TREES OF AMERICA. 15 



we have not done with the uses of oak-trees 

 yet. Do you know what cork is ?" 



"Oh yes, Uncle Philip, we know very well ; 

 it is a very light wood, and very soft, and full 

 of holes like a sponge, and people cut it up 

 into corks to stop bottles with." 



" Very true, boys ; but do you know where 

 people get it, and how it grows T 



" Why, I suppose it grows like any other 

 tree ; but I do not know where." 



" Well, then, I will tell you; it is the bark 

 of an oak." 



" Of an oak, Uncle Philip ! We have seen 

 oaks very often, and the bark did not look 

 much like cork." 



"Ay, but this is a different kind of oak, 

 that is not found in this country, but in Spain, 

 and the south of France, and in Italy ; you 

 can find those countries on your maps when 

 you go home. You have no idea of the vast 

 quantities of cork that are used every year ; it 

 is said that France alone consumes 120 mill- 

 ions of cut corks." 



" But why does not this oak grow in 

 America, Uncle Philip ? I should think it 

 would be better to make our own corks than 



c 



