Forest Trees of Illinois Part 12

+CATALPA+ _Catalpa speciosa_ Warder

THIS is a native to the Wabash Valley of Illinois, but has been widely planted and has spread somewhat farther as a result of cultivation. It is a medium sized tree with a short trunk and broad head with spreading branches. Because of its attractive flowers and conspicuous heart-shaped leaves, it is considerably used for shade and ornament. The _bark_ varies from dark gray to brown, slightly rough, being divided in narrow shallow strips or flakes. The _leaves_ are simple, opposite, oval, long-pointed, 6 to 10 inches long, and heart-shaped at the base.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CATALPA

Leaf, one-third natural size. Twig, two-thirds natural size.]

The _flowers_ appear in cl.u.s.ters or panicles in May or June. They are white with purple and yellow markings, and this makes them decidedly showy and attractive. The _fruit_ consists of a bean-like pod, 8 to 16 inches long. It hangs on the tree over winter and gradually splits into 2 parts, or valves. The seeds are about 1 inch long and terminate in wings that are rounded and short-fringed at the ends. They are freely carried by the wind.

The _wood_ is rather soft, light, coa.r.s.e-grained and durable in contact with the soil. It is used for fence posts, poles and fuel, and occasionally for railroad ties.

The paulownia, _Paulownia tomentosa_ (Thumb). Steud., is a large tree native of China with the aspect of the catalpa with broad opposite leaves. Its upright pyramidal cl.u.s.ters of pale violet flowers which appear with the unfolding of the leaves are strikingly handsome. The individual flowers are bell-shaped, two inches long and spotted with darker purple.

DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

Division of Forestry

THE State Division of Forestry was organized in 1926 as a division of the Department of Conservation. It was organized at that time as a result of an increased need for proper forestry practices within the State on the part of the owners of timber land and potential timber lands.

The objectives of the Division are as follows:

1. To promote and a.s.sist in the reforestation of idle lands unfit for agriculture.

2. To prevent and control woods fires.

3. To control erosion by the planting of trees.

4. To establish State forests to act as demonstration areas in timber land management.

5. To a.s.sist Illinois farmers, landowners, and corporations in woodland management practices.

6. To a.s.sist in the establishment of county and community forests.

7. To disseminate forestry knowledge through the publication of forestry literature.

Reforestation

Illinois has within its total land area of approximately 35,800,000 acres, 2,500,000 acres of land that should be reforested. These lands are lying idle at present due to the fact that they are too poor for agricultural purposes. As such they provide an economic burden to their owners and to the State because they are unproductive. These same lands will grow trees profitably, therefore, it is necessary that they be planted to trees for a future timber crop which ultimately will bring a revenue to the landowners and community.

To meet this situation, the Department of Conservation, Division of Forestry has developed two large forest tree nurseries capable of producing 15,000,000 trees annually for reforestation and erosion control purposes. These trees are available to farmers and landowners at prices varying from $5.00 to $15.00 per thousand, dependent upon the species of trees desired. Trees secured from the State must be used only for reforestation and erosion control and cannot be used for landscape or ornamental plantings.

Definite progress has been made in the State reforestation program of idle lands. The first major distribution of trees took place in 1936 at which time 300,000 trees were planted in the State. Since 1936 the State's reforestation program has steadily been enlarged to the extent that in 1940, 6,250,000 trees were distributed from State nurseries and in 1954, 9,996,000 trees left the Division's nurseries to be planted by farmers and public agencies in the State.

Considerable progress has been made, however, it is hoped that the reforestation program in Illinois will continue to expand until all idle lands in Illinois are growing a useful timber crop.

Forest Fire Protection

Woodland fires in Illinois always present a serious problem to the future growth and quality of our forests. Thousands of dollars worth of damage is done annually to our existing woodlands by fires which not only destroy our merchantable timber but also cause severe mortality to young forest seedlings. Fires seriously affect the soil, destroy wildlife and disrupt the entire biological balance of the forest. Every effort should be made, therefore, to prevent woods fires.

In 1938 the State Division of Forestry inaugurated a program in forest fire protection. Since that time ten fire protection districts and a forest fire protection headquarters have been established in southern Illinois. Fire fighting personnel has been hired, radio communication established, and ten State forest fire towers have been erected. Fire protection has been established on all State forests. Necessary tools and equipment for use by both forestry personnel and volunteer groups have been purchased. As a result, 3,674,000 acres of State and private land are now receiving fire protection. This program will be enlarged as funds permit until all woodland acreage in need of protection will receive necessary fire protection.

Our forest resources are a valuable a.s.set to Illinois and one of the most valuable renewable resources that we have. They can only be so, however, if adequate forest fire protection is afforded them.

Woodland Management

Illinois' total forest acreage, when our first settlers came to the State, included 15,273,000 acres of the finest timber to be found in the Middle West. This represented 42 per cent of the total acreage. Although Illinois today is considered strictly an agricultural State, at one time we were rich in forest resources and they were the State's most valuable a.s.set. Today Illinois has but 3,996,000 acres of woodlands of which 92% is in private owners.h.i.+p. The trained foresters of the Division of Forestry are making every effort to a.s.sist farmers and landowners in their woodland management problems. It is vitally necessary that proper forestry practices be conducted on our woodlands today in order that the landowners realize an income from their forest lands and thereby make them an a.s.set rather than a liability. Advice on woodland management is available free of charge from the Division.

The marketing and proper utilization of our existing forest resources is the concern of the Division of Forestry. Approximately 1,000 small sawmills are operating in the State and, of course, much timber is needed annually to keep such mills in operation. Every effort is being made to advise timber landowners as to proper cutting practices and disposal of merchantable timber.

State Forests

The State at present has 10,110 acres in State forests. It is hoped that this acreage can be enlarged in future years as State appropriations permit. The above acreage includes three State forests located in Union, Mason and Henderson counties. Illinois State forests will always be smaller than those of other states because of the unavailability of low valued land. The Division's proposed State forest plan provides for a large number of small State forests throughout the State which would serve as ideal examples of proper woodland management and reforestation practices. As funds permit these will be acquired in the future.

Our State forests provide ideal recreational areas at present and thousands of visitors use them annually. In addition, as the timber matures on them, they will provide a revenue from timber sales and become self-sustaining.

Community Forests

Community forests are the oldest type of forest lands in public owners.h.i.+p. Some have been in existence for 200 years in the eastern states and records of older community forests have been found in some of the European countries. The Division of Forestry is cooperating with counties and communities in an effort to get a large scale community forest program in Illinois. To date there are 58 community forests having a total acreage of 52,296 acres. Up to the present time 700,000 trees have been planted on these areas in cooperation with the Division of Forestry.

Nine counties in the State have County Forest Preserve Districts at present. The ratio of ten acres for each 1,000 population within the county appears to be a fair goal for county forest preserve systems in accordance with the Illinois State Planning Commission. On this basis 19 counties in Illinois should have forest preserves.

Summary

As a result of increased appropriations for forestry in recent years a definite well-planned forestry program is in effect in Illinois. For additional information on the Division's activities, write the State Forester, Springfield.