Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-07-22
4 .S4lEszZL BE71NEkW "Z1RE cRHcO"
mn CILLLLIZHZNCH

the South American Chaco has become so CONNIE
cally important that it must be understood to sign
y only that one tree and nothing else.
The genuine quebracho tree is found in Brazil
Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic. There al
two important varieties and a third has been di
unguished although it has great significant
ootancally or value commercially. Locally and in
the trade the names given are Quebracho colorado
red, and Quebracho blanco (white). 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 sleepers and the better quality OF
tanning extract are derived. The other Que0ra-
cho blanco, is neither so straight nor service
able as the red variety. but is nevertheless OF
definite commercial value, it furnishes some
tanning extract and the logs be used for
ience posts and axles. From it is taken also a
drug extensively used for bronchial diseases; IN
TACT as a plant it was studied for this purpose
long before its other advantages were exploited
Inc scientific name is Aspdosperma quebracho.
Railways must have sleepers on which to lay
Their rails. In some instances wooden ones are
imported at great expense, or substitutes there
Iof are used if climatic conditions are favorable.
As rule, however, it is preferred to take sup
plies from native timber whenever procurable.
inns was the case In the Argentine Republic when
railway building away from the coast had begun
ana no more fitting wood could be discovered than
mat recommended by the natives, both by the
name and by the experience of those who had
4seO IT, The quebracho wood proved by Tar the
most serviceable for sleepers on South American
'dl"ays and it's reputation grew so steadily that
tooay many miles of European rails are supported
Oy sIeepers brought from the River Plate.
III one respect quebracho resembles rather ma
Hosany than oak or pine. The trees do not grow
81 Jumps or groves, but are dispersed through the
'o-es's and the less dense woods, singly- or ia
S 81 seldom more than four or five to the acre
Inc rec itself is tall about two or three feet in
ol~,aeia r, and is crowned by rather thin, oval
vi N~aaped mass of branches and leaves. The
11l'e quebracho is somewhat smaller than the
S'' and begins to branch lower to the ground, so
-4'- II Is not hard to distinguish them from each
o1"e.. The leaves are oval, or lance shaped
0o.A H. somewhat shining and leathery they do
iai completely In the winter, but cling to the
"~Aes In company with the fruit. The tree
~a 20 thrive best on a sandy soil, where the at
t2'[ellc moisture is not very great, but where
80 Int water is provided for the roots, either
-, Jews or sufficient rain. 1t is neither noun
- -2F a river growth but lives best in the sub
t'1aI stretches between water courses Al
-" the age of the tree has been given as
ed by hundreds of years, it is well enough
-saed that at ten years from planting the
~ e-1ail shrubs are big enough 10 use for posts
- lture promises, therefore, an opportunity
~, actual cultivation of quebracho. because,
7n savage inroads have been made into he
Sealy inexhaustible forests Of the ChacO, It
Nv - 700 late to restrict the cutting Of the tree.
-, 70 adopt modern forestry methods 81
f- '1s and conservation for the supply of COM
Ia 7SNeFauons. In fact, tn Argentine Republic
a. al sady passed suitable laws in this direction.
So, IS more than probable that under the wise
aIlon of that government there viii be