The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-05-17

DDdHlSH tTONlUCG VI
development of the tree is somewhat
greater. The tree reaches great
age. 1t continues to grow for l50 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
tomarv 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 l 900 feet above the
level of the sea, while in Algeria it
occurs at double that altitude. The
tree can bear a minimum average an
nual temperature of fifty-five degrees
Fahrenheit. 1t prefers land sloping to
the southwark and near the sea. Gran
ite lands and slaty, sandy and silicious
soils are very unsuitable, and it does
not 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
and the acorns ripen from September to
January. As a 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
nd NJ, <xf 4 hn g
acorns and lessen the quantity as well
as impair the quality of the cork.
During its earlier years of growth the
cork tree needs some shelter, and the
"belt" system of planting seems to
have been very generally adopted in
France and Spain, because for several
years, while the trees are growing slow
ly, 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 acorns 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-
nomena 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 value
when it has attained diameter of from
two to four inches when it is from twelve
to fifteen years old. At the same time
the first coat of cork removed, and even
the second, is of no very great value for
shoppers. The cork should be removed
when the sap is running. Some growers
prefer to take it off when the sap is as
cending; others when it is descending.
Along the coast of Spain the latter part
of June is preferred for this operation,
because then the cork separates readily
from the trunk of the tree. The tree is
said to have arrived at maturity when
the cork has market value. After the
first stripping the cork is removed at in
tervals of ten or twelve years. Yet, as
cork of thickness sufficient to give
shoppers for champagne bottles is the
most valuable, many growers extend
the period. In this, as in all things
else, experience is the best
guide. Many growers remove the cork
gradually. The first year all below a
height of twelve inches from the ground
is taken off, two years later all above
this and below the branches, and after
another equal period that of the branch
es In this way the tree is less exposed
to cold while the new cork forms more
rapidly. Great care is taken not to
wound or remove the inner bark. Aft
er the removal of the cork two, some
times four, longitudinal incisions, reach
ing to the inner bark, are made under
that portion of the trunk which has
been tapped. This prevents the crack
ing of the outer surface of the new cork.
Many persons will be surprised to learn
that the cork oak does not shed its cork
naturally. If not removed the outer
portion of the cork comes off In flakes,
Just as the bark of many other trees.
The color of the freshly removed cork
is rosy white, but this tint soon disap-
pears. The cork is stacked in piles.
In two months it has lost one-fifth of its
weight and is ready for market. Strip
pers receive from sixty to seventy cents
for days work. In Spain cork is
worth from one dollar and half to two
dollars the quintal. As the demand for
corks is increasing annually, SO the
value of cork plantations increases from
year to year. Forty years ago in one
of the departments of France the cork
plantations yielded annually net profit
of twelve per cent. ON their estimated
value, and this was four times the profit
dor; ;vaI from. fnraotc Of oaE n u