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THE CATALPA TREE.
Catalpa , the unino given by the ab
origines. There nre nt least two
varieties indigenous to the United
States , and others from Asia.
Catalpa Speoiosa Warder. A largo
tree , GO to 80 feet high , becoming from
two to seven feet in diameter , indigen
ous to the lower valley of the "Wabnsh
river in Indiana and Illinois , seemingly
preferring the overflowed alluvial lauds.
As freshets occured the seed pods were
distributed along the Ohio and Missis
sippi rivers , forming limited groves in
Tennessee , and Missouri. Unlike tree
species which have edible nuts or fruits ,
although its seeds are winged , the dis
tribution of the catalpa speciosa was
not aided by birds or animals , being
almost entirely scattered down stream
by water.
The beauty of the flowers , quick
growth of the tree , admirable shade and
the extreme durability of the wood ,
liavo combined to cause the dissemina
tion of the catalpa to all portions of the
United States , and the catalpa speciosa
lias proven to be hardy between lati
tude 29 o and 44 o and from 101 o
west to New England , and also capable
of adjusting itself to the soils , location
and conditions within the above limit.
In California , Nevada and Utah , and
upon the sandy semi-arid plains of the
west , it has been grown sucessfully , and
promises even there to be a profitable
investment under irrigation.
The flowers are large , two inches in
diameter , and two weeks earlier than the
variety from the south , which is de
scribed elsewhere.
The tree has a naturally upright
habit. The bark is deeply furrowed ,
somewhat like an ash , the ridges extend
ing up and down the trunk. Leaves
are heart-shaped , large and never have
more than one apex. Seed pods thick ,
heavy , twelve to fourteen inches long ,
three-fourths of an inch in diameter.
Seed is winged , and while qxiite differ
ent from other catalpas , can with diffi
culty bo distinguished when mixed with
other varieties.
Bignonoidos , common in all southern
states and cultivated in most states of
the north. This tree is of small growth ,
crooked , and seldom forming a well-
shaped tree. Prof. Austin O. Apgar , in
trees of the northern United States ,
describes the flowers as much spotted
with yellow and purple , the lower lobe
entire , pod thin , while speciosa has
flowers , two inches long , nearly white ,
faintly spotted , the lower lobe notched ,
pod thick.
Unfortunately a largo majority of
catalpa trees in the United States are of
this worthless variety , and it is of great
est importance the largo growing tree
should be secured.
The habit of this tree is spreading ;
flowers smaller than speciosa ; pods
thinner and of less diameter ; bark is
broken into scales , much resembling
wild cherry ; seed easily gathered by
inexperienced persons , which has caused
it to be largely disseminated. Many
leaves are three pointed. There ara
many hybrids , all of which are inferior
to speciosa for forest growing.
The rapid disappearance of the
American forests , the advancing prices
of lumber , with increasing difficulties
experienced in a supply for commercial
uses , as well as the struggle among com
peting railways to secure enough crossties -
ties for the maintenance of a safe track ,
bring prominently to every consumer
of wood , the question : What shall we
do for timber in the future ?
It has been the custom to take the
oak , a tree which is slow to develop , as
a standard by which to measure every
forest growth , aiid thus impatient
Americans are discouraged from forest
planting. However , in the oatalpa wo
have a tree combining many of the
qualities of oak , besides possessing
several features of great value unknown
to the quercus family , and , withal ,
coming quickly to maturity , producing
merchantable sawing timber and several
cross-ties in from fifteen to twenty
years.
The Indian tribes who dwelt in the
valley of the Wabash , or traversed this
region , sought such trees as could be
easily wrought with their nido imple
ments , and those which wore most
enduring , from which to fashion their
canoes , and the catalpa was their favor-
its wood.
Usually those woods which arc dense ,
and slow to mature , have great durabil
ity , while the quick growing trees with
softer wood , soon perish. The reverse
is the case with- catalpa , its chemical
constituents being permanent anti
septics preserve the fibers from decay.
The early white settlers in the valley
of the Wabash were instructed as to the
valuable qualities of the catalpa and
they made use of it in constructing
their houses , boats and stockade forts ,
which have endured through more than
a century.
General Willian H. Harrison often
spoke of the catalpa , and \irged its culti
vation , since ho had known of its many
valuable qualities during his residence
atViucennes. Ho had seen this wood
sound and bright more than a century
after it had been placed in the stock
ades , and he used catalpa for posts in
his fence ninety years ago , some of
which are still standing.
The writer procured one of these posts
for the Now Orleans exposition in 1885 ;
it was sound and good for many years'
additional service.
On the line of the Evansville & Terre
Haute railway , I found a largo number
of catalpa posts which wore sot fully
half a century ago , and are still in use.
Evidences of the durability of catalpa
wood are numerous and convincing.
The earthquake at Now Madrid ,
Missouri , in 1811 , throw down many
catalpa trees and others were killed ,
but loft standing. These were sound
and well preserved a few years since
as mentioned by Mr. Barney in his
book.
Several catalpa cross-ties were placed
in thoO. O. 0. & St. L. , Cairo division ,
in 1879 , one of which was taken out
last summer , (1899) ( ) , having been in
constant use for twenty years.
Mr. J. W. Cowper , engineer main
tenance of way , officially reports of this
tie as follows : ' 'This catalpa tie , taken
out of the track three miles north of
Harrisburg , was put in , in 1879 , in uuid
ballast. The wood is perfectly solid
showing very little signs of decay *
* * With tie plates and good
ballast , those ties would , I think with
out doubt last fully from thirty to
thirty-five years. "
Mr. Cowper furnished the author
with a half of this tie , who had part of
it sawed into boards and a frame made
and finished to determine its value as a
furniture wood.
In appearance it resembles white
walnut , juglans oinerea , also similar in
texture. It is as easily wrought as
white pine ; the polish which it receives
places the catalpa upon a plane with
walnut , cherry and our finest cabinet
woods.
ANALYSIS OF CATALl'A WOOD BY J. N. HUHTY ,
M. D. PH. D. , ANALYTICAL CHEMIST.
Indianapolis , April 2,1000.
Sample furnished by J. P. Brown.
Moisture 18.07 uer cent.
Ash 0.72 per cent.
Petroleum ether extract 0.85 per cent.
This extract was of a light yel
low color and very [ faint fat
oder. It was free from gluoo-
sides , alkaloids , free organic
acid and chlorophyll.
Ether extract 0,86 per cent.
The other extract had a light
brown color , resinous appear
ance and slight aromatic odor.
It contained no chlorophyll ,
alkaloids , glucosides , or or
ganic acids. It seemed a resin.
Alcohol extract 4.06 per cent.
This extract had a dark brown
color , woody odor. It con
tained a glucosido , no alka
loids , on tannin. Contained re
sinous matter.
Water extract 0.07 per cent.
This extract was of dark brown
almost black color , faint
aromatic odor.
Lignin , cellulose , etc , 70.87 per cent.
100.00 per cent.
REMARKS : It is probable that the fat and
the resinous matters are the pre
servative in catalpa wood.
J. N. HUUTY.
A tree grown in the streets of Con-
uersville. Indiana , was given the writer.
It was made into a desk by the Rowlett
Desk company and polished by the Con-
uersvillo Furniture company. This
was exhibited in the state house at
Indianapolis , for two mouths , being
pronounced the handsomest desk in the
state.
The tree grew in twenty-five years