ch other.

Form and size: The catalpa has a short, thick and twisted trunk with an
irregular head.

Range: Central and eastern United States.

[Illustration: FIG. 84.--Hardy Catalpa Trees.]

[Illustration: FIG. 85.--Bark of the Flowering Dogwood.]

Soil and location: It grows naturally on low bottom-lands but will also
do well in poor, dry soils.

Enemies: Practically free from disease and insects.

Value for planting: The catalpa grows very rapidly and is cultivated in
parks for ornament and in groves for commercial purposes. The _hardy
catalpa_ is preferable to the _common catalpa_ for planting.

Commercial value: The wood is extremely durable in contact with the soil
and is consequently used for posts and railroad ties.

Other characters: The _flowers_, which appear in late June and early
July, are large, white and very showy.

Other common names: _Indian bean_; _western catalpa_.

Comparisons: The _white flowering dogwood_ (_Cornus florida_) is a small
tree which also has its leaves in whorls of three or sometimes
opposite. It can be readily told from other trees, however, by the
small square plates into which the outer bark on the trunk divides
itself, see Fig. 85, and by the characteristic drooping character of
its branches. It is one of the most common plants in our eastern
deciduous forests. It is extremely beautiful both in the spring and
in the fall and is frequently planted for ornament. There are many
varieties of dogwood in common use.

WHITE MULBERRY (_Morus alba_)

A small tree recognized by its _small round reddish brown buds_ and
_light brown, finely furrowed_ (wavy looking) _bark_.

The tree, probably a native of China, is grown under cultivation in
eastern Canada and United States. It grows rapidly in moist soil and is
not fastidious in its light requirements. Its chief value is for
screening and for underplanting in woodlands.

The _red mulberry_ (_Morus rubra_) is apt to be confused with the white
mulberry, but differs in the following characters: The leaves of the red
mulberry are rough on the upper side and downy on the under side,
whereas the leaves of the white mulberry are smooth and shiny. The buds
in the red are larger and more shiny than those of the white.

The _Osage orange_ (_Toxylon pomiferum_) is similar to the mulberry in
the light, golden color of its bark, but differs from it in possessing
conspicuous spines