The wood is rather soft, light, coarse-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 clusters 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 assist 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.