Cork insulation; a complete illustrated textbook on cork insulation ...

CHAPTER VI.
EXTENT OF THE CORK INDUSTRY.
23.—Is Source of Supply Adequate?—The question that is
most frequently asked today is this: "Can the production of
corkwood be increased sufficiently by the cork producing
countries to keep pace with the world's constantly increasing
demand for cork products of every kind?"
In attempting an answer to such a question, if indeed an
answer should be attempted, it must be remembered that
corkwood is an agricultural product, and that in agriculture
price controls production, with certain important limitations,
rather than production establishing price as it does in many
of the industries not associated with agriculture. In other
words, if an agricultural product grown in volume will bring
a price that will make such growing of the product profitable,
it will continue to be produced in volume ; otherwise, not. If
that volume demand should grow beyond the ultimate capac-
ity of the producing soil and climate, then other soil will be
prepared and utilized in a suitable climate, if that is possible
and not too costly. Now a look back into the history of the
cork industry should furnish much information and possibly
serve as a guide in reaching conclusions about the ultimate
extent of the cork industry, with particular emphasis upon
cork <strong>insulation</strong>.
24.—<strong>Cork</strong> Stopper Industry.—The cork stopper industry,
which was for many years the most important branch of the
cork industry, had its permanent origin in the town of
Llacostera, Province of Gerona, Spain, late in the year 1750,*
and was incident to the real beginnings of the use of the
•Gilbert E. Stecher, 1914, "<strong>Cork</strong>— Its Origin and Industrial Uses," D.
trand Co., New York, N. Y.
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