Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-04-18

trees and the planting of additional
trees the time is not far distant when
they will be utterly annihilated. In
1903 many acres of small trees were
sacrificed during the excitement Incl
dent to the prevailing high prices.
Had these been allowed to remain
until they had attained a more mature
age they would have yielded a larger
harvest and produced at least double
the amount of money.
The months of May, June, July and
August comprise the season in which
it is most profitable to secure cascara
bark, for the following reasons: Dur
ing this period the sap has assembled,
thus greatly facilitating the peeling
process. Then again, the bark gathered
out of season is Improbable, on ac-
count of the additional labor incurred
in detaching it from the tree, and it
has not all its proper medicinal vir-
tues at such times.
Cascara bark is found in large guam
titles in various sections of Oregon,
but in every instance on wet ground.
The banks of lakes, river bottoms
n swampy lands are especially ia.
vored by the cascara tree. When
found in the Cascade and coast ranges
the tree generally grows in deep can
yons or at the base of high cliffs,
where is receives the surface water
from the uplands.
The size of cascara trees mostly
sought for their bark are from three
to four inches in diameter or more,
since smaller ones are difficult to
handle with rapidity. The tree ia
one of quick growth, hence the smaller
sizes are generally let alone until
they have attained profitable proper
tons. The largest cascara tree re,
ported in 1903 was found in Benton
county. This had the remarkable
diameter of 80 inches or 2h feet. II
was stated last year that some of the
cascara trees attained a diameter of
six inches in six years, but this was
proved inaccurate. BY actual meas
urements a tree one inch in diameter
has four rings denoting four years
growth; while larger trees show six
rings to the inch. making a six-inch
tree considerable older than six years.
The only tools used in gathering
the bark are an ak for telling tho
trees and cutting away the branches
and a peculiar shaped knife known as
a 'spud." It's blade is six inches in
length. Its back Is beveled to a dull
edge to scrape the moss from the
bark and there is a notch with which
to girdle the tree. The end of the
blade is rounded to separate the bark
from the trunk.
In peeling the tree the operator Cir
dies the trunk about FIVE feet from the
ground and then removes the bark
from that point to the base. The
tree is then cut down and the larger
branches denuded of their covering.
1t has been found that the bark sepa-
rates more readily by working down
ward and the operator thus avoids
contact with the slippery trunk.
A fair days work in bark gathering
is placed at $50 pounds, when dried,
but many exceed this figure. Harvey
Nash of Buena Vista hold the record
of $50 pounds.
The bark is dried in the sun by the
peelers, who care for their output
each evening. Wires are stretched
from tree to tree upon which the
bark is then suspended with the sap
side down. 1t is left thus for four or
five days, which, with favorable
weather. is sufficient for thorough
drying.
After the curing process is COM
pleted the bark is cut into small pieces
preparatory to sacking, a strawcutter
often being used. Grain sacks, hold
ing 30 to 60 pounds, are generally
used, although special sizes holding
about 30 pounds are sometimes utll.
lied.
The seed of the cascara trees are
eagerly sought for planting purposes,
and command 1925 per pound. A pecu.
liar thing about the cascara tree is
that the only way in which 1t can be
grown is from the seeds, its repro
duction by slips and cuttings having
proven a failure. The seeds are gath.
cred In September. Wild fowls are
very fond OF them. The berry contain,
ing the seed Is round and is black in
hue, with a diameter OF one-third OF
an inch. Each berry contains three