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PRACTICE IN RUSTIC WORK. 



Let us not frown on these humble efforts, however they make us smile, but 

 rather let us endeavor to give them scope and direction, so that the time and 

 labor which would otherwise be wasted may be profitably and agreeably spent. 

 Rustic work, such as relates to the construction of flower-baskets and flower- 

 stands, is well suited for this purpose, for it includes both cutting and carving. 



Those of your readers who have a little taste and spare time, could hardly do 

 better than give it a trial. 



In introducing this subject to notice, I send a sketch of one of the simplest 

 flower-stands I have been able to find. It is in- 

 tended to contain a plant in a pot, and to be placed 

 either in an open corner or behind other plants. 

 The construction of this single stand requires but 

 little skill or labor, and the only point which needs 

 particular explanation is that at a. 



Here there are two diiferent ways of working, in 

 order to produce the projecting bottom. With the 

 first of these two ways, the bottom is formed of 



' circular boards, the lower projecting a little, 

 .y about half an inch beyond the margin of the 

 (ipper, and on this latter the lath-like sticks or rihs 

 are neatly nailed, after being properly prepared. 

 The other mode is not so convenient, nor so much 

 adapted, but it saves a little wood. It consists 

 simply in carrying a narrow band of wood, or a 

 branch, round the bottom of the ribs after they 

 have been nailed on to the bottom. But before 

 saying more about the construction of the stand, I 

 wish to offer a few observations respecting the 



Materials. — The legs (either three or four may 

 be used) are. of the thickness of an ordinary walk- 

 ing-stick ; sometimes they are a little thicker, ac- 

 cording to the size of the top. It is almost unne- 

 cessary to say that any kind of branch will serve 

 the purpose, but it is desirable to have all the 

 branches of the same thickness, and as even as pos- 

 sible. 



Birch will, perhaps, be found the best description 

 of wood for the ribs, if it can be procured, but any 

 other may be used. 



Common deal board, about half an inch thick, 

 is good enough for the bottom ; but it is somewhat 

 dilficult to cut a piece of wood evenly round, ex- 

 cept with a good saw made for this sort of work, 

 that is, a small, narrow saw, having fine, sharp 

 teeth. It may, therefore, be preferable to have the 

 circular boards prepared by a carpenter, if there ' 



happens to be one at hand. Certainly, a handy person may make a shift with 

 a sharp knife or a cliisel, but neither is so good as a saw, when it can be ob- 

 tained. A small brad-awl and some nails of different sizes will also be indispen- 

 sable. 



Begin work by preparing the ribs, cutting them to the same length, tape 

 evenly towards the bottom, and pointing them at the end which is 



