300 SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



The Cork-tree, commonly so called, is the cork- 

 barked Oak, Quercus suber. Evelyn tells us it is called 

 by the Germans Pantoffd-koltz, which signifies slipper- 

 wood, because they are in the habit of using the bark 

 for the soles of their shoes ; that it was first applied to 

 that purpose by the Grecian ladies, whence they were 

 called light-footed: "from them," continues he, "it is 

 likely the Venetian dames took it up for their monstrous 

 chappines; affecting or usurping an artificial eminency 

 above men which nature had denied them. 11 The poor 

 people in Spain lay broad planks of it by their bedside to 

 tread on, as great persons use Turkey and Persian carpets, 

 to defend them from the floor ; and frequently line the 

 walls and inside of their houses built of stone with this 

 bark, which renders them very warm, and corrects the 

 moisture of the air. 



The Cork-bark, under the simple name of cork, is 

 known to every one ; and it is a very useful substance, 

 us will be admitted even by the little school-boy, who 

 first ventures into the water under its protection, as well 

 as his father, who enjoys his bottle of port after the 

 fatigues of business ; or his mother, who, by the adoption 

 of the German fashion, ventures out to market in rainy 

 weather, without fear of wetting her feet. These are 

 among its commonest uses, but they are much more 

 extensive : it is valuable to the collector of insects ; and 

 in many places is employed in the construction of bee- 

 hives. It is true there are some other trees which have 

 a fungous bark that will answer some of the purposes of 

 cork, but none is so good in quality or so plentiful in 

 quantity as that of the Cork-barked Oak. The tree is 



