356 
Federal Government brought in cork 
acorns which were planted in South 
Carolina and Florida. A number of 
cork trees were started, but fire and 
storms resulted in total loss. Some 
plantings have been made during the 
past 75 years through private and 
State efforts. About 600 trees were 
planted at Chico, Calif., by the Uni- 
versity of California in 1904. Private 
plantings have been made in Arizona, 
California, Washington, and _ the 
southern States. 
The McManus Cork Project 
Some time ago the late Charles E. 
McManus, former president and chair- 
man of the board of the Crown Cork 
and Seal Co., examined some of these 
domestic cork trees. Having visited 
the cork forests of Europe and Africa 
on numerous occasions, Mr. McManus 
at once recognized the good quality of 
the cork, and more trees were in- 
spected. With more than 30 years of 
successful experience in manufacturing 
cork products he realized the great 
value of having cork trees grown in 
this country. Plans were made to re- 
move the cork from some of the trees 
for thorough testing and to collect 
cork acorns for planting. A Cork 
Project was established by Mr. Mc- 
Manus to promote the growing of cork 
trees in the United States. The Cork 
Project is designed to add to the na- 
tural resources of our country and to 
provide in the United States a source 
for at least a part of the Nation’s cork 
requirements. 
The McManus Cork Project was ini- 
tiated in California where a substan- 
tial number of mature cork trees are 
growing. These cork trees are in 
parks, along highways, about public 
buildings, and on private property. 
Arrangements were made with local 
and State authorities and private 
owners for the experimental stripping 
of many of these trees. In 1940 5'% 
tons of virgin cork were removed from 
California cork trees. ‘The same year 
approximately 500 pounds of cork 
acorns were collected for planting. 
ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1948 
During the winter Mr. McManus 
located mature cork trees in Arizona, 
and in 1941 the Cork Project was ex- 
tended into that State. More cork 
trees were stripped in 1941 and over 
three-quarters of a ton of acorns col- 
lected for planting. Because of the 
interest and enthusiasm shown by 
landowners, Mr. McManus early in 
1942 expanded the Cork Project to 
include the South and all States where 
climate, soil, and other factors were 
favorable to the cork tree. The Mc- 
Manus Cork Project had developed 
rapidly into a Nation-wide cork-grow- 
ing program. 
ORGANIZATION AND YEARLY PROGRAM 
The Cork Project has received the 
enthusiastic support of foresters 
throughout the country. The United 
States Forest Service, State depart- 
ments of forestry, schools of forestry 
in the universities, extension foresters, 
vocational agriculture teachers, and 
local agricultural agents are cooper- 
ating with the project. Their coop- 
eration and knowledge of tree culture 
has contributed greatly to the splendid 
progress that has been made. 
Searching for old mature cork trees 
was one of the first tasks. These trees 
are needed for acorns and experimen- 
tal stripping. Also, it is important 
to know where mature cork trees are 
growing in this country. The loca- 
tions of the mature cork trees indi- 
cated where cork plantings could 
immediately be made. It is obvious 
that cork trees can be grown where old 
cork oaks have thrived for many years. 
Approximately 4,000 cork trees have 
been found in California, extending 
from Humboldt County in the north 
to San Diego County in the south. 
A grove of 600 cork trees planted in 
1904 is growing at Chico. Fresno 
has several hundred cork trees at 
Kearney Park and throughout the 
fig garden area. In Los Angeles 
County more than 1,000 mature cork 
trees are located. 
Arizona has about 40 cork trees 
with the largest number in and near 
