The Van Buren press., 1859-08-17
The Cork Oak.

The CORK Oak
We transfer 20 our columns from the
Patent Office Report of 1855. the follow
ing -
The Cork Oak, (Querecus suber, an
evergreen tree, indigenous to the South of
Europe and Northern Africa, which fur
nishes the wels-known article, cork, in suf-
flcient quantities for commerce. 1t is adap-
ted to the soil and climate of many parts
OF the Middle and Southern States, and
aside from its de:irableness as a beautiful
shade tree. will rrove a necessary auxiliary
to the future winc-culture of this country,
as well as for the supply of the increasing
demand Of cork fo.' other purposes.
In the regions where this tree is indigen-
Gus, it usually grow to height of twenty
or thirty feet. 1t was introduced into Eng
land about the year 1t99, by acorns brought
from France or Spain, and still exists there
IN various collections, having attained, in
some instances, diameter Of two or three
feet tree Of this spe .ies also stands ON
the est " OF Same7stcn. near Cork. in Ire.
land, with diameter Of at least three feet
ct yard above the groun1.
The cork-tree bears aconsiderable resem-
blance to our live-oak Of tn, Southern
States, but varies exceedingly il the mag
nitude. form and margin of it, leaves, as
well as in the size Of its acorns, which NJ
Bose alleges may be eaten as hum an food in
cases of necessity. especially wher roasted
swine are excessively fond of thtm, upon
which they fatten well, acquiring a firm
and savory bacon and lard. The outer
bark, the great thickness and elasticity Of
which is owing to an extraordinary devel-
opment Of the cellular tissue, forms the
cork and after the tree is full grown,
cracks and separates from the trunk and
larger branches of its own accord The in
ner bark remains attached to the tree, but,
when removed in it's young state, il fit only
for tanning. But the outer bark, that sep
arates naturally from the trunk is regard
ed as Of little value, compared with that
which is removed by art and the reason
doubtless is that, in the latter case it has
not arrived at ths: rigid, contracted and
fractured state, which is the natural conse-
quence of its dropping from the tree
When this oak had attained the age OF
fifteen years according to Du Hamel, or
twenty years, according to Bose, the bark is
removed for the first time but this bark
Is found to be cracked, and full Of woody
portions and cells, Gnd hence it is fit only
for fuel, or perhaps for tanning The sec
ond dis-barking takes place in eight or ten
years, when the cork is sold 10 fishermen
tor buoying up their nets and for inferior
uses. But, in eight or ten years more, the
tree yields cork Of good quality, and so
continues to do until is from two to three
centuries old, the cork improving in quality
throughout the whole period.
In tiAo. nf .ha 900, !, -. l.
oak can be rropagatcd in the Central and
maritime parts of the Middle, Atlantic anil
81 .It,sxassS 'fs9s..and. perhaps. on prairies
and Illinois. and the general desire for di-
versifying the landscape OF those States
with beautiful, long lived. umbrageous
trees, the comp parativcly long time which is
necessary for its growth Lefofe much il any
profit can be realized, should not deter the
prudent or sagscious husbandman from ex-
tending its culture. Considering it in a
polite as well as an economical sense, sea
sonable measures should be taken to form
plantations of this tree sufficient for the
future supply of cork, particularly for the
increasing demands for that material which
arc likely to arise from the culture of the
vine. Again, were non intercourse TO oc-
cur between this country and the Old w orld
which from some political commotion, will
doubtless one day or other take place, the
sources from which it is obtained would be cut
off, and, in short time after our supply
exhausted, and we would be without a sub
stitute, unless provided against such an ex-
igency by the means herein proposed AS
further argument in showing the import
ance Of fostering this branch Of rural econ
omy. it may be stated, that the amount of
cork which is yearly imported into the Uni
ted States is valued at more than 1924 900