THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
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REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF CATALPA 
GROVES. 
Preserve only one sprout and the growth will often be ten 
feet or more the first year. In a catalpa grove growing on the 
Station farm arc trees planted in 1901 and cut back to the 
ground in 1903,” which made a growth during the summer 
following of 11 14 Ref and have a diameter at the base of l}/^ 
inches. Trees in the same grove cutback in 1902 are 12j^ feet 
tall and 2 1 4 inches in diameter. In the same grove are trees 
which were straight and did not need to be cut back that have 
made a growth in the three years of 13 feet in height and 2]/^ 
inches in diameter. Another season’s growth will make the 
trees cut back in 1902 equal in size to those not cut back. Cut¬ 
ting trees off close to the ground does not make any material 
difference in the date of harvesting. 
It is the only way to insure trees with straight trunks and it 
has the further advantage of reducing the amount of pruning, 
because there are but few side branches on sprouts which spring 
from the stumps of trees that are cut back. 
The best time to do all pruning is late in winter or early in 
spring, although no harm will be done by cuting off very small 
side branches in early summer. The removal of much foilage 
in summer time, however, is harmful to the trees. 
Regarding the distance the trees should be apart in the per¬ 
manent plantation, it is difficult to lay down a definite rule. 
Much depends upon the purpose for which the trees are intend¬ 
ed, also upon the soil, and we need more facts before speaking 
too positively on this point. 
The trees may be set quite near together, if thinned at the 
proper time, but it is a safe rule to adopt in practice, never to 
plant so many trees on the ground that, when thinning is to be 
done, the trees which are taken out must be thrown away. 
Trees may be set as near as 4x4 feet and will grow vigorously 
for two or three years, but when planted so closely as this, 
thinning must be completed before those which are taken out 
are of marketable size. 
This is not only a waste but occasions needless labor and is 
harmful to the permanent trees. Whether 8x8 feet or 10x10 
feet is the proper distance is not surely known, but if set 8x8 
feet it is known that within ten years many of the trees will 
make from one to three posts. When this time arrives it is 
better to begin thinning.” 
In the thinning some would take out every other row, while 
others would, in addition, take every other tree from the per¬ 
manent row also, or three-fourths of the original number. 
Others would take the weakest of trees, regardless of where 
they stand. Doubtless the practice must be regulated by the 
conditions and according to the purpose for which the grove is 
intended, but according to our present knowledge 8x8 feet 
appears to be a safe distance, provided thinning is begun early 
enough. If posts alone are to be harvested all of the trees may 
be cut at the same time, if desired, and the sprouts allowed to 
grow to make another crop. 
If only a part of the trees are cut for posts and the others 
left for other purposes, the sprouts from the stump will be 
less vigorous than if all were cut .—Ohio Bulletin. 
PERSONALLY CONDUCTED TOURS TO 
California, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Mexico 
A ia the Wabash System , will move in February and March For full 
information write R. F. Kelley, G. A. P. 1). or James Gass, N Y S P A 
Buffalo, N. Y. ..... 
LAW GOVERNING THE SUPPRESSION OF INSECTS 
AND PLANT DISEASES TO BE AMENDED. 
There is a bill now before the New York State Legislature 
which greatly extends the powers of the Commissioner of 
Agriculture in dealing with noxious insects and parasitic 
diseases. This bill gives the commissioner power to enter the 
premises of any fruit grower, condemn and destroy, infested 
fruit or other trees and collect the cost of destruction or re; 
moval from the owner of the trees. “The owner * * * shall 
pay to the commissioner of agriculture for the benefit of the 
state the cost of such treatment or destruction, including 
cost of removal, as the same shall be certified by the com¬ 
missioner of agriculture.” 
This is drastic certainly. Its wisdom may be questioned 
because the efficiency of the act is so intimately associated 
with the judgment of the interpreter that it is easy to imagine 
how hardships might arise by enforcing it rigidly. A hearing 
was set for March 28th. 
RAILWAY FACILITIES TO WEST BADEN SPRINGS. 
Nurserymen will soon begin to study ways and means of 
attending the 30th annual convention of the American Associ¬ 
ation of Nurserymen, which accurs at West Baden Springs on 
the 14th of June next. The New York Central lines and the 
Monon Route will give a through car service from Rochester, 
N. Y., to West Baden Springs. The special train will leave 
Rochester on June 12th at 9:45 p. m., arriving at West Baden 
5:55 p. m., June 13th. The fare is 1J for the round trip from 
Rochester. Price of berths from Rochester through to West 
Baden is $4,00. State rooms can be secured for $14.00. The 
train will go by way of Green Castle, Ind., where it will arrive 
at 12:44 p. m., on the 13th, leaving at 2:28 p. m. It is very 
gratifying to know that such excellent provisions for the com¬ 
fort and convenience of those who attend the convention are 
available. This should assure a large attendance from points 
in Central and Western New York. 
THE EXHAUSTION OF NURSERY LANDS. 
From mere observation we would say that it seems 
the exhaustion is only temporary at times and not real. 
We notice we get excellent crops of corn, and millet following 
trees, although in the fore part of the season while plants are 
small they often appear weak and yellow, but recover from 
this as the season advances and seldom fail to make heavier 
crops than when they follow ordinary farm crop. 
We grew an excellent 40-acre orchard on nursery cropped 
land. 
We always try to get the very best land obtainable, 
and feel that we can afford to pay about 1^ the price paid when 
ordinary crop is grown. We consider the clean, thorough, 
deep cultivation we give of great advantage to the land and 
we have noticed that the corn crop for two or three years 
showed better growth in the section of the field where we had 
grown a crop of forest seedlings and given deep cultivation 
when seedlings were dry than elsewhere. 
Beatrice, Nebraska. J. A. Gage. 
—J. P. Sinnock, Moberly, Mo. Please find enclosed P. O. money 
order for $1.00 for subscription. I am very much pleased with the 
paper. 
