' 12 
Bulletin 96. 
and increasing- demand for fence posts, railroad ties and telephone poles. 
It does indeed possess some of the most desirable qualities for such pur¬ 
poses, such as ready propagation by seeds, rapid growth and great durabil¬ 
ity of its wood in contact with soil. Its adaptability to different locations, 
however, has frequently been overestimated and in consequence plantings 
of this tree for its timber have sometimes proven unsatisfactory or even 
complete failures when attempted outside of its natural range. Thus the 
catalpa has proven undesirable in the more northern parts of the country 
on account of its liability to winter injury. But when planted in sheltered 
locations and in rich soil it has made a good showing and is useful as an 
ornamental tree for parks and dooryards, and where a variety of foliage 
effects is desired. 
The catalpa, as shown in the illustration, is an upright growing tree 
with coarse twigs and large leaves. It is a showy tree when in bloom, the 
large clusters of whitish flowers faintly spotted with purple giving it an at¬ 
tractive appearance. In many places this tree has been extensively planted 
along streets and boulevards, but it seems poorly suited for such pur¬ 
poses, as it is apt to assume an ugly and ungraceful appearance, in many 
instances showing dead and bare limbs which the coarse foliage fails to 
conceal. Its most desirable use as an ornamental tree is shown when grouped 
among or against a background of other trees and where there is plenty of 
room in the foreground. 
Many of the earlier attempts at growing the catalpa failed for the 
reason that the Eastern species (C. bignonioides) was substituted for the 
hardier Western kind. The former species is entirely worthless in Colorado, 
and too great care cannot be taken to get seeds from reliable people. Seeds 
should be planted in the spring in a well prepared seed bed. In some 
localities cuttings root easily when placed in moist soil. 
BLACK WALNUT. 
(Juglcms nigra L.) 
The black walnut has always held a prominent place among the most 
valuable native trees of North America. At one time the forests of the 
Middle Eastern States contained many magnificent specimens of this tree, 
but the high value set upon its timber led to their early removal, so at the 
present time it is rarely that one sees the black walnut as it grew in the 
primeval forest. 
It is not uncommon, however, to see the black walnut used for street 
and roadside planting in its native range, as it is of moderately rapid 
growth when young, presents an attractive appearance and the nuts 
are highly esteemed by many persons. Plantations of this tree for its timber 
are apt to be somewhat disappointing on account of the face that the wood 
does not assume the rich, dark brown color, which has made it so much 
used in cabinet work, until the trees are of great age. But before this 
occurs the young trees may be used for fuel and for posts, the durability 
of its wood making this tree one of the desirable kinds for the latter 
purpose. 
For satisfactory results the black walnut should have a rich soil 
and a fairly constant water supply, under which conditions it has made an 
excellent growth in this state. It is particularly suited to parks and similar 
places, where it can have room to develop on all sides, when it assumes a 
rounded top of considerable density. 
Its foliage slightly resembles that of the ash but is more attractive, 
being composed of numerous pairs of leaflets arranged on long stalks, 
which remain on the tree for some time after the leaflets are shed. The 
trees begin to bear nuts when ten to fifteen years of age. 
This tree is quite readily propagated by means of the nuts, which 
should be gathered when mature, stratified over winter arid planted in 
spring. Or the nuts may be planted in autumn where the trees are to stand. 
The black walnut does not transplant readily, when over a year old, unless 
the precaution has been taken to cut the long tap root while the trees 
were small. 
