The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
COMMERCIAL INTRODUCTION OF
CATALPA SPECIOSA.
by T.. Y. TEAS.

In June, 1874, DIR. John A. Warder
OF Cincinnati, Ohio. attended a medical
convention in Dayton and there saw
in front of n residence catalpa trees
in full bloom and of unusual upright
symmetrical growth. He knew that
the catalpa trees were not vet in
bloom in Cincinatti, where vegetation
was several days moro advanced than
in Dayton.
DIR. Warder was so impressed with
the majestic growth OF these trees in
comparison with the ordinary irregular
growth OF Catalpa bignoniodes that
he obtained the name OF the owner
OF the Dayton Catalpas and published
an account of them in the next num-
Der of his Western Horticultural Re
riclc
Ny brother John c. Teas. and I, then
starting in the nursery business at
Spiceland, Ind, wrote to the owner
OF the trees in Dayton inquir
ing II we could obtain seeds. and
in due time received n quantity OF
the seed pods. Planting the seeds the
next spring we grew several thou
sand seedlings, the first Catalpa
merciaily in America.
We sold 1000 of these seedlings to
Suei Foster, nursoryman Mt Mus
cattne. Ia. and there in that cold
climate the superior hardness of
Catalpa speciosa was proved. Catalpa
bignoniodes was not sufficiently hardy
to stand the winters in Iowa.
After Catalpa speciosa was dissem-
mated l.. l.. Barney OF Dayton, who
was largely Interested in the building
OF railroads and manufacturing rail-
road equipment, became convinced that
catalpa timber was especially adapted
for cross ties for railroad use. He
put in ties OF catalpa, oak and perhaps
other woods under the rails at the
Union Station, Dayton. where cars
were passing every few minutes dur
ing the entire year This was done
TO test the comparative durability OF
the different woods. He found that
catalpa rendered efficient service
longer than any other available tipaker
THIS test caused railroad officials to
induce Robert Douglass OF Waukegan.
ILL.,. as well as other nurserymen
to plant many millions OF Catalpa
for cross ties. Some of these plant
ings have been successful and have
supplied quantities OF ties Others
were failures from prairie fires, rab-
bits and other hindrances.
John Aston Warder, physician, hor-
ticulturist and author, was born in
Philadelphia in 1912. Bartram and
Darlington were his neighbors. In
1880 his parents moved to Ohio and
in 1887 he began the practice Of medi-
cine in Cincinnati.
DR.. Warder was interested in edu-
cational ideas. in various sciences and
was one of the founders of the Gin
cinnati Horticultural Society and. for
many years president of the Ohio
Horticultural Society and vice-presi-
dent of the American Pomologicsl So
ciety. He was the author Of Hedges
and Evergreen" published in 1853, and
American Pomology-Apples," pub
hshed in 1867, which is still an au-
thority on descriptions and varieties
of apples. DR.. Warder published the
Western Horticultural Rerietc from
1850 to 1854.
. NJ,
says: II am well along in my seth
years 400 ,,,or ,o,no T., ~ ,.nas -
hrs;ross IN Tna,ann n,r,,, no'a,',
yeors an, now nu,otiS, ra,,,na ,,s.t
INV wife near NV douebter" VISA
Referr,np to onotber carly Ana,.-
can horticnIturist be saws. "r erst
remember lanes VOL hocr 4, ,eKn os