The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-06-12
The Cork Tree.

The cork tree is q species of the oak,
found as a natural growth in the south
ern parts of Europe and the northern
portions of Africa, where it is also ex-
tensively cultivated. Its product forms
one of the most important articles of ex-
port from these regions. The tree is an
evergreen. not large, growing only from
twenty to forty feet high, and having
many slender and wide spreading
branches. 1t produces an acorn which
is much like the acorn in taste, and is
gathered to some extent for use, though,
as is well known, the tree is chiefly valu-
able tor its cork.
When the tree is only from three to
five years old, its bark has already at
tanned that peculiar cellulum OF spongy
appearance which is so familiar as the
special characteristic of the cork. From
the first, the growth of the inner por-
tions of the bark is much more rapid
than the outer; and, as a consequence,
the outer'covering soon begins to crack
from the pressure, and ultimately to peel
off, its place in preserving the vitality of
the tree being taken by the newer growth
next the wood. The cork bark intended
before it would thus naturally fall away
L
it to the proper depth around the tree,
and then make incisions up and down
the trunk, when, with sort of curved
drawing knife, it is not difficult to cut
away the long layers which we see COM
ing afterward in bales to our markets.
Of course, layers of bark when taken
from the tree are round, like the trunk,
but they are easily flattened by soaking
in water and pressing, after which they
are usually charred before being packed
in bales.
The trees are generally allowed to
stand till they are twelve or fifteen years
old before stripping the first time. This
first product is usually of poorer quail
ity, having more of the woody fiber. 1t
is used chiefly for floats and buoys, and
such coarser purposes, or else burnt for
lamp-black. After the first harvest a
new layer, an inch or more in thickness,
is formed every six or eight years; and
the trees will live, affording yield about
at this rate, for one hundred and fifty
years. The bark taken away has ceased
to have vitality; therefore its removal,
if carefully accomplished, is never a
detriment to the tree. 1t rather pro-
notes its health and growth, being mere
ly the removal of an incumbrance.
Nhoou VI ullc uScS VI COlh llitNC DCCll
long familiar, many of them being men,
toned by our older historians. Ofcourse
its chief use, that for shoppers, has greatly
increased since the manufacture of glass
and earthenware has been so common.
For this purpose it is of unrivaled con-
venience, and well-nigh indispensable.
But beside this, cork is put to a great
variety of uses, among which are some
foI which its being impenetrable to water
and q bad conductor of heat specially fit
it. The cork sole to our shoes readily
occurs to every one; but it is not so well
known that Russia is one of the best GUS
toners for cork, and in that cold climate
large sheets of this material are slit into
plates and used to line the walls of their
houses.
In some parts of Southern France and
Spain the cork forests are deemed among
their most profitable lands The annual
product is at the rate of about two hun
dred and fifty pounds to the acre. In
Algeria large tracts of cork woods are
owned by the government, which leases
them to individuals, receiving from this
source revenue of about two million
dollars per annum.
Cork trees have been planted in Eng
land, but without much success. The
southern part of our own country, how
ever, ought to be adapted, both in eli
mate and soil, to the production of this
wood.-NeaO York Mercantile Journal.