The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-07-23
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the South American Chaco has become CONNER
caly important that 1t must be understood to sign
fy only that one tree and nothing else.
The genuine quebracho tree is found In brazl
Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic There ar
two important varieties and third has been Oil
tinguished although it has no great signincanc
botanically value commercially. Locally and IN
the trade the names given are Quebracho coloraoo
(red) and Quebracho blanco (whte). Quebracho
colorado has the scientific designation OF Lox-
opterygium lorentzii. and belongs to the order OF
Anacardiaciae This is the particular tree from
which both the seepers and the better quality OF
tanning extract derived. The other. Quebra-
cho blanco, is neither straight nor so service
able the red variety but Is nevertheless Oh
definite commercial value. as 1t furnishes some
tanning extract and the logs can be used 1or
fence posts and axes From 1t is taken also
drug extensively used for bronchial diseases; IN
fact, as a plant 1t was studied for this purpose
long before its other advantages were exploited
The scientific name is Aspidosperma quebracho.
Railways must have sleepers on which to lay
their rails. In some instances wooden ones are
imported at great expense, or substitutes there
for are used II climatic conditions are favorable
As a rule, however, 1t is preferred to take sup
plies from native timber whenever procuraple.
This was the case In the Argentine Republic when
railway building away from the coast had begun.
and no more fitting wood could be discovered than
that recommended by the natives, both by the
name and by the experience of those who nad
used It, The quebracho wood proved by far tne
most serviceable for sleepers on South American
railways and its reputation grew SO steadily tnat
today many miles OF European rails are supported
by sleepers brought from the River Plate.
In one respect quebracho resembles rather ma
hogany than oak or pine. The trees do not grow
in clumps groves. but are dispersed through the
forests and the less dense woods, singly or III
groups seldom more than four or five to the acre.
The tree itself is tall. about two or three feet IN
diameter, and is crowned by rather thin, OVAL
V.shaped mass of branches and leaves Inc
white quebracho is somewhat smaller than the
red. and begins to branch lower to the ground. so
that It is not hard to distinguish them from each
other. The leaves oval or lance shaped
smooth. somewhat shining and leathery; they do
not fall completely in the winter. but cling to the
branches in company with the fruit. The tree
seems to thrive best on sandy soil. where the at
mospheric moisture is not very great, but where
abundant water is provided for the roots. either
by dews or suficient rain. 1t is neither a noun
tain nor a river growth but lives best In the sub
tropical stretches between water courses Al
though the age Of the tree has been given/as
established that at ten years from planting the
nrst small shrubs are big enough to use for posts
The future promises, therefore, an opportunity
for the actual cultivation OF quebracno, because
although savage inroads have been made into the
supposedly inexhaustible forests OF the Cnaco' II
IL not too late restrict the cutting OF the uee
or even to adopt modern forestry metnoos OF
planting and conservation for the supply OF CON-
ing generations. In fact, the Argentine RepuDHo
has already paased suitable laws In this dlrecuon
and II 10 more than probable that under the WISE
aAministration Of that government there VIII -