26 CONVERSATIONS ON THE 



to go to France and Italy for them, would it 

 not ?" 



" Why the cork oak does not grow here 

 I do not know: I should suppose that the 

 climate of Florida, which you know is the 

 most southern part of the United States, 

 would agree with it very well ; and as cor]- 

 are so useful, and so much used, I dare say 

 the trees will be introduced by-and-by. But 

 just now it is easier and better for us to 

 cultivate wheat, and other things which do 

 grow in our country, and send them to Spain, 

 and France, and Italy, in exchange for corks, 

 than to raise the trees for ourselves." 



" Uncle Philip, are the oaks that do grow 

 in this country useful for any thing else ?" 



" Oh yes ; a very good colour or die is got 

 from the bark of the red oak, and the branches 

 of oak-trees make the best kind of charcoal ; 

 that which is used for making gunpowder. 

 Powder, you know, is made of sulphur or 

 brimstone, and saltpetre, and charcoal. Be- 

 sides these, some kinds of medicine are ex- 

 tracted from the leaves ; and the very best ink 

 is made from the oak-apples." 



" Oak-apples, Uncle Philip ! what are they." 



" They are little balls of a brown colour 



