Omaha daily bee., 1908-07-18
BOOSTING THE cATALPA TREE
Indiana Editor Gives Forty Reasons
why IL Beats EN-

champion of the Catalpa Tree" would
be a fitting title for John P. Brown an
Indiana man who IS doing his share OF the
work necessary to prevent the elimination
Of American, forests. For many years he
has been busy with voice and rem urging
everybody he could reach to plant the
catalpa tree and to stop cutting other
trees II possible.
In the latest issue Of his magazine, Ar
Horticulture, published at Connersville, Ind,
Mr.. Brown gives forty reasons why the
catalpa tree should be planted in prefer
ence to any other. Among the reasons
given by him are these:
BY 1925, at the present rate of destruc-
ticn. American forests will be eXtermi'
The catalpa is the only valuable tree
which will mature by that time.
II grows in almost any soil.
Demands no professional manipulation.
Is the most durable wood known.
Valuable for railroad crossties: ties have
endured half a century.
Nothing better for telegraph and tele-
Miles of living trees are used for teie-
Makes magnificent veneers.
Superior to oak for furniture.
Lighter than pine.
Tougher than hickory.
Neither shrinks, swells nor warps.
Makes best wood pulp and PAPER.
Immense yield per acre.
Excels as building material.
Equals walnut for carving,
' Makes good fence posts.
, Is not surpassed for mine timbers.
Ideal wood for shingles.
Makes good pillow beams and handles.
Indians used It for boats for centuries.
Suitable for all car construction.
Has less insect enemies than other trees
Fewer diseases than other timber trees
Quick growth for windbreak'
A handsome shade tree.
Roots never clog sewers,
Is good for practically all uses to which
wood is adapted.
one OF the gravest problems confronting
railway managers is how to maintain a
supply of crossties, and when he proved
TO them the rapidity OF growth and dura-
bility OF the catalpa Mr.. Brown had no
trouble in inducing the Louisville g. Nash
Vile, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, Penns-
sylvania and other roads to plant thou
sands of catalpa groves, The largest, which
is at Carney. Ala, on the Louisville &
Nashville, covers 1910 acres. During the
last year Mr.. Brown has planted more
than a million catalpa trees, mostly for
railroad companies. Considerable forests
have been planted in New Zealand, Aus
tralia, France, Italy, Germany, Mexico,
Brazil. Argentine Republic, South Africa,
India and in Canada, all through the eff
forts Of this one man.
II should be made clear that the proper
tree TO plant is the catalpa speciosa. There
are several groups OF the catalpa, similar
in many respects, yet all materially diff.
ferent in size of tree and usefulness OF
product from the speciosa variety. TIL
catalpa bignonioides, common throughout
the south, is almost a worthless sort.
The wood OF the catalpa s~peciosa much
resembles butternut or white walnut. hal
a remarkably handsome grain and takes
a high polish. It's chief merit, in consid.
ering the future timber supply OF thi'
country, lies in the comparative rapidly
with which It reaches maturity. Under
ordinary conditions, II is claimed, in fiji
teen years the catalpa speciosa will affair
a diameter Of twenty-five inches at
height Of ten feet from the ground. making
a log from which four railroad crossties
each seven by nine inches at the ends, ma!
be cut.-Chicago Inter ocean.