Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-03-16
Cork.

There are multitudes of persons who are
perfectly familiar with this indispensable arti- |
cle so constantly used in various ways, who |
know very little of lis nature and where it |
comes from 1t is the bark of species of oak, |
lQuercuS SuJe,) not the real bark essential to
the life of the tree, but the outer coating which
corresponds to the dry bark of many of our
own trees, This oak grows naturally in the
mountainous districts OF the south OF France,
in the Spanish peninsula, Italy and in the north
OF Africa. 1t does not attain a great height, |
not more than forty feet, nor is its circumier-
ence great compared with many other varieties
OF the oak, but it is sufficiently large to allow
of sheets being taken from It's trunk twelve in
ches or more in width and several feet in length.
The tree has strong resemblance TO the live
OAK OF our Southern States, and there is no
doubt that it might be cultivated with advant-
age in the warmer portions Of our country. We
do not know that it has been attempted TO any
considerable extent, but it is well worth the at
ttntion OF those who are seeking to deveope
the resources of the country and at the same
time 10 do good thing for themselves. This
tree might be planted in grounds that are not
arabic and be growing up to yield profit while
better soil is under cultivation. The cork after
arriving at certain state of maturity sheds its
bark OF its own accord, like some of our own
forest trees which are continually throwing off
their outer coats. But the bark thus shed
spontaneously is of very little utility. That
which becomes an article of commerce is re-
moved from the tree by cutting around it and
making longitudinal missions, care being taken
not to cut through the inner bark. The sheets
which are taken from the tree are usually about
foot wide and four lpet in length, the bark it.
self having the thickness of an inch or more
according TO its age. The bark is not removed
until the tree has attained the age OF twenty
five or thirty years, and after that it may be ia
ken off every eight or ten years, as it renews it.
self, the quality of the cork improving with the
advancing age Of the tree whicn. thrives for one
or two hundred years and continues to yield its
decennial crop. The time for stripping off the
bark is in July or August, when i is easily re-
moved. In Spain, France. and Italy it is an
important production, and in countries it NAV
be seen piled up in long rows like cord wood,
or like the bark which is used for tanning, in
our own forest and by the roadside in the
country. Before being cut into shoppers for
bottles and the like, il is charred on each side
of the sheet of bark, which produced a contract
ion of its substance, stopping the pores more
etiec,ually and greatly adding to It's value for
most purposes for which it is used Its vaua-
BILE properties are well known. Its remarkable
elasticity combined with its impervousness to
any ordinary fluid, make it Indispensable for
shoppers, no other substance having been dis
covered or invented that could take its place.
India rubber has been used to some extent hut.
TOR cheapness, convenience, and durability il
does not rlvul the old and familiar article. The
manufacture OF the cork for stoppers ia alnos,
altogether accomplished by hand, machinery
having been used only to a very limited .xten,
and on account of the high price of labor in
this country the cork is almost entirely Gu, he
fore its importation. The cutting of il is oui,e
an art, requiring very sharp knife and consid-
cradle dexterity to give it the proper shane and
not TO waste the raw material. Ii is nxed Gor
many other purposes. The same proper,es
which adapt it for the use already suggested. a,
1t also for buoys, for nets and otherlip ar.
tices for life buoys and life boats and for soles
of shoes for which il is in great demand. II was
formerly used TO considerable exten, in The
manufacture OF artificial limbs, but in this de.
partment it has been superseded by other sub
stances more available. We have accounts o
its use in very ancient time for many of tn,
purposes for which it is employed at the pres
ent day, and ii is very natural to suppose il
peculiar properties would suggest uses to which
it could be applied. The Gork-jacket for in
stance, is no modern invention Plutarcb, il
his life of Camillus mentions that the messen
ger sent by that general to his fellow-citizen
when beseiged in his capital made use of corl
jacket to enable him 10 cross the liber, The
Gauls being in possession Of the bridge
Cork is a much more important article il
commerce than might be supposed from the com
paratively limited purposes to which it is devo
ted. We have not the complete statistics in
regard to its importation but in our city there
are several extensive houses which deal exclu.
sively in the article, and tie great increase in
its price is one evidence OF the increasing de.
mand for it. We would renew the suggestion
that some measures should be taken for intro
ducing and encouraging its production on oul
own soil. We have the requisite climate anc
all varieties of soil so that there can be nc
doubt that it would soon find itself at home
We should not be surprised if the tree upor
trial should be found TO attain size in hi,
country unknown in the Old World. 1t is nea,
of kin To the live ork which attains mngni6cen,
dimensions in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas
The richness of the Southern soil might imparl
to it new yigor. The matter is at least worthy
an experiment and thorough trial.-N. Y
journal of Commerce