308 
of survival should result from these 
experiments. 
It is well known that top-grade cork 
is obtained only with the third and 
subsequent strippings. Accordingly, a 
cork tree is about 35 years old when 
first-grade cork can be _ harvested. 
Experiments to reduce this time are in 
progress. Second-growth cork has 
been removed after 6 years instead of 
the usual 8- to 10-year period. Also, 
young cork trees 8 to 10 years old have 
been stripped. Second-growth cork 
will be removed after an interval of 7 
years. 
Other experiments conducted on 
cork oak culture concern the best 
season for planting, auxins, and other 
factors. However, the extensive an- 
nual planting of the cork tree through- 
out many sections of 27 States consti- 
tutes the largest research work of the 
Cork Project. Seedlings and acorns 
are planted under widely varying 
temperature, rainfall, and soil condi- 
tions. Factors such as planting tech- 
nique, the best planting month, sun- 
shine, and drainage are getting a 
thorough test. A storehouse of valu- 
able data is being built and at the same 
time thousands of cork trees are being 
established. 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
The progress made since the initia- 
tion of the McManus Cork Project 
is very gratifying. From a few experi- 
mental plantings in 1940 the Cork 
Project has grown to include exten- 
sive plantings in 27 States. Thousands 
of small cork trees are growing through- 
out the warmer half of the United 
States and tons of acorns are planted 
annually in the potential cork areas 
of this country. With the helpful 
cooperation of Federal and State 
foresters and the aid of local voca- 
tional agriculture teachers and county 
farm agents, the Cork Project has 
passed the trial stage successfully. ‘The 
past 8 years of successful work give 
confidence and efficiency to those 
planting and growing cork trees. 
ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1948 
The number of cork plantings that 
can be made each year depends upon 
the quantity of cork acorns available. 
When the acorns have matured and 
dropped from the trees, they are col- 
lected and placed in wet cold storage. 
The acorns are picked up to avoid 
dead leaves, sticks, and other mate- 
rial which would cause mold and 
rotting. For the past several years 
the entire domestic cork acorn crop 
has been harvested, and requests for 
seed greatly exceed the available 
supply. Distribution of cork acorns 
during the past 8 years is given in the 
following table: 
Year Pounds of acorns 
DOA OHA eo cue tayaitecs ansuckeleiesseoieie cual 500 
GO WN AU Ae aries acs ch cue NeR RON ic 1, 450 
TAD ASU Rlels cottancie. ene 7, 500 
TOAS 44 bo riels che ar einn © See ae 7, 900 
NOAA ADK ol revalevs ae reueneperesexctorre 13, 800 
PDAS AAG \. Sievers « Gieyere okora ciocney tee 10, 200 
gOS So By A nA eaaitiarn Giga ned eno icech cick 6 14, 812 
T9446 hoe doin od cheucttatetcnoclatere *7, 876 
*S3mall crop of California cork acorns in 1947-48, 
All these acorns, except approxi- 
mately 200 pounds collected annually 
in Arizona and the South, were ob- 
tained in California. When taken 
from storage, they are shipped in 
burlap sacks in about 100-pound lots 
to the cooperating State foresters. For 
clubs and organizations from 10 to 
20 pounds of acorns are packed with 
moist sawdust in waterproof cartons. 
Individuals receive from % to 2 
pounds which are packed moist in 
waterproof boxes to prevent drying. 
Because of the huge quantity of 
acorns and large number of individ- 
uals planting them, a check on the 
plantings is as yet very incomplete. 
However, a partial check on Florida 
plantings in 1946 showed more than 
1,000 young cork trees were growing 
in that State. Reports for a portion 
of the Future Farmers of America in 
Georgia show this group of young 
people obtained over 1,000 cork 
trees from their 1947 plantings alone. 
The F, F. A. members in Georgia have 
planted cork trees the past 4 years. 
An incomplete survey in Oklahoma 
