13 



The first harvest is made when the trees are from 12 to 18 inches in 

 circumference, and takes place usually from six to ten years after 

 the first removal of the rough bark, which prepares the way for the 

 development of the commercial article. The season for taking the 

 bark is from the middle of June to the end of August. Operating 

 earlier than the time of full sap should be avoided, also rainy days 

 and violent and dry winds, in order that the tender bast may not suffer 

 from the exposure. In gathering the bark a circular cut is made, taking 

 care not to penetrate the layer subjacent to the mother layer; a similar 

 circular cut should be made at the bottom of the tree, after which a 

 vertical cut connects the two circular cuts, using the same precaution 

 as before. (See PI. III.) Commencing at the upper portion to open 

 the incision with the edge of the hatchet, the layer of commercial cork 

 is detached from the mother layer with the handle of the hatchet, the 

 end of which is cut on a bevel for this purpose. (See PI. I.) On 

 arriving at the bottom of the tree the cork is detached by a sharp cut 

 of the hatchet, the break being made at the level of the ground. When 

 the trees are not more than 19 to 24 inches in circumference, the cork 

 is taken off in one piece called a "cannon;" and when the trees are 

 larger, in place of one longitudinal cut, two or three vertical incisions 

 are made, so that the cork may be taken off in slabs; the portion of 

 cork remaining on the bottom of the tree is called a sleeper, or heel; 

 the presence on the stump of a certain number of these marks serves 

 as a record of the number of gatherings of cork realized from the tree. 



The mother layer develops new cork by annual layers, and its age is 

 therefore discernible, just as in the barks of other trees. (See PI. II.) 

 It is allowed to grow until it has reached the thickness required in 

 commerce, namely, about 1 inch, a thickness which in France takes at 

 least six to ten years. The barking is a very simple operation in prin- 

 ciple, but nevertheless requires great care and should never be intrusted 

 to inexperienced workmen, for faults committed by them frequently 

 cause the death of the tree. The barking can only take place when the 

 tree is in sap, as at this time the separation of the layers is more easily 

 effected, and when the vegetation is not in fall vigor there is great 

 danger of detaching the mother cork. It is very necessary not to com- 

 mence the operation of barking too early, the best period being when 

 the first mounting of the sap has somewhat slackened and when the 

 new leaves have achieved their development. The end of May is con- 

 sidered the proper time in Algeria for the harvesting of the cork prod- 

 uct, while in France, where vegetation is less forward, it is necessary 

 to wait three or four weeks later. By the 23d of June the woods are 

 full of activity, as when the work commences it is pushed forward in 

 order to avoid the dry seasons and drying winds, which render the 

 operation more difficult by retarding the flow of sap. This process of 

 taking the commercial cork and removing part of the wild cork is 

 repeated every six to ten years, until the heavy branches are reached. 



