Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-07-29
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the South American Chaco has become so CONNER
cially important that 1t must be understood to sgni
~ only that one tree and nothing else.
The genuine quebracho tree is found In Brazil
Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic There ar
Two important varieties and third has been dis
tingushed although it has great sgnifcanc
botanicay or value commercially. Locally and In
the trade the names given are Quebracho colorado
(redl 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 derived. The other, Quebra-
cho blanco, is neither straight nor SO service
able as the red variety but is nevertheless OF
definite commercial value it furnishes some
tanning extract and the logs be used for
fence posts and axles. From 1t Is taken also
drug extensively used for bronchial diseases; In
fact, as a plant 1t studied for this purpose
long before Its other advantages were exploited
The scientific name is Aspidosperma quebraeho
Railways must have seepers which to lay
their rails. In some instances wooden ones are
imported at great expense, or substitutes there
| FOR are used If climatic conditions are favorable
AS rule. however, it is preferred to take sup
plies from native timber whenever procurable.
This the 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 had
| used It, The quebracho wood proved by far the
most serviceable for sleepers South American
railways and its reputation grew steadily that
today many miles of European rails are supported
| by sleepers brought from the River Plate.
In one respect quebracho resembles rather
hogany than oak or pine. The trees do not grow
in clumps or groves, but dispersed through the
/ forests and the less dense woods, singly In
| groups seldom more than four five to the
The tree itself Is tall, about two three feet In
diameter and Is crowned by rather thin, oval
or X-shaped mass of branches and leaves The
white quebracho Is somewhat smaller than the
red, and begins to branch lower to the ground, SO
that 1t is not hard to distinguish them from each
other. The leaves oval 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. Pie tree
seems to thrive best a sandy soil, where the at
mospheric moisture Is not very great. but where
abundant water is provided for the roots. either
! by dews or sufficient rain. It Is neither noun
/ tain nor river growth, but lives best in the sub
tropical stretches between water courses. Al
/ though the age of the tree has been given as
measured by hundreds of years, 1t is well enough
established that at ten years from planting the
first small shrubs big enough to use for posts
The future promises, therefore, opportunity
or the actual cultivation of quebracho, because,
although savage inroads have been made into the
supposedly inexhaustible forests of the Chaco, 1t
is not too late restrict the cutting of the tree.
Or even to adopt modern forestry methods of
planting and conservation for the supply of
ng generations In fact. the Argentine Republic
already passed suitable laws In this direction
nd 1t is than probable that under the wise
administration OF that government there will be