[6] See page 85

“We get a good idea of the strength and durability of this wood from the fact that there is an old wooden church near Ongar, in Essex, the nave of which is composed of half logs of oak roughly fastened by wooden pegs.  The ancient fabric dates back to the time of King Edmund, who was slain by the robber Leolf in the year A.D. 946.  The oaken church was hurriedly put together—­according to report—­in order to make a temporary receptacle for the body of the murdered prince on its way to burial.  Be that as it may, it was afterward used as a parish church, and, though the oaken logs are corroded by the weather, they are still sound, and, having been beaten by the storms of a thousand winters, bid fair to defy those of a thousand more.”

“I should think, then,” said Malcolm, “that people would always build their houses with oak if it lasts so long.”

“Yet they do not do this even in England,” was the reply, “where the trees grow to such an immense size and the ancient buildings still in existence prove the great endurance of the oak.  Now brick and stone and iron are used, which outlast any wood.  And now,” continued Miss Harson, “I am going to tell you something about a foreign species of this tree which I am sure will surprise you.  It is found in the South of Europe and in Algeria, and is called the cork oak.”

“’The cork oak’!” exclaimed Clara, quite as much surprised as she was expected to be.  “Do the corks that come in bottles grow on it?”

“Not just in that shape, dear, but they are made from its bark.  The outside bark, or epidermis, consists of a thin, transparent, tissue-like substance, which covers not only the bark, but the whole of the tree, stem, leaves and branches, and beneath the epidermis is found a layer of cellular tissue, generally green.  It covers the trunk and branches, fills up the spaces between the veins of the leaves and contains the sap, which flows in canals arranged for it in the most beautiful and wonderful manner.  In one species of oak this layer—­which is called the suber—­assumes a peculiar character and is of remarkable thickness.  When the tree is some five years old, its whole energy is directed toward the increase of the suber.  A mass of cells is formed with great rapidity, and layer upon layer is added, until that part of the trunk grows so unwieldy that it would crack and split of its own accord.  But such a thing is rarely allowed to happen:  the suber is of too much value to man.  After it is taken from the tree and has undergone due preparation, it appears in our shops and houses under the name of cork”

“I should like to see how they get it,” said Malcolm.

“The trunk is regularly marked around in deep cuts, which begin close to the branches and go down almost to the roots.  A ladder is used to mount to the upper part of the trunk, and the cuts, or incisions, are made with a long knife or with an axe.  Then they strip off the sheets of cork between the circles.  This operation is a very delicate one, and requires much care and skill lest the inner part should be injured.  If the operation is carried out successfully, the cork-like substance will grow again and become as abundant as ever.