Many botanists consider the cork oak of Europe as belonging to two
species, one chiefly characterized by annual fructification and the
persistence of the leaves for two or three years (Quercus Suber,
Linnæus); the other by biennial fructification and annual persistence of
the leaves (Quercus Occidentalis, Gay).[10]
[10] _Garden and Forest_, Vol. VIII, 52.
In the French departments of the Landes and Gironde the Quercus
Occidentalis forms extensive woods, as also in Spain, Algeria and
in some parts of Italy, while the Quercus Suber is a native of the
Atlantic side of France and Portugal, where this tree grows to the
greatest perfection, and to which countries we are indebted for the
major part of our supply. The cork tree bears a general resemblance to
the broad-leaved kind of (Quercus Ilex, Holm) or evergreen oak, of which
species some authors consider it only a variety; but when full grown it
forms a much handsomer tree.
“In the localities to the north the cork is better than those exposed to
the south. It grows and develops in ground of very little depth, and
sometimes in ground, in appearance very stony. It is seldom found in
calcareous soil, preferring always a soil of feldspar, and like the
chestnut flourishes best in a sandy one.”[11]
[11] Consul Schenck’s Report.
The cork-oak attains a height of from six to eighteen meters, at times
reaching fifty meters[12] and measures as much as 1.22 meters in
diameter.[13] Its branches are covered with small evergreen leaves,
which are rather spongy and velvety to the touch, have a glossy
appearance and a saw-tooth edge, measuring about three to five
centimeters[14] long and one and one-half to two wide. The roots are
strong and spread considerably, and frequently are to be seen on the
surface of the ground. The flowers or blossoms make their appearance in
May; the fruit ripens in the fall or winter, from September to January,
and falling from the tree as soon as ripe. Three qualities of acorns are
to be observed according to their time of ripening and are called,
“brevas primerizas de San Miguel,” which ripen in September; the second
or middling “Martinencas,” which ripen in October and November; and
finally the “tardias Ó palo-Meras,” which ripen in December and January.
These acorns form one of the forest’s chief sources of revenue, since
fed to swine, they give a peculiarly piquant flavor to the meat, Spanish
mountain hams being noted for their excellence.[15]
[12] Meter = 3.28 feet.
[13] In a cork-wood of Montenegro (municipal district of Quart,
Province of Gerona) the property of D. Romulo Bosch, and near the
place called La Mina, we measured in August, 1877, a tree that
was 4.95 meters in circumference, breast high, and the trunk of
the tree five meters high, calculating its age between one
hundred and fifty and two hundred years old. Consul Schenck’s
Report, 1890.
[14] Centimeter = .3937 inch.
[15] Consul Schenck’s Report, 1890. Authority M. Fee.
In the following paragraphs I will quote principally from Consul
Schenck’s Report, 1890, relating to the growing and procuring of the
bark for shipment, with interpolated sentences and slight changes, made
necessary by other data at hand. The most common practice is to
cultivate this plant by sowing, which is frequently done, above all, in
ground somewhat manured, making alternate furrows with vines. Up to
their twentieth or twenty-fifth year the ground is cultivated as if it
were a vineyard, rooting up at that age the vines on account of
producing less fruit, and also on account of the cork trees being pretty
well grown up and no longer requiring the shelter of the vines. At the
end of even one year it is difficult to transplant the cork tree on
account of the length of the roots, principally the central one, and if
the trees are put out with the intention of transplanting they are
generally sewn in a false ground bottom made artificially at a certain
depth with layers of stones or bricks. French silviculturists recommend
about 110 to 120 trees to the hectare (2.471 acres).
The cork tree gives but little shade, which contributes greatly in
causing the soil to become dry. To avoid all these inconveniences, which
are highly unfavorable to the good production of cork, it is requisite
that young plants grow up with sufficient foliage, so that the branches
touch each other, and even overreach, till they are about twenty-five
years old. It may be convenient, if there is not sufficient foliage from
the cork trees themselves, to introduce secondary species, such as the
elm tree, ash and pine, known as (pi meli), these being depended upon to
supply the requisite coolness and manure to the ground. If the soil is
poor, the cork is thin but of fine quality and very appropriate to make
the best stoppers. If, on the contrary, it is rich, the cork is thick
but spongy. Consequently it is requisite to treat the cork tree in such
a manner that whilst the cork grows thick it will at the same time be
fine in texture. This is of course an agricultural problem and may
differ from year to year in the necessary details.