292 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES OAK 



demand, large quantities being imported from the Continent. 

 It is also of great value in tlie preparation of dyes. The spent 

 bark of tan-works is of little value as manure ; it ferments and 

 maintains heat a long time, and on that account is used in hot- 

 houses chiefly for the cultivation of pine apples. But since the 

 introduction of improved means of cultivation it is but little 

 used. 



5. Champion, or Eed Oak (§. ritlra), an ornamental tree with 

 large lobed leaves of a reddish colour, native of North America. 

 The bark is comparatively smooth, of a dark colour, and very 

 thick. The wood is considered of excellent quality. It enters 

 largely into the manufactures of the country, but its scarcity 

 prevents its being much imported. 



6. Cork (Q. Suher), a common tree throughout all parts of 

 Southern Europe. It has a thick bark, from which corks and 

 bungs are made. Large quantities of this bark are imported 

 from Spain. When the tree is nine or ten years old, the outer 

 rough bark cracks, and the inner layer gradually thickens, and 

 at the expiration of another six or seven years is sufticiently 

 thick for removal. This is effected by cutting a slit in the bark 

 from the top to the bottom of the stem of the tree, and a slit 

 round the tree at each end in the proper season, the bark then 

 readily slips off. It is afterwards flattened by soaking in water, 

 and is finally dried, when it is ready for exportation, and for the 

 use of the corkmaker. 



7. Durmast, a name applied to Q. j^ulcsccns, recorded in 

 Hortus Kcvjensis as a native of England, but considered to be a 

 variety of Q. Robur. 



8. Dyer's {Q. tinctoria). (See Black Oak above.) 



9. Kermes (Q. coccifera), a small evergreen tree, native of the 

 countries bordering on the Mediterranean, also of Palestine. A 

 bug-like insect {Coccus ilicis), infests the trees, covering them 

 with a flocky matter similar to the apple tree blight. The 

 insect is extensively collected and yields a scarlet dye nearly 

 equal to cochineal, and is the " scarlet " mentioned in Scripture. 



10. Live (§. virens), an evergreen tree, 30 to 40 feet high. 



