The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-02-26
cataip. A vsIuabls Tree to Grow.

CataIPa "A valuable Tree 20 GROW.
In response to numerous patrons Ct
the Kansas Farmer, who have written
asking me to recommend to their at
tention some valuable tree thst might
be successfully. cultivated in Kansas,
/ would state that while there are many
such trees, 1t strikes me that, all
things considered, the chief among
them is the catslps, known to lot lnists
as catalpd eigH0aiOides It is native to
all the Southern States, so-called, and
to some Of the states above the slime, !"
as Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, while 1t
seems to have = peculiar tendency to
almost any climate. The Forestry dr.
nudL of the Iowa Horticultural Socle y
for 1877, says: THE catalps is now
growing quite extensively in central
Iowa, where it seems to be as hardy as
any of our native trees. The writer has
trees, now five years set, large enough
for small posts for wire fences, which
have had open exposure north OF AZ I
parallel DUNG the past severe winters.
La Cedar county are to be seen many
trees which have been out from ten to
fifteen years, which show its habit of
rapid growth to continue after 1t has
attained to considerable size, etc." of
course this settles any question that
might arise as to whether or not it could
be made to succeed in Kansas.
The catslps is a large-growIng tree,
taking upon its eff variety of habits de-
pending upon the soil where it is locAt
ed. II reasonably good soil it grows tall
and straight, while on the poor and dry
piDey lands of the lower Southern States
it assumes a low, spreading habit.
Mr.. Z. E. Barney, of Dayton. Ohio,
writes in the Louisville (Ky.) Western
Farmers almanac for 1880, that, Gas
u forest tee he cat .lp4 has been found
four, five, aud even SIX feet in dame
ter, straight, and fifty feet or more to
limb" 1t is also an extremely Ia Did
growth-the same authority as just
quoted above, says: Trees are now
growing, planted from seed forty years
ago, that have increased one inch in
diameter each year during that time.
They have been known to grow from
seed in six years large enough to make
split fence posts. A single catalpa tree
has been known to make three hundred
and thirty fence posts"
| But to what it is capable of making
does not attach the greatest importance
| of the catalpa as q timber tree; it is
perhaps, one of the most durable woods
in the world, far surprising even rec
cedar in that particular. Posts of it,
perfectly sound, are ssid to be now
standing at Vincinnes, Ind, that were
set by the French over hundred year
ago. Before commencing to write thi
article to-day, l examined posts, in th,
nelghborhood of NJ ,bile, that wer,
known to have been set over forty year
sgo-they were as sound and solid as
gum tree. Mr.. Barney, of Ohio, in tn
article already mentioned, says: "Hun
dreds of persons testify to catalpa fenc
posts that have been in the ground from
fifty to seYenty-fve years, as still per
fectly sound"
Then, aside from its wonderful last
ing qualities, the wood of the catalp
, tree is useful for various purposes. MI
. Barney, who has studied this subject t
greater depth than any other man, PEI
, haps, says: mo wood takes a fine
finish or higher polish, or has NOR
! handsome grain. 1t is, therefore, a
admirable wood for inside finish {
dwellings. 1t is well adapted for
/ mile of railroad track. They should /
: planted four feet apart each way, to il
duce upward growth. After six to tie
3 years they should be gradually thlnne
, out. Young catalpa trees three or for
, inches in diameter may be used fc
i stakes and posts, as they will not ROT
even at that age, having very little sal
, wood" 1t makes superior fuel, eve
the smallest branches being long an
!, leave bright and hard Goals.
As an ornamental tree the catalpa b;
few if any superiors among deciduor
1 growth. 1t has large leaves of ligl
I green color, which set thickly over IL
tree, affordIng an excellent shade, viii
/. early in spring it becomes completed
loaded with large bell-shaped flower
which hang in punches like larg
q punches of grapes. The flowers a
n white, marked more or less with purp
. and yellow are extremely ar
4 dellciously fragrant. l. grows readi
from seed and comes into bearing
n two years, yielding seed In immenI
q quantities. 1t also grows quite readi
from cuttings.
A In conclusion I would state, to sa'
|. trouble and anxiety, that I know of 1
q oae who has seed of the catalpa f
h sale, though it ought to be kept al
!. advertised extensively. The live di
position of the Kansas people,
evinced in the way they jumped at n
9 offer of ''sourwood" seed, stimulate
u me into an effort to procure some C
g talpa seed for them. sm now hspI
= to inform them that my efforts ha'
. been crowned with success. am pr
= pared to mail small package of cats
pa seed to any person ordering it al
enclosing q stamp to pay return pcs
age. Sow in spring when danger
frost is oyer, on good, mellow so
= Cover lightly and keep the bad moi
g and partially shaded unit, the plan
= are up. II crowded, transplant on
= wet day as soon as the plants are lar
: enough to handle; otherwise, they m
y be left in the seed-bed till fall. Car
. full attention to the small package th
1 shall be able to send will, in We
. few years, give the recipient as large
!, supply of plants as he may want.
:. offer is not strictly confined to the pc
~ pie of Kansas will send q packa
- of seed to any person wishing to try
!, cstalpa, regardless of where be lives.
The catnlpa will adapt itself to
most any kind of situation-high, 10
3 wet or dry-it seems to be about equ
', ly at home everywhere. In sayi
- "wet" do not mean land upon viii
:, there is standing water-I have ne'
~ seen 1t growing on such situation