; what 
would be the right variety for this pur- 
p('se, and which would be better to plant, 
seeds or the young trees from nur.sery, 
where they are expected to stand? Where 
could I obtain the seeds or trees? How- 
much do the railroads generally iiay for 
good ties? Could 1 got more out of the 
trees of that size from another source? 
Uo you think it would be a profitable in¬ 
vestment to plant a live or 10-acre grove 
o' Catalpas? 
Ays,—There are tw-o varieties of Ca- 
lalpas indigenous to the United States. 
One, Catalpa bignonioides, is found 
along the south Atlantic coast, and is 
not hardy north of the Ohio River. The 
other, Catalpa speciosa, is a native of 
Ohio, Indiana and the Southwest, and 
is perfectly hardy throughout Ohio. It 
is a very rapid grower and the wood is 
almost indestructible. The wood is used 
for fence posts, telegraph poles, and ties, 
it takes on a fine polish for inside work. 
As it is naturally a spreading-top tree 
it should be planted closely to force it 
to grow upright. R. Douglas & Sons, 
Waukegan, Ill., planted about 600 acres 
to Catalpa speciosa at Farlington, Kan., 
for the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf 
R. R., and about 400 acres for Mr. Hun- 
new'ell, the president of the road, about 
four miles southwest of the Farlington 
I)lantation. These plantations were 
made on land so poor that the railroad 
company could not sell it. While the 
surrounding sections were sold at $12.50 
per acre these went unsold at $5. In no 
place was there over two feet of good 
soil. In a larger part of the plantations 
it was not to exceed 10 inches, and in 
I)laces the subsoil or gumbo came to the 
surface and could only be plowed in the 
driest weather. These plantations were 
sadly neglected after the contractors 
turned them over; 2,720 trees were 
planted per acre, or 4x4 feet. The weak¬ 
er trees were to have been cut out when 
the trees began crowding. This, how¬ 
ever, w'as neglected for a number of 
years longer than it should have been. 
But now at the end of 21 years the Gov¬ 
ernment has sent foresters who thor¬ 
oughly inspected the plantations, and 
their reports are issued in Bulletin No. 
37, “The Hardy Catalpa.” I take the 
following figures from their reports. 
The total cost per acre at the end of 21 
years for the Farlington plantation is 
$124.06. This includes cost of establish¬ 
ing as per contract $30, rent of land 21 
years at $2, $42; cost of thinning, 62 
cents; estimated cost of marketing pro¬ 
ducts at one cent per post, $36.14; cost 
of superintendence 21 years at 75 cents 
per y^ear, $15.30; total, $124.06. Basing 
their estimate on what had been already 
sold and estimating the remainder the 
value of an acre when 21 years old was 
$390.21, or $265.70 as the net return on 
the investment. The Hunnewell planta¬ 
tion, planted three years later than the 
above, averaged a total cost per acre at 
the end of 18 years of $110.30. Timber 
sold and still standing $376.30 per acre, 
or a profit of $266.10. The next largest 
plantation of Catalpa speciosa in exi.st- 
ence is the Taggy plantation near Hutch¬ 
inson, Kan. The inception of this and 
the two first-named plantations were 
just the opposite; the Farlington and 
Hunnewell plantations to show that 
timber planted on land too poor for 
farming purposes would in time pay a 
good interest on the investment, Mr. 
Yaggy selected good land to get returns 
as .soon as possible. This plantation 
was made partly in 1890. This planting 
gave a net return of $258.67. The plant¬ 
ing of 1891 on good soil gave a net re¬ 
turn of $174.83 when 11 years old. Part 
of the planting of 1891 was on sandy 
land near the river, and barely repaid 
for the cutting. The Catalpa speciosa 
sprouts from the stump when cut off, so 
a forest of it keeps on reproducing. The 
Yaggy plantation was planted three feet 
10 inches by six feet or 1,894 trees per 
acre. The Catalpa is grown from seed 
and is sold very cheaply by nursery¬ 
men. Unless one wants to make a very 
large plantation this is the best way to 
get the plants. At the Farlington and 
Hunnewell plantations the land was 
marked off crosswise with a corn marker 
set at four feet, the trees being planted 
at the intersections. Two men and one 
boy to carry the trees would plant from 
■ 4,000 to 4,800 per day. At the Yaggy 
plantation lines were used to plant by. 
I would advise those interested in Ca¬ 
talpa speciosa to write to the Forestry 
Department at Washington for Bulletin 
No. 37. Tiias. n. uoi'gi.as. 
I’uixcii-i.ics OF Animal Nutrition, by H. 
T. Armsby; John Wiley & Sons, New 
York; clotti; bTt pages octavo; $1, post¬ 
paid. A work of value to those who care 
to go rather deeply into the scientific side 
of this matter. Among other subjects 
discussed are: Food; Relation of Meta¬ 
bolism to Food Suijply; Influence of Mus¬ 
cular Exertion; Force and Energy, and 
Net Available Energy. 'Phe results of 
much study and many careful experiments 
are arranged in convenient form for 
leference. 
UNION LOCK 
Poultry 
Fencing 
Has boon fully test¬ 
ed and found supe¬ 
rior to all others. 
Will fit uneven 
ground without 
cutting. 
Every Part Stretches Perfectly. 
Made of high grade galvanized .steel wire. Ail 
horizontal lines are cables, making it stronger. 
HaL.s fine mesh at bottom for small chicks. 
We also make extra heavy for gardens, lawns, 
etc. The largest poultry farms are using this fence - 
over 700 rods by Lakewood (N. J.) Farm Co. We pay 
freight and satisfy every one or no sale. Can ship from 
New York, Philadelphia or Pittsburg. 
Write for free catalog of Farm, Lawn and Poultry Fencing. 
CASE BROS., Colchester, Conn. 
r'rtIliA Females. Circulars. SILAS 
V.'UlllC r upa dBCKEK, south Montrose, Pa. 
TREES SUCCEED WHERE 
4f^LrJeI^«ery. OTHERS FAIL 
ur Fruit Book Fiee. Result of 78 years’ experience 
^STARK BRO®# Louisiana, Mo.; Dansviile, N. Y.; Etc 
PEACH. 
MAMIE ROSS 
Finest Farly Cling 
For early ripening and fine flavor it has 
' no superior. Largejuicyandfinely colored. 
Prolific and brings top prices. IHeley and 
''many other choice varieties. Free catalog. 
I HARRISON'S NURSERIES, Box 29, Berlin, Md. 
400,000 TREES 
and PLANTS at Wholesale Prices. Appie, Pear, 
Cherry and Peach trees, $8.00 per 100. Cat. Free. 
ItBLIANCE NURSERY, Box 10, Geneva, N. Y. 
THOUSAND 
Apple Tree*. BestComintrclalSorte 
clean, smootlu thrifty: no end to 
roots. Peach, Plum, Pear, Cherry, Quince, 
etc., cheap. Woooview Nurseries, Mt. Hoar Springs, 
Vegetable Plants. 
Large transplanted plants of Cabbage, Tomato, 
Celery, Egg Plant, Pepper and Cauliflower. Write for 
Price List. 
J. H. HUTTON & SON, Conyngham, Pa. 
RAPE 
costsr 
25 cents! 
perJON . 
Greatest, Cheapest Food 
on Earth for Sheep, Swine, 
Cattle, etc. 
trill be -worth $100 to you to road what 
Salzer'a catalo g saya abou t rape. 
Billion Dollar Grass 
will positively make you rioU; 12 tons 
of hay and lots of pasture p«r acre, so 
also Broinus, Peaoat, Spoltz, Macaroal 
wheat for arid, hot soiLs, 63 bus. per 
acre. 20th Century Oats, 2.>0 bus. i>er 
acre and Tcosinte, Yields 100 tout 
Green Fodder per acre. 
Forthls Notice and 10c. 
we mail big catalog and 10 Farm Seed 
Novelties, fully worth $10 to get a start. 
BSTABLISHKD 1824. 
HtGH-GRADE 
GARDEN SEEDS 
BRIDGEMAN’S SEED WAREHOUSE, 
;57 Kast Niiu-tecuth Street, NKW YOKK, 
Descriptive Illustrated Catalogue mailed free to all 
applicants. 
Western I THE KELLY CO., 
Grown 8KKD MERCHANTS. 
Clover. 150-152 Sheriff St., Cleveland, Ohio. 
Timothy, kinds of grass and field seeds and 
poultry supplies. Seed manual free 
Keforence, this paper, or Park National Bank. 
£jE1= 
Careful Farmers 
—careless ones will not be interested — should keep a barrel of Conservo on hand all the 
time. It will prolong the life of every stick of lumber on the place, and save dollars for 
every penny tliat i t costs. Two cents’ worth will make a fence post last years longer ; 
five cents' worth will protect a sill, etc. It sinks into the wood, and prevents wet or dry 
rot. A scientific money saver. Send for our circular ; it will pay you to investigate 
Conserve Wood Preservative. 
SAMUEL CABOT, Manufacturing Chemist. 81 Kilby Street, Boston, Mas*. 
nuT 
1 
'n POTATO —Earliest, greatest 
J U ■ U H I cropper and best keeper in America Cir¬ 
cular free. J. B. JOHNSON, Eatontown, N. J. 
P LANT POTATOES. 
Dibble's Northern Gro-wn Seed Potatoes 
will produce better, smoother potatoes and more of 
them than any other potatoes you can plant. Grown In virgin 
•oil 1 q the cold north, and stored in specialljr constructed cold storage 
potato bouses. Ready for shipment at all times without danger of 
chilling or freezing. All kinds and varleties-^early. medium and late. 
Any quantity. We are headquarters for Seed Potatoes. Our warehouses 
and cellars have a capacity of orer 100,000 bushels or 200 carloads. 
AVrite for catalogue. Ask also about our Sted Cvm and !S«ed Oati. 
EDWARD F. DIBBLE, HONElyrr^AlTsV-N. y. 
Sweet 
POTATOES FOR SEED. BIQ Stem 
JE iiSEY Yellow, $2.76 per bbl.; Jer¬ 
sey Yellow, fancy strain, $2.76 per bbl.; Jersey 
Red, $3.25 per bbl.; Vineland Bush, $6 per bbl. 
Write for price list. Plants In season. 
F. 8. NEWCOMB, Vineland, N. J. 
n CQT Seed POTATOES are Hall’s Superior Second- 
DLuI Crop. My free Catalogue will convince you 
of their merits. John W. Hall, Marion Sta , Md. 
SEED POTATOES 
Sir Walter Raleigh, 
__cholceand true to 
name. $1 per bushel. Send for circular to the N. Y. 
PEERLESS Farm, Lyons, Wayne Go., N. Y. 
SWEET CORN. 
When you have learned by actual experience that 
Ordway's Golden Is the most delicious corn you ever 
tasted, you will regret that you did not try it before. 
You have seen it advertised three or four years and 
did not believe it any better than the ordinary sweet 
corn, but if you are satisfied with that white corn 
keep right on using It, and let those who wish for tho 
best corn overgrown feast on this wonderful variety. 
Please remember that Ordway’s Golden Is early, ten¬ 
der, Juicy and sweet, winning favor at the well- 
ordered dinner table, and worthy tho most favored 
•spot in every kitchen garden. But if yeu feel that 
you cannot keep house without this variety, send 25 
cents for half a pint of the seed; 40 cents for a pint; 
or 75 cents for a quart, and it will be sent to you by 
return mail, postpaid. Address 
O. i*. ORDWAY. Saxonville, Mass. 
i^Seed Corn. 
r /2'at*HAtT QaaHc Choice selection 
89ICirU87ll OS7K7UO of seeds cheap. 
^ Nursery Stock 
i^$IOO IN PREMIUMS ON CORN. 
Apple Trees, $4 per 100. Catalogue Free; 60 pages. 
J. M. T. WRIGHT NURSERY CO., 
Portland, Jay County, Ind. 
|FJ|nUgnO Don’t gro-w Com all cob. Bn lose 
lAlllllCIlV stamp for free sample REAli CORN. 
Yellow grains three-fourths Inch long; small cob. 
mt: BLANCO POULTRY FARM, Mt. Blanco, O. 
Heavy ylelders; stiff straw. 7.5c. 
0*.I.U UA I w per bushel. Orders of 10 bushels 
orove’. No charge for packing. Address 
MAPLE STREET FARM, 
D. E. JENISON, Mgr. Lock Berlin, Wayne Co., N. Y. 
Seed Oats 
—Prosperity, earliest white, 66c. 
bu. Sample and circular free. 
G. HOYT, New Hope, N. Y. 
ONION, SEED 
We make a specialty of C H O I C E ONION 
SEED. Write us for prices. .SCHILOEK BKOS., 
ChlUicothe, Ohio. Established 1876. 
ONION SEED—Southport Globe. 
MEEKER’S SMOOTHING HARROW. 
Send forprlces and catalogrue. 
THE C. O. JBLUFF MFG. CO.. SOUTHPORT, CONN. 
W|*|F| I TnilHTfl Crfowns 15 feet high. 
I nCULIv I UniA I U Each plant bears 
from 1,500 to 2,000 tomatoes. One vine will supply an 
entire family all summer. The most wonderful to¬ 
mato In the world. Photo of my plant and package 
of seed with full direction for eight 2-cent stamps. 
MRS. FRANK HOLT, Ft. Thomas, Ky. 
SUCCESS WITH SEEDS AND SEEDING 
The ne-w Book about Grasses, Forage Plants 
and Grains, free -with every seed order. Get our 
list. Seeds of all kinds. 
BINGHAMTON (N. Y.) SEED CO. 
EARLY CHAMPION 
Earliest potato on earth. Fine quality; higyielders. 
The potato growers bonanza. I i b. liTic; 3 I bs. T^'Vc, 
postpaid. Peck 80c; bu. |2; bbl. to; exp. rft. chgs. 
follow. Early Michigan or Early Ohio—loading now 
sorts—12.75 bbl. 
Farmers Friend 
yicldor. Peck 50c; bu. $1.50; 6 bu. or more fl bu. 
Other cheaper kinds. Full line Farm and (iardon 
Seeds Write for CATALOG NO. 18. FREE. 
MAPLEWOOD STOCK FARM, 
alley;.AN, Mini. 
Home of tho WoobMutton Golden Fleeced Shropshire. 
Second-growth Seed Potatoes, $1.25 
iQl 9916 per bushel; Home-grown Crimson 
Clover Seed, $8 per bushel; Cow Peas, $1.75 per bu. 
.JOSEPH E. HOLEAND. Milford, Del. 
P 
nTATfiPQ^Cobblers, B. Harvest,Chios. Hebrons. 
U I H 1 ULO Kaieighs, and 20 other choice kinds. 
Low rates on Central or Lehigh. Seed Corn, White 
Star Oats. Sample free, and description, 
u SMITH’S POTATO FARM, Shortsville. N. Y. 
SEED POTATOES. 
Northern-grown, any quantity. Leading vario 
ties. Write to-day, stating wants. 
' Farming implements* 
E. F. MANCHESTER, Bristol, Conn. 
POTATOES 
MAINE GROWN 
Fifty varieties. Ad. 
dress CARTER & COBBY, Presque Isle, Maine, or 
810 Washington Street, New York. Catalogue. Ship¬ 
ments can be made either from Maine or New York. 
C EEI) I’OTATOES-Most popular varieties. Early 
and Late. Moderate prices. Satisfaction guaran¬ 
teed to purchasers. C. W. BURNETT, Phelps, N. Y. 
S EED POTATOKS—Choice Early Rose. Bovec.Crown 
Jewell & NewQueen. Bu.,80c.; .seconds, half price. 
12 kinds Beans, 2 pkts., 5c. J. W. Hartman. Sligo, I’a. 
potato**—Bovee, Carman, Cobbler, Harvest, 6 Wks. 
^ King,Ohio, Rose. 85 kinds. C.W. Ford, Fisher, N.Y. 
fVARMAN No. 3 $4.00 
SEED POTATOES. Per Bbl. 
Klondike, best of all. Tuber, 15c.; bbl., $10. PIngrec 
and White Mammoth, bbl., $5 (all bbls.4 bu.) -Whole¬ 
sale list free. Geo. a. Bonnell, Waterloo, N. Y. 
nnTATACC kTOwa especially for SEED 
rUIRIUCO 10 varieties SEEDOATa Eight 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS. 
GEO. U. COIiVIN, Crest Farm, Dalton, Pa. 
Dllnn T rLnn I u none cheaper. D. M. Johnson, 
Seaford, Del., Growers of Trees, Plants, Vines, etc. 
$2 
,000 NET from one acre of Glen Mary Ber 
Thielmanns—The Seedsmen—carry a full line of 
Garden and Field Seeds. Onion Seed a specialty. 
Write to-day for their Catalogue and Special Prices. 
THE THIEL.MANN SEED CO., ERIE,PA. 
GARDEN, FIELD and FLDWER SEEDS. 
CLOVER and TIMOTHY. 
BEARDLESS SPRING BARLEY. 
We are recleaners of all kinds of Field Seeds and 
do not mix Medium with Mammoth Red Clover 
Write for Field Seed Price List; also 1903 Seed' atar 
logue mailed free. 
The Henry Philipps Seed and Implement Co., 
116-117 St. Clair Street, Toledo, Ohio. 
QCMATnD nilNI AD strawberry Plants, $1.50 
OLllAILIn UUULMr perl.OOO. Donald s Elmlra 
$2..50 per 1.000. Pear Trees at lowest prices. California 
Privet, etc. SAMUEL C. DB COU, Mofjrestown, N.J. 
ries, 20,000 to the acre, on one plant 
farm, 1902. We still have 500,(KX) Glen Mary plants at 
$2.00 pei 1.000 ; 5.000 at $8.00; 10.000 for$15.00. List free. 
KEVITT’S PLANT FARM, Athenia. N. .1. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
PINE HILL FRUIT FARM, Center Brook. Conn. 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
Bubach; 600,000 Lady Garrison ; 400,000 Parsons’ 
Beauty; Cumberland Raspberry; Kansas Black Cap, 
My plants are fine. D. W. MOSLEY, Dover, Del. 
Oat. Free. 
Strawberry Culture. 
By M. Cba-wjobd. Over 40 years* ezcpeiienoe 
A 80'page Book—not a catalogue. Send 10 cent* 
to9 a copy, read it, then retnm it and get yonj 
money back if yon want to. 
M. CRAWFORD COMPANY, 
Box 1(X)5. Coyahog-a Falls, Ohio. 
The President 
The finest new strawberry now on the 
market. Largest size and brightest color. 
Send for circular. Price, 5?10 per hundred, 
THOMAS P. HUNT, 
Originator. Jjambertville, N. .1. 
lOO 
FARMS FOR SALE. 
Eastern Shore Maryland and Vir¬ 
ginia. Landcheapand productive, 
mild, healthful climate, large cities 
convenient by railroad and water. 
Send for descriptive price-list and 
map of Peninsula. 
F. H. DRYDEN & CO.. 
Pocomoke City, Md. 
’S EXPECTORANT 
;URB:STHE WORSTCOUGH5. 
