*904-j Quebracho Wood in Argentina. 565, 



There is also an insignificant export in the form of coarse saw- 

 dust. ; The exports of Quebracho wood first began to assume 

 importance in 1888, when some 7,000 tons were exported, and 

 from that time they rose very rapidly till 1895, when they 

 amounted to 170,000 tons. In that year, however, the tannin 

 in the form of extract began to be exported, and this had 

 apparently some effect in checking the rapid extension of 

 the trade in the natural wood, which amounted, however, in the 

 five years, 1899- 1903, to an average of 200,000 tons annually. 

 The exports of the extract increased from about 400 tons in 

 1895 to 9,000 tons in 1902 and 12,000 tons in 1903. The United 

 Kingdom appears to be the largest consumer of the wood in its 

 raw state. According to the Argentine returns, the quantity 

 shipped to this country in the five years 1 899-1903 averaged 

 140,000 tons annually. In the case of the extract, the United 

 States and Germany appear as the principal purchasers, but 

 some 1,400 tons came to Great Britain. 



Some information respecting this product was recently fur- 

 nished in a German Consular Report,* from which it appears, 

 that there are two sources of supply; one including the Province 

 of Santiago and part of the Province of Tecuman, and the other 

 embracing the northern part of Santa Fe and the banks of the 

 Parana River. The former occupies a secondary position both as. 

 regards the amount of tannin in the wood, the density of the trees,, 

 distance from river-ports, and other conditions. The principal 

 source of supply forms the south-western part of the great 

 plains known as the " Gran Chaco," which stretch northward 

 from Santa Fe. The profitable exploitation of the Quebracho 

 is at present restricted to the district opened up by the railway 

 which goes from Santa Fe northwards to La Sabana on the 

 boundary of the Chaco territory. This railway runs through 

 the Quebracho country for a distance of 40 to 60 miles parallel 

 to the river and has a branch line about midway, near Vera, 

 to Reconquista on the Parana River. 



The yield of Quebracho wood is estimated at an average of 

 12,500 tons per square league of 6,250 acres, or about two tons 

 per acre. About 100 medium-sized trees represent the average 



* Zl i '. filr Forsl-und-JagdiVL s :// , Aug. , 1 904. 



