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Cumminger Brothers Store

Cork

Cork is the outer layer of bark from evergreen oak trees found in Portugal and Spain. The bark is carefully cut and peeled off trees that have reached a maturity of fifteen to twenty years. The cork can be harvested every eight to ten years once the tree had reached maturity. Great care had to be taken so that the inner bark was not damaged. The cork was then put through a heating process. Cork was used in a variety of ways, stops for bottles, fishing floats, and life preservers being a few examples.