The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-04-03

Facts and Information in Relation to the
Catalpa Tree" Another pamphlet, of a
similar character. containing additional
facts" relating to the same subject, has
lust been issued by the same author. Ger
tainly, If entirely disinterested work is
ever worthy Of recognition, such acknowl-
edgement is due to Mr.. Barney. For
nearly ten years he has devoted much time
and money to collecting information with
reference TO the little known value Of the
timber of this tree, and has disseminated
what he has learned in the most liberal
and unobtrusive way. He has not only
given this information to the public, but
he has also collected and supplied seed to
those who wished to cultivate the tree at
tine bare cost or probably less than the cost
to him of furnishing it. The work which
he has undertaken TO do Is simply to make
known the valuable qualities Of this tim
Der, which heretofore have not been re-
cognized and were almost entirely un-
known.
The catalpa, it eeems, has for thirty
years or more been extensively planted in
the streets of Dayton as q shade tree, ow-
ing to the PROPULSION and beauty of its bios
:.
For such purposes it has been known over
a very large area In this country. but until
Mr.. Barney called attention to the fact
probably very few people were aware Of
the remarkable durability Of the wood and
its power Of resisting decay. even in the
most exposed situations. Besides this. its
other advantages are its ightness lit is
very little heavier than white pine), its
strength under transverse strain its resis-
lance was about seven-e;ghths that Of oak
and seven-ninths that Of ASH. its tough
ness, lit detected three times as much as
oak or ash under n transverse strain, its
hardness or resistance to cohpressive
strains (which is about four-ffths that of
Of oak, and greater than thatof yellow pine
Besides this, it has beautiful grain and
color, and is susceptible of an excellent
finish as an ornamental wood. So far as
known, the wood is not attacked BY in
sects. The tree is very easily propagated.
is adapted to great variety of soil and
climate, and is of very rapid growth. All
these qualities would seem to make it a
very valuable timber, and much credit is
due to Mr.. Barney for having made them
known.
Its value seems to have been reeog-
nized in very early times BY the French
settlers on the Wabash, and probably by
the Indians before them, and, as one
writer on the subject has said. at has
taken the intelligent American citizen
nearly two centuries to acquire this in
formation"
General Harrison, afterward President,
was one Of the FIRST persons to call atten-
ton to the value Of the catalpa as a tim
Der tree In 1895 he delivered an ad-
dress at an agricultural fair, in which at
tention was directed to the Importance of
cuItivating so valuable a tree. When
Governor Of the Northwestern Territory
he had found it in the stockades and
dwellings at Vincennes. Ind, which was
a trading post in l702. and quite settle
ment in 1875. Part of the stockade at
this place was built OF cstslpa trees, and
it is said that they were perfectly sound
when they were removed 100 years after
ward. Catalpa posts set by General Har-
rison in 1908 were taken up a few years
ago, and were found TO be sound and were
reset nj another place. There is testi-
mony, perhaps not Of the most trustworthy
Of logs Of these trees which had
fallen across streams, and had been used
as foot bridges for a hundred years or
more. In 1911 the earthquake near New
on the Mississippi, killed many
catalpa as well as other trees. The catal-
pa trunks are said to be still standing and
to be perfectly sound. A portion of one of
them has been sent TO Mr.. Barney, and is
now in his possession. He has collected
great deal of con6rmatory testimony By
issuing a circular. and by the publication
Of letters in the various newspapers.
Abundant evidence is brought 10 show
that this tree in Pennsylvania, Indiana,
Illinois and Missouri attains TO the diam
eter of three, four and four and half
feet, and that it is very easily propagated,
IS rapid grower. and that one species of
j: has withstood the severest winters up
70 and even beyond 42s north latitude
the north line Of Connecticut. Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio, and nearly the latitude Of
Chicago. 1t will grow on almost any
soil. although it thrives best in rich rive.
bottoms subject TO overflow.
For these reasons Mr.. Barney advocates
the extensive cultivation of this tree. es-
pecially by railroad companies. Detailed
directions are given for planting and cub
tivating it, and any one interested In the
subject would do well to send for a copy
Of his pamphlet, in which the experience
Df number Of persons who have culti-
vated the tree is gwen.
The two varieties are described as the
and the late blooming
The flowers OF the first appear three or four
weeks earlier than those Of the last. The
irst has been called the ''Speciosa" or
hardy. aud IL a native Of Indiana, lll,nis, %
Missouri. Kentucky and Tennessee. and
will stand the frost two or three degrees
further north than the late blooming va
riety, called ''Cztalpa bignonioides" or
common variety, which is a native of
Georgia and other Southern States. and is
cultivated at the east as shade tree
the hardy or spsciosa varetey is said TO
be straighter and taller. when grown sep
lrately, than the other, and in the forests
IS often three or four feeti1 diameter. The
after is the kind recommended for cult
ration.
We learn that a number of growers Of
rees, or nurseymen. have planted large
quantities Of catalpa seed. an; they will
doubtless soon be able 10 supply any prob
,ble demand for trees. The Messrs Land
eth. Of Philadelphia, have nearly 1000
90 Of these trees under cultivation. One
4 the largest growers Of forest trees for
in the country has proposed
o take not less than ls0acres in one place.
N the line Of any road. put II in order
nd plant il in catsspa and take the entire
are Of II until the trees cover the ground,
.fter which they vii take care Of them
elves; the railroad company then 10 paw
cent. per tree for each strong, healthy
rec on the ground.
Mich valuable information is given in
ne volume before rs Of the Consumption |
4 timber trees in this country. al Of which !
oint 10 an insufficient supply 4. no very
emote date. II some steps are not taken |
0 provide a supply by cultivation. oftbis
be author says: One means Of arerfing |
ais calamity IL the extensive yearly plant
az Of veli-selected forest trees. have
rged the cultivation Of ca:dpa. bel.er-
" i, vii gire the largest return in the