Klarinet Archive - Posting 000389.txt from 1994/05

From: "Jay Heiser, Product Manager, Govt Systems" <jayh@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: The clarinet tree (what about tree farms?)
Date: Mon, 23 May 1994 10:33:12 -0400

-->Jay Heiser:
-->>Or time to look into the idea of plantations. Wood is a renewable
-->>resource. If we're harvesting more than we're growing, maybe its
-->>time to grow more.
-->
-->That would be a great idea. But aren't these trees very slow growers,
-->which gives them their fine grain and density? How old _should_ the
-->tree be before being harvested? I expect they are cut too early nowadays.
-->Plantations should have started many years ago to be helpful, eh?
-->
-->Steve
Yes, I believe they are. I'm uncertain as to how old a tree has
to be before its suitable for a clarinet. All the more reason to
start tree farming.

On the "Tree of Life", one govt official was raising saplings and
planting them, but he couldn't come close to replacing the amount
being harvested. These trees are important not only for clarinets,
but are used by local woodcarvers to create sculptures both for their
own use and for hard currency. Harvesting and carving of these
trees was presented as a revered tradition.

Whatever the spiritual and nostalgic value of these trees to the
inhabitants, there must be some economic justification for growing
more of them. The TV show didn't address a sustainable harvest
and tree farming. I doubt if anyone really knows what the cost
would be.
======================================
Garden Status:
Peas are just beginning to flower (seems late)
Lots of spinach and lettuce to harvest
Tomatoes have started to set fruit (ahead of peas)