CORK. 165 



forms the cork by means of continuous multiplication of 

 its cells. The younger layers of cork cells are produced 

 inside the older ones. In the Cork Oak these cells are 

 approximateh' cube-shaped, but towards the end of each 

 period of ^'egetation they flatten out and become tabular. 

 The ''female cork" of tire Cork Oak is distinguished bv 

 the thinness of its cell-walls, and bv great uniformity 

 in their shape. Only at the conclusion of each period 

 of vegetation are a few layers of more strongly thickened 

 and flattened cells produced. It is these latter which 

 form the dark stripes which are to be seen in everv bottle- 

 cork. As the darker la^-ers indicate the limit of the 

 annual growth, the age of each sheet of cork can be 

 estimated just as the age of wood can be determined by 

 the number ol annual rings on it. 



If a Cork Oak is stripped a new cork cambium 

 forms under the exposed surface, and begins a new cork 

 layer. The cork only and not the bast, should be 

 removed; much less should the wood be reached, for 

 deep wounds take time to heal and retard the formation 

 of cork at the injured spots. Should a branch never 

 have been stripped, it presents, like other species of 

 Oak, a cracked bark the outer layers of which are 

 gradualh- thrown off. Even in cases where the tree 

 has been stripped the cork should not exceed a certain 

 age, otherwise it becomes furrowed on the outside and 

 useless. 



Besides the Cork Oaks, Spanish Chestnuts are also 

 culti\'ated in the Montagues des Maures. There they 

 cover altogether an area oL more than four thousaTid 



