The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29
CORK TREE FORESTS.


Il They VIII Thrive IN CaHfOrnl0 as well As
in spain Africa.
The available forests of cork trees are
already relatively extensive, although
Pnarily sufficient to supply the demands
y now made on them, or which as the
world grows in prosperity must be made
on them, for there is hardly any end to
the uses for cork, and none of the SUBJ
stituteS for it which have yet been tried
are very satisfactory or promise to take
its place to any great extent The latest
estimates of existing areas of available
cork oak forests make their extent from
3, 800 900 to $500, 900 acres, of which
about ore-half, including those on its
African possessions, belongs to France.
The wood of the cork oak is heavy,
coarSe-grained and of yellow-brow
n color; it shrinks and warps badly in sea-
sonng and decays rapidly when exposed
TO the acuoR of the atmosphere. 1t has
little value in the arts, but furnishes
a useful fuel and makes good charcoal.
The inner bark is rich in tannin, and
trees too old or unfit to produce cork are
cut for the sake of the inner bark.
The cork oak is an interesting tree to
Americans, as its cultivation now seems
destined to become an important indus
try in California, where the climate and
the soil in many parts of the State are
admirably suited to produce it. This is
not mere theory, as trees have been
growing now for several years in Cali
fornia and have already produced crops
OF cork of excellent quality. 1t is prob
able that the tree will grow rather more
rapidly in California than it does in its
native country although the quality of
the soil, the exposure in which the
the treatment which the trees receive
Will influence. of course, the rapidity
with which the bark is developed.
Ln Africa it is found that the trees
which grow the most rapidly produce
Dark OF the poorest quality, and that
WITHIN certain limits the slower the
trees grow the more valuable the
\ rpFoduct, provided the growth is not
loo slow, in which case the bark loses
sumo OF the elasticity which makes
IL valuable. The conditions which
influence, the development of cork a-e
- numerous and complicated that the
product OF all the trees in a grove or
forest can never attain the same uni
ioFmity OF thickness or quality in any
gwen time. This is so well understood
III the countries where cork is grown
IIat the best methods of harvesting
HHS oeen found to be to 60 over the for
49, every two or three years and remove
'le park from such trees as are covered
WIN merchantable cork and not to strip
a. 'he trees at the same time. All
'NeSe matters must of course be consid-
ecu IN connection with planting forests
VI CORK oak in California. The planting
''' rafe OF such forests in Portugal and
pam mas long been an important indus
: ana there is no reason why they
1SS not be made so in California, where
VIC local consumption of cork is already
l.'o' nous although the wine industry
me Is hardly more than in it's infancy.
-uaFden and Forest.
The 'sermuda-H ,IIfaT Cable.
NONS uerable interest attaches to the
,nE OF cable between Bermuda and
.''aA' and its completion will mark
A. era IN the history of the island
- american electrician who has Just
bo .~'nea from the Bermudas points out
ot n'ucn more paradox cal the absence
GEOGRAPHICAL communication there is
b.. the fact that it is an important
az ,.USn naval and coaling station, with
t sIe o. the largest floating dry docks in
a. "orla' and large military garrison,
'nat the prosperity of the island is
,.El dependent on it's export of vege-
s9s s,e :. which brings in revenue of over
r. ,s,UVo' eople have become alive
H. .ue necess-.y of knowing what is go
:, - VI IN the world around them; thew
inc pu''lng up better build ngs, dredg-
~ tne harbor channels so as to admit
sb.. rargest craft building docks and
in Ives. and now are placing themselves
Of A.. pvsit'on to reap the full advantage
ly prices current This evidently
~ the end, for it is runlored that
Ina. a lor an electric road are already
-s' c0nsideration.-N. J. Sun.