Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-05-26
The Cork Oak.

market value of cork is ten times what
it was at the beginning of the century
and it is likely to 90 still higher. Ii
Sardinia, Sicily and Naples extensive
cork plantations are being destroyed fol
the purpose of obtaining the tannin Of
superior quality yielded by the bark and
carbonate of soda from the ashes of the
wood. This destruction has been going
on for years, while planting has not
even replaced the trees destroyed, ex.
cept in France and its African depend
ency- AS long ago as 1922 the French
Government appropriated 1900 francs,
which were to be divided among those
who, planting in 1928, should possess at
the expiration of ten years plantations
of 10000 vigorous saplings. In 1884
only three persons had been entitled to
the reward. But France has now over
100000 acres of cork plantations in
.AIgiers, yielding considerable revenue
TO the State. About fifty years ago the
Spanish began to encourage the plant
ing of the cork oak, and the number of
trees in that country has increased.
This increase would have been greater
but for the fact that, while in some
provinces cork has become the chief
source of wealth, in others many pro-
prietors destroyed their trees in order
to clear their ground for more valuable
productions.
The cork oak grows to the height of
about fifty feet. In Algeria and in the
Spanish Province of Estramadura the
development of the tree is somewhat
greater. The tree reaches great
age. 1t continues to grow for $50 or
200 years, and after its growth it still
yields cork, though of an inferior quail
ity. In some parts of Spain it is GUS
tomary to destroy the tree when the
quality of its cork begins to deteriorate.
In Europe the tree is met with as high
as forty-fve degrees N, but it
needs warm climate. In France and
in Spain it is found 1000 feet above the
level of the sea, while in Algeria it
occurs at double that altitude. The
tree can bear minimum average an
nual temperature of fifty-five degrees
Fahrenheit. 1t prefers land sloping to
the southwark and near the sea. Gran
lite lands and slaty, sandy and silicious
lsoilssare very unsuitable, and it does
mot take kindly to damp soils. 1t
grows spontaneously in virgin soils
where silica or silico-argillaceous COM
pounds abound. Lands suitable for the
vine are suitable for the cork also.
The blossoms appear in April or May
,Aad the acorns ripen from September to
january. AS rule these are bitter and
are not good nutritive mast for swine.
The tree bears acorns at the age of from
twelve to fifteen years, but they are not
fertile until the tree is thirty or forty
years old and bearing cork fit for bot
tie shoppers. 1t is found generally that
the tree which produces the largest and
sweetest acorns will also yield the finest
cork. A close growth and lack of light
and air cause dminution of the yield of
.acorns and lessen the quantity as well
as impair the quality of the cork.
During its earlier years of growth the
,Hork tree needs some shelter and the
"beiee" system of planting seems to
have been very generally adopted in
France and Spain, because for several
years, while the trees are growing slow
". the land can be made to produce as
much as though they were not present.
The "belt" system consists in planting
the trees in rows, with one or more
rows of vines between. The acons and
the vines are planted at the same time,
the latter in rows seven feet apart and
the former about forty inches one from
another in furrow between them. The
trees are thinned out afterward. In this
way the yield of the vines is as great as
though they were planted alone, while
the oaks receive the necessary shade
and cultivation. Until the trees are
from twenty to twenty-five years old
this mixed plantation is profitable.
After this the trees no longer need the
vines, and these, now themselves re-
ceiving too much shade, should be de-
stroyed. These plantations are cultiva-
ted at the beginning and at the end OF
the rainy season. The hoe is used to
stir the earth, hurtful roots and weeds
being burned while those that rot
quickly are turned under, that their
ammonia may be utilized as manure.
The most favorable season for the
termination of the plant seems to be
that when the acorns fall naturally. In
Spain this takes place in the latter part
of November. The meteorological phe
lnomena of the cork-oak region of Spain
are very similar to those of Southern
california, so that the season of germ
mating would probably be the same
here. The young plant would receive
the benefit of the rain, its roots would
spread and it would be better fortified
against the heat of the ensuing dry sea-
son. About the twelfth year the young
oaks should be pruned every fourth year
hereafter After trimming out the trees
there should remain eighty to the acre.
But the tree begins to be of valte
when it has attained diameter of from
two to four inches when it is from twelve
IN fifteen wears old. AT the same time