438 



FOREST PRODUCTS 



the larger pieces being separated from the small ones. Generally 

 speaking, it is estimated that on the average there are two pieces obtained 

 from each tree. In Andalusia, in Spain, it is usually purchased by the 

 quintal of 46 km. Whole forests or orchards are sometimes purchased 

 at a fair price, the buyer occasionally doing the stripping himself. The 

 price by weight may be figured either at the station or at the manufac- 

 turing or shipping point. 



Prices prior to the war have been very variable. It is seldom graded 

 aside from the general classification as noted above. Prices range from 



Photograph by Nelson C. Brown. 



FIG. 1 1 6. Character of bark as it is brought to the factory from the forest. On the right is a 

 piece about 4 ft. in length, stripped from the tree in one section. It is first boiled, then 

 scraped and sorted by thickness and quality. Photograph taken at a large cork factory 

 in Seville, Spain. 



7 to 9 pesetas (roughly, from $1.40 to $1.80), per quintal, up to 20 or 

 25 pesetas (roughly, $4.00 to $5.00), according to the quality, classifi- 

 cation, condition, size, thickness, and location. 



MANUFACTURE 



In the manufacturing process, the raw bark as it comes from the 

 trees and after drying is first boiled in large copper vats for about three- 

 quarters of an hour. The purpose of boiling in water is to soften the 



