Exotic Forest Trees which it would be well to Introduce
Fir Tree.—The most interesting species are:—
A. amabilis and A. balsamea, from North America, grows from 30 to 40 metres high by 1 to 1·50 metres in diameter. Suitable for the 3rd, 5th and 6th regions.
A. bifida, A. brachyphylla, from Japan, attain a height of 40 or 50 metres, 4th, 5th and 7th regions.
A. bracteata, Hook and Arn.—From the mountains of Santa Lucia. 50 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter.
A. concolor, Lindl.—From the Rocky Mountains, where they grow to 30 or 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. These two species should be tried in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th regions.
A. grandis, Lindl.—From the northern states of the Union. Attains a height of 90 metres by 1 or 2 metres in diameter, 3rd, 4th and 6th.
A. magnifice, Murr., and A. mobilis, Lindl.—From California and Oregon, where it grows to a height of 70 to 80 metres by 2 or 3 metres in diameter; 2nd and 3rd regions, and the hills in the 4th and 5th.
A. pectinata, D. C.—From Europe. 40 metres in height by 1 metre and sometimes more in diameter; 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th regions.
A. religiosa, Lindl.—From Mexico. Attains 40 to 50 metres in height by 1 or 2 metres in diameter; 2nd and 3rd regions.
All fir trees require hilly ground already stocked with trees. It is useless to plant them on the open plain. Other conifers, known also as firs, belong to the genera Picea and Tsuga.
Maple Tree.—The Acer campestre and A. platanoides.—From Europe, appear to be suited for our 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th regions, the latter as a stock species. Thirty feet high.
The A. eriocarpum, Michx., and A. rubrum, Michx., are two handsome species from North America, where they grow to a height of 20 to 35 metres by 1 metre in diameter.
To be essayed in the same regions as the preceding trees. They require deep soil and are cultivated like the sycamore maple.
Alders. The Alnus cordifolia, Ten.—From Europe, and A. orientalis, Dcne., from Asia. Would grow well in the 7th region and on the shores of the 5th, 6th and 9th.
Araucarias. The Araucaria Bidwilli, Hook, and A. Cunninghami, Ait., both from Eastern Australia. Grow to a height of 50 to 60 metres and give excellent timber; 2nd, 3rd and 4th regions.
A. excelsa, R. Br.—From Norfolk Island. Attains a height of 70 metres by 1 metre and over in diameter; 2nd, 3rd and 4th regions.
A. Cookii, E. Br., and A. mulleri, R. Br.—From New Caledonia; 40 metres in height; 1st, 2nd and 4th regions.
All grow on deep, humid soil, rich in vegetable mould, like certain parts of the Chaco and of the 1st and 2nd regions.
Birches.—Valuable trees for the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th regions. Do not exceed 30 metres in height on the best soil, but very hardy and reach a metre in diameter. The best species are Betula alba, B. nigra, B. lenta and B. pubescens.
American Walnut Trees.—All give excellent timber, strong and hardier than the European kinds. Could be planted and sown in regions 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. The best species for woods are Carya alba, Nut., and C. amara, from Canada. C. olivæformis and C. porcina from the central states of North America. C. tomentosa, Nutt., is popularly known in North America as Hickory.
Tall trees, generally very leafy, and suitable for stock in mixed woods and for special wood planting, together with European and Asiatic species, cultivated like the common walnut, J. regia.
Cedars.—All cedars give very fine wood known as cedar-wood, whence the confusion with real cedar belonging to the conifera family.
The Red Cedar of Australia, Cedrela australis, Muell., grows to 60 metres in height. May be planted in the 1st and 2nd regions together with the one we have, C. brasiliensis. C. sinensis, A. Juss, seems more suitable for the 3rd and 5th regions.
Chamæyparis.—This resinous tree gives excellent timber in the United States, where it grows to a height of 25 to 30 metres by 0·60 metre in diameter. The species C. Lawsoniana and C. Nutkænsis, from North America, as well as C. obtusa, Endl., from Japan, appear to be suitable for dense woods in regions 4, 5 and 6.
Dacrydium.—Indigenous to Tasmania and New Zealand. The forest species furnish good carpentry timber. From some descriptions of Chilian conifers it would seem that some of these are very like Dacrydium.
The most interesting species are D. cupressinum, Soland, D. Franklinii and D. Kirkii, F. v. M.
These trees grow to a height of 40 to 60 metres and require very generous soil, rather damp and warm, like that of the 1st and 2nd regions in our country. To be cultivated as the Araucaria brasiliensis or Misiones pine.
Diospyros.—The D. lotus, from Italy, and D. Virginiana furnish valuable timber know as ebony. They do not exceed 20 to 25 metres in height. A trial might be made in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th regions.
Drimys, D. Winter, Forst.—A Chilian tree 15 to 20 metres in height, gives winter bark, used in medicine. To be tried for mixed woods in the 3rd, 4th and 5th regions.
Beech, Fagus sylvatica, L.—A European tree 30 metres in height by half a metre in diameter; gives excellent wood for boxes and wooden partitions or anything not exposed to the weather. A first-class species for the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th regions as a stock tree in tall woods.
Ash Tree.—The Fraxinus americana, L., F. quadrangularis, Michx., F. sambucifolia, Lam.—From North America, are trees of 30 to 35 metres in height by 0·60 to 1 metre in diameter. The timber is highly prized for coach-building and other special work. It appears suitable for mixed woods in 5th, 6th and 7th regions, where it may be grown like the common ash tree.
Black Walnut Tree, Juglans nigra, L.—From North America, where it attains 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter. Though its wood is not so valuable as common walnut, it is very pretty and fine-grained. It might be planted and grown in the same regions as the other kinds of walnut.
Juniper Tree, Juniperus virginiana, L.—From 25 to 30 metres high by 1 metre in diameter, growing in North American forests. The wood is very nice, and used by cabinet-makers, etc. This conifer appears suitable for dense woods in the 3rd, 5th and 6th regions, with Lambertiana and other cypresses, and is grown in the same way.
Larch Tree.—The European Larix europea, L., and the American L. microcarpa are hardy species of 25 to 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter, with deciduous leaves, which makes its transport easy; 5th, 6th and 8th regions; in tall woods with other conifers. Grown like the Spruce.
Spruces.—Great conifers of the cold regions of North America. The most suitable species for woods, besides the P. excelsa, Linck., which we already grow, are the P. alba, Linck., from Canada, P. Engelmanii, Car., from the Rocky Mountains, P. morinda, Linck., from the Himalayas, and P. nigra, Linck., from Northern America. The latter species is suitable for the 6th and 9th regions; the others for the 5th and 6th, grown as firs.
Libocedrus Decurrens, Torr.—From California, where it grows to 40 metres in height, over a metre in diameter, is very strong and gives excellent timber. Appears suitable for afforestation together with the Chilian variety in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th regions.
To be sown and cultivated like the Lambertiana cypress.
Tulip Tree, or Whitewood, Liriodendrum tulipifera, L.—From North America, where it attains a height of 60 metres by 3 and 4 metres in diameter. Gives good wood and appears suitable for growing in tall woods on deep and humid soil in regions 4, 5, 6 and 7.
To be sown thickly in furrows or in beds for transplanting when a year old.
Pine Trees.—We already have different kinds of pine trees which flourish in woods. It would be well to introduce the better species, because we lack such as Pinus australis, Michx., from Carolina and Florida, where it grows to 35 to 40 metres in height. This is the species which gives the timber known as pitchpine.
P. Benthamiana, Hartw.—From California. 70 metres in height by 2 metres in diameter. Good timber.
P. excelsa, Wall.—From the Himalayas. 40 metres in height.
P. Jeffreyana, V. H.; P. Lambertiana, Doug.; P. Sabiniana, Doug.; and P. Torreyana, all from California.
P. Strobus, L.—From North America. A hardy tree 40 metres in height by 1 metre in diameter.
The Californian species might be tried in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 8th regions. The Himalayan species on the mountain ranges of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, and the last-named species in the 5th, 6th and 8th. That from the Carolinas might be grown together with P. insignis.
To be grown in woods of the same kind in the same regions and in the same way as those we have.
Planera Crenata, Desf.—A tree from the Caucasians; excellent timber and very hardy.
Grown like the elm and in the same regions.
Caucasian Walnut Tree, Pterocarya caucasica and P. Spachiand.—Trees 20 metres in height, magnificent timber and suitable for intermingling with other walnut trees, especially Carya species.
Sequoia.—From California, where it grows to 80 or 100 metres in height by 5 or 6 metres in diameter. The species S. gigantea is that which attains the greatest size; the S. sempervirens is more modest and less exacting about the nature of the soil and its situation. The former requires porous, deep and rather clayey soil, situated on hills or in ravines. To be tried in the 3rd and 6th regions and on the mountains in the 4th and 5th. Grown as the pine.
Lime Tree.—The different European and North American species, Tilia argentea, Desf., T. nigra, Burk, and T. silvestris from Europe, might be planted in the 5th, 6th and 7th regions in heavy, porous, clay soil.
Tsuga douglasi (Fir).—From Colorado State, North America. Attains a height of 50 metres and furnishes excellent timber. Suitable for planting woods together with spruces and firs, and grown in the same way.
American Elm Tree, Ulmus americanus, L.—This is a very hardy species at least 30 metres high. Its timber, though not so very good, is yet used in carriage-building and the like. Grown like other elm species and in the same regions.
Lest it should be thought that a disproportionate amount of space has been allotted here to this matter of forestry it must be pointed out that timber of all kinds constitutes one of the greatest of the still latent treasures of the River Plate. A treasure which could be easily realized but which has hitherto been extraordinarily neglected not only in practice but even by most writers on the countries in question.
Argentina will one day export timber and ornamental woods instead of importing them as she has done hitherto; and perhaps the present difficulties of maritime transport will help to turn the eyes of both Republics to the wealth of building and other timber and fine woods they have at hand.
A visit to the coach-making works of those of the River Plate Railway Companies which manufacture their own luxurious saloon and sleeping cars, would alone suffice to astonish many people by the beauty and value of the native woods there used, both in the cabinet-maker’s art and in the most solid portions of construction destined to resist exceptional strain.
Señor Mauduit has already been quoted on the subject of the need of shade for cattle. A need which estancieros now pretty fully appreciate.
CHAPTER XIV
LITERATURE AND ART
As in most young countries, the Muses have in Argentina and Uruguay had to be content chiefly with the imported offerings of foreign writers, artists and composers; while native science has principally been confined to medicine and surgery and various branches of rural productiveness. Still the River Plate Territories have always had their historians and poets, and recent generations have produced some painters, sculptors and composers.
The Histories of Mitre and Araújo are admirable literary monuments to the glory of the River Plate Territories and the memory of their authors. The poetry of the lately deceased Guido y Spano and of the still living Zorrilla de San Martin occupies a deservedly high place in modern literature; while the names of Juan Cruz Varela, José Mármol and José Hernandez (the author of the Lyrics of Gaucho life published under the title of “Martin Fierro”) will ever remain household words on the River Plate.
Godofredo Daireaux and Leopoldo Lugones are typical and delightful writers whose sketches are faithful vignettes of the manners and customs, landscapes and sentiment of a century and half a century ago, of times of heroic battles and early peaceful progress. For the rest, one must, with the Muses, wait with such patience as one may for the appearance of National types of literature and art; types probably only to be formed when the National types of men and women have reached their fully distinct development out of existing cosmopolitan chaos. At present Argentine and Uruguayan Art and Literature[47] are chiefly imitative; music, painting and novels being mostly exaggerations of, often not the best, ephemeral European taste and fashions, while architecture usually alternates fidelity to stucco with trivially fantastic French “Villa” and “Château” styles.
Novelists seek to make one’s flesh creep; Painters to outvie either incomprehensibility or banality; Architects achieve futility and Musicians are reminiscent of everything except the sad charm of melody which is their natural inheritance, through the Payadores, from Moorish Spain. The old intervals and harmonies are carefully eschewed in favour of anything, no matter what, which may seem to have a piquant flavour of “art nouveau.”
Nevertheless, nature sometimes will out and the old-time moods now and again penetrate the covering of pseudo-Viennese melody and modern Italian harmonies under which the composer has sought to hide his natural gifts and atavistic inspiration.
It is only in the theatre that the true native genius is allowed full play. Some of the real Argentine dramas and comedies are refreshingly delightful in their truth of characterization, sentiment and humour. All is of the soil, true to type and racy. But such things are only played at minor houses and in rural districts. Fashion knows them not, nor desires to know them, while Italian and French operatic and dramatic companies hold the boards of the leading theatres at prices which make it quite obligatory for all the best people to be seen frequently in their boxes or stalls. Still the minor theatre is the casket of the one true jewel in Argentine Art which shines with its inherent native brilliance.
Unless, perhaps, florid oratory may be termed an Art. If so, it is one which has a wide vogue throughout South America. Few events are there allowed to pass without lengthy and vigorous “Discursos”; the real or simulated passion of which rings strangely false in Anglo-Saxon ears. Much virtue, however, lies in accepted convention, and the South American sees nothing comic or discordant in a frock-coated orator doing his best to turn over a sheaf of manuscript with one hand whilst he indulges in what to us is painfully exaggerated gesticulation with the rest of his body. On the contrary, the bravas of the audience which punctuate the barn-storming enunciation of the most high-flown sentiments are evidently and whole-heartedly sincere expressions of admiration for, at least, the speaker’s mastery of the declamatory art. Discursos are, in South America, the inevitable accompaniment of every event of any mark, from a funeral to the announcement of a dividend.
It is part of the Hero Worship which has so large a place in the Latin nature. A worship none the less fervent because the enjoyment of it by its living object is frequently as brief as it must be sweet. Once dead, of course, a hero is one for ever if he have attained his niche at some prominent period of his country’s history. Great Presidents live perennially in the knowledge of every school child, and one bad one is still honoured by reference to his name and attributes in the comic journals whenever an unflattering comparison to a living politician is sought. Rozas and Artígas have their true meed of mingled praise and blame.
But all this digresses from the heading of this chapter; through, perhaps, an unconscious effort on the author’s part to eke out an as yet somewhat barren subject.
The truth is that no country nor individual has ever produced much art of any account during its or his infancy. And Argentina and Uruguay are still in the barely adolescent stage of their economic and political development. The many sympathetic, though often contrasted, characteristics of the true Argentine and Uruguayan hold out, however, good hope for artistic achievement in the future. The facts that Argentina has already one truly native sculptress of more than mediocre talent in Lola Mora, and one master of the art of word-painting in illustration of the old-world charm of some of the people and scenery of various distant parts of the Republic in Leopoldo Lugunes must not be lost sight of. Nor must the further one that the poetic spirit of the past which still broods over the wide Pampa has been caught and crystallized by Godofredo Daireaux in his Tipos y Paisages Argentinos and other delicate allegories and sketches. The River Plate awaits a native W. C. Cable to write a rosary of tales of the Old Colonial Days of the Puerto de Santa Maria de los Buenos Aires, of Vice-Regal balls, of high-combed, mantilla-coifed and beflounced belles in seringa and orange blossom scented gardens; of sighs and vows breathed between window bars; of times the politely veneered roughness of which has been softened for us by the haze of remoteness; a haze which soon will have produced complete obliteration if some living, understanding brain does not quickly record their outlines and fill these in with appropriate tints.
Someone will, must, do this. But no stranger. Only a native genius, daintily contemplative, can, as a labour of love, bring back to life the dolce far niente days of South America before its Colonists awakened to the shrill call of Liberty and Independence.