The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1910-07-21
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NM CyLILLZH7ICH

the South American Chaco has become SO CONNIE
ciaIy important that 1t must be understood to sign
fy only that one tree and nothing else
The genuine quebracho tree is found In Braz
Paraguay, and the Argentine Republic. There al
two important varieties and a third has been di
tinguished although it has great signihcant
botanically 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
Anacardaciae. This is the particular tree from
which both the sleepers and the better quality OF
tanning extract derived. The other Quebra
cho banco, is neither straight nor so service
able as the red variety, but is nevertheless OF
definite commercial value, 1t furnishes some
tanning extract and the logs can be used for
fence posts and axles. From it 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 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 If climatic conditions are favorable
AS a rule, however, 1t is preferred 20 take sup
plies from native timber whenever proourable
This was 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 seepers on South American
railways and it's reputation grew SO steadily that
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 pine. The trees do not grow
in clumps or groves, but dispersed through the
forests and the less dense woods, singy or In
groups seldom more than four five to the acre.
The tree itself is tall, about two three feet in
diameter and is crowned by rather thin, oval,
or v-shaped mass of branches and leaves. The
white uuebracho 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 are 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. 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
nv dews or sufficient rain. 1t 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
hrst small shrubs big enough to use for posts.
The future promises therefore, an opportunity
for the actual cultivation of quebracho, because,
although savage inroads have been made into the
apnnosedy jnexhaustible forests of the Chaco, 1t
q not too late to restrict the cutting of the tree,
ar even to adopt modern forestry methods OF
nlantine and conservation for the supply of COM
ing generations In fact, the Argentine Republic
has already passed suitable laws in this direction.
and II Is more than probable that under the wise
administration of that government there VIII be