ON THE TRADE IN CORK BARK. 45 



The landowners in Tuscany, neglecting to Lark their trees every six 

 or eight years and carry it away, it becomes too large and mouldy from 

 remaining so long. If due care were taken in this respect, the cultiva- 

 tion of the tree would he improved, and Italy might be able to send 

 corks to France and other countries, instead of being under the necessity 

 of importing them. 



The American Government a few years ago imported a large quantity 

 of acorns of the cork oak from the south of Europe, and distributed 

 them over the middle and southern States for experiment, to test the 

 adaptation of the tree to the climate. The Government was desirous 

 of being independent of importation by naturalising the tree. 



The cork trade in Portugal is reported to be on the increase. The 

 annual exportation now amounts in value to upwards of 10,000,000 francs. 

 It takes place principally from Sines, the only port of the province of 

 Alentejo where the largest quantity of cork trees grow. The greatest 

 amount is sent to London, where, on the average, the consumption 

 amounts to 10,000lb. per day of Portuguese corks. A considerable 

 quantity is also sent to France, America, and the Baltic. The Portuguese 

 cork is inferior to the French, but superior to that of Italy. 



The trade now is chiefly carried on locally through the instrumen- 

 tality of the Algarveros : persons who, travelling from forest to forest, 

 purchase on the ground parcels of cork, which, at great labour and ex- 

 pense, they carry to Lisbon and other places, where it is prepared for 

 export. The money for these purchases is usually borrowed by them at 

 high rates of interest, frequently at 20 to 30 per cent., thereby increas- 

 ing the cost of the cork by this item of expense. The waste attending 

 the preparation of the cork for the market is about one-half. 



A company was lately formed in London with a capital of 100,COOZ. 

 to carry on the cork trade on a large scale. In their prospectus it is 

 stated that the cork trade in this country has been for years confined to 

 a few firms, who have had the power, by this union of capital, to regu- 

 late the prices of all cork imported, as also the prices at which the 

 cork is sold to the cork-cutters, thereby preventing the cork grower 

 from receiving the full value of his cork, as compared with the prices 

 at which it is sold to the trade. 



The directors have secured a large monopoly in supply for terms of 

 years, on leases extending over the largest and most renowned cork pro- 

 ducing districts. These leases grant the sole right to take cork in 142 

 forests, some containing as many as 1 5,000 to 30,000 cork trees, in the 

 districts of Montemor, Evora, Arraiollos, Estremoz, Portel, Vianna, and 

 Fronteira, in the Province of Alentejo. 



Statistics. — Between 1815 and 1823, the quantity of cork bark imported 

 annually ranged from 25,000 to 60,000 cwts., the duty being 8s. 9d. per 

 cwt. In the succeeding ten years, the range was from 32,000 to 55,000 

 cwt., the duty being still 8s. per cwt. From 1846 to 1853, the average 

 import was 3,500 to 4,000 tons per annum. 



