NATURAL HISTORY. 
■^77 
CORK-TREE. 
Of this tree there are feveral fpecies. — 
The chief are the broad-leavedj the ever- 
green, and the narrow-leaved with fmooth 
edges. The firll is only requifite to be de- 
fcribcd, which is always green, of a moder- 
ate height, refembliiig the oak, and having 
a thick, light, fpongy bark, of an alb-co- 
lour, which is firlf taken from the tree, and 
afterwards feparated from the inner bark. 
The leaves, cups, or acorns, refemble, like 
the form of the tree itfelf, thofe of the oak. 
It grows in Italy, Spain, and efpecially to- 
wards the Pyrenees and in Gafcony, &c. 
The inhabitants of thefe countries, w'hen 
defirous of making a crop of this produce, 
ftrip the bark from the top to the bottom of 
the cork-trees, and pile them to a reafona- 
ble height in a pit or ditch filled with water. 
Having loaded thefe heaps with weights, 
they leave them until they are thoroughly 
foaked and ftraitened ; then they are remov- 
ed to another ditch, and from thence to a 
third and a fourth. They are next taken 
out of the water, dried, -and packed in bales 
for exportation. To choofe the belt cork, 
the fined boards that are free from knots and 
chinks, of a moderate thicknefs, yellow on 
both lides, and firm in texture, Ihould be 
feleded. 'I'his bed fort of cork is called 
A a the 
