Affiit I, fSS;.] fUB TROPICAL AOmCVtWM^T. 



6Sg( 



THE RELATION OF HEART WOOD TO 



SAPWOOD. 



It is a common and ratlu-r loosely helil opinion 

 that the fornjation of sapwood into heartwood in 

 trees is not a gradual and concurrent process, but 

 that it begins at a certain age in the same species 

 invariably ; modified only in a tririing degree by the 

 differences of soil and climate as they may affect the 

 growth of individuals. Thus the larch, for instance, 

 must attain a certain age, no matter what the differ- 

 ences of soil and climate under which it is grown, 

 before it begins to form heartwood. It matters not 

 whether the growth be rapid or slow, heartwood must 

 appear at or within a brief period of its arriving at a 

 certain age, varying only in point of time in propotiou 

 to the difference of soil and climate as exerted on 

 the individual during its period of growth. In a col- 

 loquial sense, it may be admitted there is a general 

 foundation of accuracy in this commonly recognised 

 opinion. No doubt the indivuals of a specie.*, such 

 as the larch, or any other grown in the .same soil 

 and other circumstances, on attaining a certain age 

 will present relative proportions of heartwood to 

 sapwood sufficiently close to establish the g'Jneral 

 conclusion. But this is merely stating in other 

 words the fact that it takes so many years to 

 bring the individuals of a particular species to maturity. 

 What is really meant by the statement that heart- 

 wood begins to form at a certain age in any tree 

 is simply that it has become visible, and presents a 

 marketable quantity in relation to the sapwood out 

 of which it is formed. But this is a totally different 

 thing to what is implied by the statement, and also 

 as to what really tikes place in the growth of the 

 tree. The formation of heartwood, like that of sap- 

 wood, begins with the birth of the tree. The exer- 

 cise of the functions leading to the building up of sap 

 and other vessels which form the structure of the 

 newly-born plant, is the point at which the formation 

 of sapwood and heartwood alike begin, and the proces- 

 ses 3,0 on concurreatly season after season. Not perhaps 

 with invariable results in eveu the individuals of the 

 same species ; certainly not in all species alike. Some 

 species are slovv to exhibit the same relative propor- 

 tion of heartwood to sapwood that others do. And 

 this may, as a general rule, be taken as an index of 

 the longevity of a species; those, such as the oak, 

 which are slow in forming heartwood being longer- 

 lived than most, of the species of coniferra which 

 form their heartwood more rapidly, or in other 

 words, arrive at maturity earlier. But the proce.s.'s 

 of the formation of heartwood goes on concurrently 

 with that of sapwood from the hrst development of 

 the plant from the seed, whether growth be .slow 

 or rapid, whether maturity be arrived at in a few 

 years or after many years. Briefly, the couver.sion of 

 sapwood into heartwood is accomplished by the thick- 

 ening and indurating of the walls of the sap vessels, 

 and by the deposition in them of the peculiar 

 secrections of each species, such as gums, resins, etc, 

 resulting from functional action, by which they even- 

 tually become filled up, and their original use as 

 channels for the upward flow of the sap ceases. The 

 time required to complete the process varies in differ- 

 ent specit.s, and even in individuals of the same 

 species, according to circumstances already alluded 

 to as affecting comparative rapidity of growth. — Joui'- 

 nal of Forcstr//. 



_ — ^ ^— 



THE GROWTH OF LICORICE IN EUROPE: 



ITS CULTIVATION IN SICILY. 



Repoit h/ Consul TVoodcock, Catania, 



Llcofiee grows to the height of 2 or 3 feet. It bears 

 a sniall yellow flower. Its leaves are pinnate. The 

 roots grow from 6 to 20 feet in length. 



The valley of the river Simeto (ancient Symwthus) in 



this consular district is rich in vegetation. Here not 



only all the cereals grow to perfection under the rude 



pulture of tbd rustic biciliau liUiibaudtaau, but tLt^ y/M 



8? 



plants with which the farmer has to contend, spring 

 up spontaneously. Among the latter may be classed 

 the licorice plant. 

 I In response to a question asked of a Simcnto Valley 

 ' farmer, if the licorice plant grew upon his farm, he 

 j replied, " God forbid, for of all wild vegetation it is 

 [ the most difficult to subilue." 



If any particle of the root is left in the ground, it 

 grows and sends up shoots. It is not cultivated in this 

 district ; it grows in a wild state. In the fields where 

 it grows are cultivated not only the various grains, such 

 as wheat, oats, barley, &c., and vegetables, but also 

 oranges, lemons, and the various other fruits of this 

 climate. Of course this plant is injurious to the grains 

 and fruits, but the thorough digging of the soil for 

 the roots of the licorice is beneficial to the production 

 of crops. 



The agriculturist here uses the most rustic of imple- 

 ments. His plough is that of the old Romans, consisting 

 of an iron point which simply scratches the soil without 

 turning a furrow. In digging for the licorice root, the 

 soil is thoroughly turned over, and is ilug to the depth 

 of from 1 to 3 feet. 



There are two species of the licorice plant here. The 

 one sends down a main root the depth of from 3 to 6 

 feet with but few lateral roots ; the other does not sink 

 so deep into the earth, but creeps beneath the surface 

 a ta depth of from 6 inches to 2 feet. 



The latter plant is most productive, and is Iho most 

 highly prized. 



Doubtless if the licorice plant were cultivated it would 

 yield larger results. The people here think its culture 

 will not pay, hence they are satisfied to collect it 

 as produced by nature iu its wild state. There is no 

 use made of the stem except for fuel. 



The licorice plant grows most luxuriantly in the 

 valleys adjacent to streams of water. It is, however, 

 found among the foot hills of the mountains, but here 

 grows less luxuriantly. It requires a moist soil consisting 

 of a clay loam. The climate must be warm, such as is 

 adapted to the growth of oranges, lemons, aud the other 

 semi-tropical fruits. It cannot endure frosts or cold 

 high altitudes. 



The root continues to grow for four or five years, 

 when it is considered in the best condition for gathering. 

 The root will continue to grow for ten or twelve years 

 longer, but it is not considered so rich in juce-yielding 

 quality. 



The crop is gathered from the same ground once in 

 four or five years. On the average 100 pounds of the 

 root produces 16 pounds of licorice paste. During the 

 mouths of .Tune, July, August aud September, and the 

 first part of October the root is not disturbed, for the 

 reason that it is then in full vegetation, and for the 

 further more important reason that the ground is dry 

 and hard baked by the sun, and it is with much diffi- 

 culty and great expense that it can then be dug. 



As soou as the autumn rains set in, in sufficient 

 quantity, to saturate the ground the root harvest com' 

 I mences. 



! During the months aforesaid the manufactories of 

 I licorice are idle, doing little or nothing in the way of 

 I manufacture. In Catania there are some seven nmuu- 

 I factories of licorice, which employ from twenty to forty 



hands each, aud are capable of manufacturing 750,000 



pounds of the root. There is al.^o a factory in Pateruo ; 



another in Oaltogerone, and another in Terrauova, in 



this district. 

 When the roots are taken from the earth they zrc, 



bound in bundles, and upon the backs of mules tranpo 



f)orted from the fields to the factories. Here fch'jv lie 

 n .store for a time in a state of seasoning. 



When the roots are sufficiently cured, men uud women 

 with hatchets, cut them iu bits of from 3 to 6 inches ira 

 length. These are then plunged into a vat of water 

 and thoroughly washed. They are then crushed in a 

 mill of rude construction. It consists of two circular 

 stones of la^■a. The one is in horizontal position ; the 

 other, perpendicular, rests upon it. Through the 

 centre of the upper stone is an axle, to which is attached 

 a luule, wliich revolves it slowly iu a circle (cart'Wb««J 



