Hilo tribune., 1904-03-18
MAY RgTimBgR Tng EARTH.
Uataipa, u Tree ~ Remarkable
Growth aud treat Value.

they can clothe with foliage the
barren wastes of the world, have
secured space for exhibit in the
Department of Forestry at the
Worlds Fair to be installed by the
International Society of Arboricul-
ture Of which Mr.. john p. Brown
of Connersville, Ind, is secretary.
A wedge taken from a sixteen
year-old tree near Hagefstown,
Ind, shows the remarkable growth
and firm character of the wood.
This tree was twenty-one inches in
diameter and from its trunk could
be made FIVE ordinary railroad cross
ties. From root to limb the body
is straight and regular and it is
sound from center to circumference.
Think of a twenty-one inch tree in
sixteen years from the seed! In
maturity the trees reach a height
of 100 feet and measure six feet in
diameter.
The value of the Catalpa wood is
very great and its uses varied. 1t
is susceptible TO a fine polish for the
inside furnishing of houses and
possesses the quality Of great dura-
bility, making it also available for
railway cross-ties, telegraph poles
and other severe uses.
For nearly a century interest has
been taken in its culture, seed
from its cigar-shaped pod being
sowp in the nursery and the shoot
transplanted in its first year to
hillside or plain where it thrives
with wonderful success. Originally
confined to all area of less than Ioo
square miles along the Wabash
river in Illinois and Indiana, and
known as the ''cigar tree" it has
been found to be adapted to every
portion of the world. 1t is success.
fully grown at IS degrees South
latitude in New Zealand and at "a
degrees North latitude in Maine.
L. prospers in the semi-arid regions
of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico
as we'll as in the Wabash river
bottoms.
When the first president Harrison
went to Indiana in about 1913 he
found the Catalpa tree growing in
abundance along the Wabash river
and was at once struck by its beauty
The Indians and early settlers hao
wondered at its thriftiness and storie.
were told of the rapid growth o
forests. Specimens were sent tc
the Harrison estate in Ohio ano
others were tr%ansplanted about thu
fort at Vincennes, Ind. This is thu
first distribution of the plant o
which there is any record, but 70
the last fifty years railroad engineer,
have been energetically experiment
ing in its cultivation.
Unfortunately in the earlier effort
at transplanting all inferior v~ariet,
was chosen, the plant selected being
a small ornamental tree brough
from Japan. About forty years ag'
the late +. L. Barney of Dayton
O., compiled a book giving ex
~periences Cf engineers who hat
tested the wood. This book arouse,
the interest of arboriculturists every
where aud following its appearance
there was a great deal of planting.
H. H. Hunnewell of Boston,
director in the Fort Scott & Mem
phis railroad. has 1900 acres G
Catalpa planted at Darlington, Kan
The trees were set four feet eac'
way however, and on account Q
their crowded condition did nc
prosper. In o recent year
planting has been successful i
, different localities. The larges
number have been planted in Kansa
and Nebraska, but the trees hav
. been experimental with in ever
!, state in the union.
Near New Orleans, La, tn
Illinois Central railway has plante
200 acres in Catalpa and two Bosto
railroads have planted probably 100
0 900 acres in New England. Th
Michigan Central railroad ha
planted a good many of the tree
~ go.