THE FLORAL WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



163 



videfiue-cut bi'ads, of various lengths, from 

 half-an-inch to one inch and a quarter ; 

 bradawls of two or thi-ee sizes ; copper 

 wire, the finest made (for connecting the 

 cones by, which are nailed round the edge 

 of the plinth, for unless a small wire is 

 run through them, they will deviate from 

 their horizontal position), also some of the 

 next larger size (for connecting tlie coues 

 with, to form the handles, suspending 

 chains, and festoons) ; some hazel, birch, 

 or other clean and straight rods ; a few 

 clasp uails, and a pair of bell-hangers' 

 plyers, etc. 



" The cones should bo prepared by 

 cutting their basis smooth with a strong 

 knife, then by drilliuga hole through each 

 with a bradawl, in an oblique direction, 

 inserting it about two-thirds up the side of 



bell-hangers' plyers. Fix a nail firmly in 

 a bench that will bear pulling against ; let 

 one end of the wires be twisted round it ; 

 then having one person to hold the cone 

 firmly between them, another should twist 

 the wires tightly round it, taking one wire 

 in each hand, and giving them one twist 

 round each other, as tightly upon the apex 

 of the cone as possible ; then take the 

 other two wii-es, and serve in like manner, 

 the assistant holding the cone firmly in its 

 place the while. The scales of the stone 

 pine cone make a pretty edging for the 

 rim. These should be fixed on with half- 

 inch brads, and a piece of hazel-rod, so 

 fixed as to cover the nails ; the largo cones 

 used for the feet of these are from the 

 cluster pine (Pinus pinaster) ; and those 

 of a more spherical form from the stone 



the cone, and working it through the 

 centre of its base ; at the same time j 

 inserting a brad, in length proportionate 

 to the size of the cone ; for the largest 

 cones, Ij-incli brads ; and for the smallest, 

 vrhich will sometimes run about the size of 

 nuts, one-inch, or seven-eighths brads. 

 Some cones for the outer rims must be 

 drilled horizontally. Then, having the 

 deal frame already painted, proceed to nail 

 them firmly and closely on, but the frame 

 must be supported by a bearer projecting 

 from the work-bench, otherwise, tiie jar 

 from nailing on of the cones will open the 

 joints. The handles are made by encasing j 

 cones in four wires ; the wires should be \ 

 copper, of a moderate substance, must be ■ 

 cut the requisite length, with a pair of I 



pine {fiiius piiiea). These last named 

 must have a hole drilled through them, 

 from the base to the apex, with a thin 

 gimblet ; then have some spikes made 

 from two-eighths iron wire, of sufficient 

 length to go through the cone, and take a 

 proper hold of the wooden frame. 



" The pedestal and plinth are covered 

 with the knots and crooked points of the 

 branches from a whitethorn hedge, that 

 have been for many years closely clipped ; 

 these are divested of their spines and 

 small spray, and naOed so closely together 

 with |-incli brads, as to cover the whole 

 surface. 



" The whole should when finished have 

 a good coat of boiled linseed oil, and when 

 thoroughly dry a coat of ' oak varnish.' " 



