The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-11-08
oOnosrnIng Oorks.

IL is not probable that many Of our
readers have bestowed much thought upon
what appears to be SO insignificant a mat
ter as phial or bottle cork, and yet few
of the little devices or appliances which
enter into domestic and trade uses are SO
indispensable and wonderful as these
shoppers. There is aot growth in tho
vegetable kingdom which man appropriates
to his use so universally as the bark from
the cork tree. It is not alone Of incstima-
be value as affording shoppers 10 bottles,
but it is employed in the arts and manu-
iactures TO vast extent
Ii we regard it, however, alone in its
uses for shoppers, what substance known
to man could by any possibility supply its
plaee2 Soft, elastic, light, imperyious to .
moisture, not readily acted upon by de-
structige agents, cheap, easily cut into any
desired form, it stands alone as the one
perfect substance needed to close the
orifces Of vessels Of glass or metal, and re-
tain the contents so as to be Of easy access
when wanted. Cork, like sponge, seems
to have been specially designed for man's
use and convenience, and the structure,
texture and natural history Of both are
wonderfully increasing. They are alittle
things, regarded 10 the light Of the stu
pendous adaptations Of the resources Of
nature to human needs, but as indispen-
sable, almost to modern civilization MS the
steam engine or gunpowder.
The tree from which cork is obtained is
a species Of oak, Quereus Suber, which
grows plentifully in the south Of France,
Spain, Algeria, and some parts Of Italy;
but it is from the Atlantic side Of France
from Portugal that We obtain the major
part Of our supply. The tree is quite
handsome in appearance--no 50, indeed,
than the oak when full grown. The won-
derful tree appears to be designed specially
to supply its valuable bark, for the wood
is Of little value for constructive purposes,
although it is fair for fuel
When the tree is 20 years old, or there
abouts, il periodically throws off its bark
after il has grown Of prodigious thickness,
and then il begins to form new covering.
/ 1t does not, like the snake, crawl out of its
/ skin, but it rejects its covering by force
c from within. II has been found best,
however, not to let the tree have its own
f way, for the bark thrown off is not quite
satisfactory. Nature needs little help,
, and the bark is artifcially removed by the
/ following process
! In the months Of July and August,
$ when the sap flows plentiiully, circular
Y incision is made few inches above tho
surface Of the ground, then similar cir
n cular cut around the trunk Immediately
n under the main branches, care being taken
!. not to penetrate the inner bark. The epor-
v tion intervening between the two cuts is
Q then slit down longitudinally in three or
E four places, which divides the bark into
), broad sheets or planks.
n The tree is now left for time, SO that
is the moisture from the sap may dry. The
% bark is then taken from the stem, more
d or less curved according to the breadth
l. and diameter Of the trees from which il
a has been taken. The instrument used fol
! cutting and removing the bark from the
Z stem is sort Of an axe, the handle ot
ia which is hattened into a wedge-like shap,
at the extremity, which serves to raise tn,
g, bark.
or The bark grows again, and as this tre
as hfes, aceOFainB 70 Or. Ilamei, q nunarel
Q, and fifty years or more, its disbarkin,
rs takes place regularly every eight, nine 0
ID ten years, the quality of the bark improv
,c ing with the increasing age of the tree
n which is not in the slightest degree injure,
i. by the process.
" AT the first and second gathering, tn
ri bark is ct only for floats for fishermen ;,
ut nets and other inferior uses; it is not unit
le the third disbarking that the substanc
n. has attained the desired perfection for th
n manufacture Of corks. The sheets, layers
d or table Of cork, as they are called, ar
K now scraped on the outer surface to re
a move the coarser parts Of the epidcrmi
8. and cpiphytes or other extraneous sub
At stance. They are then thrown into deel
'. pits and covered with water to softer
G. them, in order to be fattened by pressur
IS under heavy stones, after which they ar,
st dried over a fire, being frequently turne,
i. during the process to prevent their re
e. turning to their original shape. .--Joaraa
% Of Chemistry