THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Dec. 1, 1864. 



196 CORK AND ITS USES. 



The uses of cork are so numerous, and its applications so continually 

 increasing, that the supply of late, as we have said before, has not been 

 sufficient to meet the demand. It is not our intention to enumerate all 

 the uses to which this most useful article is put — indeed, it would he 

 unnecessary to do so, so well known as they are to all ; but there are a 

 few modern uses or applications to which cork has been found suited in 

 recent inventions, and which are perhaps among the " things not gene- 

 rally known ;" but these uses chiefly consume waste or refuse cork, such 

 cuttings as were formerly considered of no value. 



The new elastic floor-cloth, now so well known as " Kamptulicon," 

 is a combination of caoutchouc and cork ; and this is but one instance 

 showing that cork, treated with other substances, can be made into a 

 really useful article. Cork-dust has been used successfully with india- 

 rubber in the process of vulcanising, and to so fine a powder is it 

 reduced for this purpose, that india-rubber so treated is capable of being 

 moulded into the most delicate forms. Another recent application of 

 cork is for stuffing beds, and we believe this is now done to a large 

 extent. 



A large Cork Company, lately established in London, and owning 

 large forests in Portugal, have recently imported the virgin cork into 

 this country, with the impression of its becoming useful for rustic 

 garden work. It is brought in very large pieces, and, from its rugged, 

 uneven surface, which is frecpiently covered with lichens, together with 

 its portability and its porous nature, which makes it capable of retaining 

 moisture, will no doubt cause it to be used for such purposes. 



Though the bark of the cork-tree contains a considerable amount of 

 tannin, it is not in general favour among tanners, on account of its not 

 imparting the required " bloom ;" and for this reason it is seldom used 

 alone, but is mixed with English oak bark. The inner bark is that 

 which is used for tanning purposes, the outer bark being quite devoid of 

 any of the required properties. The removal of the inner bark causes 

 the death of the tree ; and it is chiefly from Sardinia and some parts of 

 Spain, where the trees are very abundant, that it is imported for this 

 purpose. The quantity of tannin, as well as the colour of the bark, 

 varies much, according to the district from whence it is obtained. 

 The Sardinian bark is thicker and of a deeper red colour than any 

 other. 



To return to cork itself and its more common applications, we find 

 that there are two sorts or qualities known in commerce, called respec- 

 tively white and black cork. The white, which is chiefly produced in 

 the South of France, is the best, as it is smoother, of a more even and 

 finer grain, and freer from holes and knots. 



The operation of cork-cutting is one requiring great dexterity and 

 neatness, and is carried on to a great extent both in France and England, 

 though, as might be supposed, the French surpass the English in this 

 art. Machinery has been tried for the purpose of cork-cutting, but 



