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Art. XXXIV.—On the Growth of the Cork Oak in Auckland.
[Read before the Auckland Institute, 28th August, 1882.]
In the public newspapers, and in the utterances of members of Parliamentary committees for the encouragement of native industries, we periodically find suggestions as to the introduction of the growth of the cork oak in New Zealand. The following facts may, therefore, be not uninteresting as affording data by which to judge of the economic value of the cork oak in New Zealand.
In the year 1855, the late Dr. Sinclair planted close to his house, near Symonds Street, a young cork oak, received from Kew. It is now about 40 feet in height, 14 feet from the ground to the first branch, with a spread of top of about 40 feet in diameter. The trunk at 3 feet from the ground is 5.8 ft. in circumference after stripping. For several years past it has produced acorns, from which the present occupant of the grounds,
![Thumbnail: [Volume 15, 1882 page 268]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_15/thumbnails/rsnz_15_00_0349_0268_ac_02.gif)
Mr. John Hay, has raised a large number of young oaks, and distributed them liberally throughout New Zealand. In the summer of 1877 I stripped it for the first time, and got a large quantity of virgin cork, which I did not weigh, the first stripping being of little or no commercial value. In February last I again stripped it, and after drying the bark found the product to be 70 lbs. weight of good marketable cork, fit for pint corks, as I am informed by Mr. Dutton, the cork-cutter, who was present at the stripping, and states it to be worth at least 60s. per cwt.
It will thus be seen that the trees must be 25 to 27 years old before producing any return, and then every five years may produce 70 lbs. to 100 lbs. weight of marketable cork. The produce improves in quality by each stripping. On comparing the New Zealand product with the imported bark, it is evident that the annual growth of the bark in Auckland is quite equal to that of the import.
I present herewith to the museum a sheet of the cork of last stripping, 3 feet 4 inches by 1 foot 4 inches, which shows the character and quality of the cork, and is, I believe, the first produced in New Zealand. I also present a section of one of the branches, showing the mode of growth of the virgin cork.