CATALPA. Of this most valuable timber and ornamental tree there are two varieties, Ca talpa /bignonioides and C. speciosa, both North American species of excellence, although the variety Ispeciosa was discovered and named many years ago by Dr. Warder. The two species, until within the last few years, have, even by able botanists, not been considered distinct. The variety bignonioieles is decidedly tender north of 40 degrees. It is a more spreading tree in its habits than C. speciosa, which variety is the tree native to the West and indigenous to the forests of Central Indiana and Illinois, and 'the South, and hardy up to the latitude of 43 degrees. It is a tree worthy of eitensive planting everywhere south of 42°, being a fast growing tree, erect and reaching a heightiof eighty to ninety feet, with a diameter of two feet in its native forests. It is among the, most valuable of western trees for posts, or any use where extreme durability is required. It is superior to white cedar in re spect to laSting qualities, and the timber takes a fine polish. Its leaves and flowers are handsome. The leaves put forth late and are Cast after the first frost. The seeds are contained in a long, slender cylindrical pod, often eighteen inches long. The seeds are arranged in a long, narrow, membranous wing, peculiarly feathered. The committee on Forestry of the Iowa Horticultu ral society, 1877, says of it: A variety now grows quite extensively in central Iowa seems as hardy as any of our native trees. The writer (presumably Mr. J. L. Budd) has trees now five
years set, large enough for small posts for wire fences, which have had open exposure north of 42d parallel, during the past severe winters. Dr. Warder,- Mr. C. C. Barney of Ohio, Mr. E. Y. Teas, of Indiana, Robert Douglas and Jonathan Periam, of Illinois, and others, have done much to bring this valuable tree to notice, and this under the con tinual antagonism of some eastern scientific men, who have persisted in stating that there is but one variety. The discussion on the catalpa is now substantially closed. It is demonstrated beyond doubt that the hardy variety, C. speciosa, is not only distinct, but is a tree native to our, western forests, superior in habit and hardiness to C. big nonioides, and its equal in every other respect. Planters, however, should know the source from whence they get their seed. It is not safe even that they be gotten from western trees, since oc casionally the tender variety, widely distributed from eastern nurseries, may be found growing in the west, and bearing seed. The seed of speci osa is somewhat larger than bignonioides, but the differences, either in the pod or seed, would not be noticed, except by a botanist. It is easily raised from seed, grows fast, and is in every way a valuable tree anywhere south of and even north, in protected situations. Among the ornamental varieties not entirely hardy, C. Bun gei is quite dwarf, and C. Kcempferi,' the Japan catalpa, is one of the most handsome.