The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-26

4
newde.
Both outer and inner bark, accord
ing to Loudon, abound in tannin. an6
the former contains a peculiar princi
pie called suberine, and an acid called
the suberic. The wood of the tree is
said to weigh 81 lbs. per cubic foot
but is never found of sufficient size to
be of much consequence; its outer
bark was applied to useful purposes
even in the time the Romans Phny
speaks of a buckler lined with cork
and the Roman women lined their
slippers with it; both Greeks and
Romans appear to have used it occa.
sionally for stopperst to vessels, but it
was not extensively used for this pur.
pose until about the tenth century,
when glass bottles began to be gener-
ally introduced. Besides the above
uses, bungs are made of it, and it is
employed by fishermen for buoying
their. nets, in the construction of life
boats, so-called life jackets, etc. The
Venetian ladies employ it for their
high heeled shoes, and the poor people
of Spain lay planks of it by their bed
side to tread on, as rugs are employed.
Sometimes the inside of houses built
OF stone are lined with this bark,
which renders them very warm, and
collects the moisture of the air. Bee
hives are also made of the bark of
young trees; even furniture Of the
ilghtest kind in made of cork.
If we edd to its compressibility and
elasticity, that it is the best non.con-
ductor, flexible, its adaptability to
llte-preservers either in the form of
boats, its imperviousness to liquids,
and its great durability, we have an
article readily produced, OF the utmost
Importance, and well worthy of cult
vation in our country; its commerce
extends throughout the civilized
world.
Recent efforts have been made with
cork shaved thin to adapt it for the
soldiers knapsacks, belts, and even
L:s canseer ! the,oiSssa1| Is; +, -
and dryness and ~ff Us understood
these efforts have been successful
Who can say that the huge trunks
now employed may not be made of
cork
When the cork tree has attained the
age OF about fifteen or twenty years.
the bark is removed for the first time,
but the first bark is found to be crack
ed, and is, therefore, only fit for burn
ing, or being employed in tanning.
The largest cork tree is in England
says the same valuable authority just
quoted, Devonshire, at an elevation
OF 450 feet above the level of the sea,
ina soil Of fine, rich, red loan, on
substratum of stone conglomerate. 1t
IS only three miles from the sea, and
IS exposed to the sea breeze from the
East, situation not unlike the long
reach of our Florida coast.
Byron has alluded to this tree thus:
The cork trees hoar that crown the shag-
gy deep
and Southey speaks, in Roderick, the
idSl Oh lne GOtnS, OF
The cork trees furr0wed riud It's riffs
and swelis."
In conclusion, this Centennial pc
riod is 4 very proper one to inquire
what we can do for the next hundred
years. For one thing, l would say,
plant cork acorns, and don't depend
upon Patent Office or Agricultural
Bureau for encouragement.
Since all the parade Of government
patronage was made, we have obtain
ed California, with climate in place
no doubt admirably adapted to the
evergreen or live oak and the cork
oak. Whether it will be secured there
is question to be decided, and how
far irrigation will be required remains
tor the future to ascertain. Doubt
less there are situations wherein both
these important aids to cultivation
will flourish We recommend a trial;
and if acorns are wanted Messrs. Viii
morn, Andrieux & Co., Quai dc la
Messagerie, Paris, will gladly supply
shem in any needed quantity.
Parties reading this article will CON
er favor on the public by communi-
,ating to the editor any further facts
n relation to the growth of these trees
n the United States. may add that
have succeeded in getting part Of