278 THE NURSERY. [March, 
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- 
toffel-holts, or slipper-wood j it was first applied to that purpose bj 
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 off 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 off 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 iu 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 off 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. 
