278 THE NURSERY [JVLrch. 



for its resisting both water and air: the fishermen who use nets, 

 and all who deal in liquors, cannot do well without it. Some per- 

 sons prefer it to leather for the soles of their shoes, being light, 

 dry, and resisting moisture, whence the Germans name it Pan- 

 toffcl-holts, or slipper-wood; it was first applied to that purpose by 

 the Grecian ladies, whence they were called light-footed. The poor 

 people in Spain, and other parts of the south of Europe, lay planks 

 of it by their bed-side to tread on, as great persons use Turkey 

 and Persian carpets; they also employ it for bee-hives. For this 

 last purpose, they roll the bark into a cylinder, or into a conical 

 form, and it answers the end extremely well. It is also used for 

 making cork jackets, which have been found eminently useful for 

 mariners, passengers at sea, and for all those who resort to bathing 

 places for the benefit of their health; as such will enable the most 

 timorous to swim with perfect safety. 



Of the cork-tree there are two or three varieties, one with 

 broad leaves, a second with narrow leaves, both evergreen, and one 

 or two which cast their leaves in autumn; but the broad-leaved 

 evergreen kind is the most common, and said to produce the best 

 cork. The leaves of this are entire, about two inches long, and an 

 inch and a quarter broad, with a little down on their under sides, 

 having very short foot-stalks; they continue green through the 

 winter, and generally fall ott' just before the new leaves come out, 

 so that the trees are often bare for a short time. The acorns are 

 very like those of our common white oak. 



The exterior bark is the cork, which is taken from the tree every 

 eight or ten years; but there is besides an interior bark which 

 nourishes them, so that the stripping ott' the outer coat is so far 

 from injuring the trees, that it is of real service; for when it is not 

 taken ott* they seldom last longer than fifty or sixty years in 

 health; whereas trees which are barked every eight or ten years 

 will live one hundred and fifty, or more. The bark of a young 

 tree is porous and good for little; however, it is useful to take it 

 off* when the trees are twelve or fifteen years old, for "without this 

 it will never be good. After eight or ten years the bark will be fit 

 to take off* again; but the second peeling is of little use. At the 

 third peeling it will be in perfection, and continue so for upwards 

 of one hundred and fifty years — for the best cork is taken from old 

 trees. The time for stripping is in July, or early in August, or 

 when the second sap flows plentifully: the operation is performed 

 by slitting it down on one side, raising the edges, and then it will 

 peel ott' readily. 



Having procured the acorns in good condition, they are to be 

 treated in every respect as directed for other kinds of oak, in page 

 271; but if they are planted at once where intended to remain for 

 full growth, it will be much the best way; in which case, particu- 

 lar care must be taken to keep them free from weeds during their 

 infant state, and to protect them from the annoyance of cattle till 

 grown out of their reach. The sooner the acorns are planted after 

 having been procured the better, for when long kept in a dry state 

 they loose their vegetating power, like every other kind of oak. 



