CORK. 225 
The vapour of burning charcoal is extremely perni- 
cious ; and persons exposed to it in confined rooms 
are liable to be suffocated in a very short time. The 
best remedy is immediately to take them into the 
strongest draught of cold air that can be obtained, to 
loosen all their garments, and apply volatile spirits to 
their nostrils. 
238. CORK is the external bark of a species of oak (Quer- 
cus suber) which grows in Spain, Portugal, and other southern 
parts of Europe, and is distinguished by the fungous texture 
of its bark; and by its leaves being evergreen, oblong, some- 
what oval, downy underneath, and waved. 
The principal supply of the cork that is consumed 
in Europe, is obtained from Catalonia in Spain ; and 
the culture and the preparation of it yield to the inha- 
bitants of that province near 250,OQO/. per annum. 
In the collecting of cork, it is customary to slit it 
with a knife, at certain distances, in a perpendicular 
direction from the top of the trees to the bottom ; and 
to make two incisions across, one near the top and the 
other near the bottom of the trunk. For the purpose 
of stripping off the bark, a curved knife with a handle 
at each end is used. Sometimes it is stripped in pieces 
the whole length, and sometimes in shorter pieces, 
cross cuts being made at certain intervals. In some 
instances the perpendicular and transverse incisions are 
made, and the cork is left upon the trees until, by the 
growth of the new bark beneath, it becomes sufficiently 
loose to be removed by the hand. 
After the pieces are detached they are soaked in 
water ; and, when nearly dry, are placed over a fire of 
coals, which blackens their external surface. By the 
latter operation they are rendered smooth, and all the 
smaller blemishes are thereby concealed: the larger 
holes and cracks are filled up by the artful introduction 
of soot and dirt. The_ pieces are next loaded with 
weights to make them even ; and lastly they are dried, 
stacked, or packed in bales for exportation. 
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