806 HORNBLENDE 



In France, Holland, and Austria, tho comb-maker nnd horn-turnors use tho clip- 

 pings of horn which are of a whitish yellow and tortoise-shell skins, out of 'which 

 they make snuff-boxes, powder-horns, and many curious and handsome things. They 

 first soften the horn and shell in boiling water, so as to bo able to submit them to tho 

 press in iron moulds, and by means of heat they form them into one mass. Tho degree 

 of heat necessary to join tho horn clippings must be stronger than that for shell skins, 

 and it can only be found out by experience. Tho heat must not, however, be too 

 great, for fear of scorching the horn or shell. Considerable care is required in 

 these operations, not to touch tho horn with tho fingers, or with any greasy body, 

 because the grease will prevent the perfect joining. Wooden instruments should 

 be used to move them, while they are at the fire, and for carrying them to the 

 moulds. 



In making a ring of horn for bell-pulls, &c., the required piece is to be first cutout 

 in tho flat of its proper dimensions, and nearly in the shape of a horse-shoo ; it is then 

 pressed in a pair of dies to give its surface tho desired pattern; but previous to tho 

 pressure, both the piece of horn and the dies are to bo heated ; the piece of horn is to 

 bo introduced between the dies, squeezed in a vice, and when cold, tho impression or 

 pattern will be fixed upon the horn. One particular condition, however, is to be ob- 

 served in tho construction of the dies, for forming a ring. They are to be so made 

 that the open ends of the horse-shoo piece of horn, after being pressed, shall have at 

 one end a nib, and at tho other a recess of a dovetailed form, corresponding to each 

 other ; and the second operation in forming this ring of horn is to heat it, and place it 

 in another pair of dies, which shall bring its open ends together, and cause the dove- 

 tailed joints to be locked fast into each other, which completes tho ring, and leaves no 

 appearance of the junction. 



In forming tho handles of table knives and forks, or other things which require to bo 

 made of two pieces, each of the two pieces or sides of the handle is formed in a sepa- 

 rate pair of dies ; the one piece is made with a counter-sunk groove along eacli side, 

 and the other piece with corresponding leaves or projecting edges. When these two 

 pieces are formed, by first being cut out of the flat horn, then pressed in tho dies 

 in a heated state, for the purpose of giving the pattern, the two pieces are again 

 heated and put together, the leaves or edges of tho one piece dropping into the 

 counter-sunk grooves of the other piece, and being introduced between another pair 

 of heated dies, the joints are pressed together and the two pieces formed into ono 

 handle. 



In making the knobs for drawers which have metal stems or pins to fasten them into 

 the furniture, the face of the knob is to be first made in a die, as above described, and 

 then the back part of the knob with a hole in it ; a metal disc plate of iron is next pro- 

 vided, in which the metal stem or screw pin is fixed, and the stem being passed through 

 the aperture in the back piece, and the two, that is, the back and front pieces of horn 

 put together, they are then heated and pressed in dies as above described ; tho edge of 

 the back piece falling into tho counter-sunk groove of the front piece, while by tho 

 heat they are perfectly cemented together. 



Mr. J. James has contrived a method of opening up the horns of cattle, by whu-h 

 he avoids the risk of scorching or frizzling, which is apt to happen in heating them 

 over an open fire. He takes a solid block of iron, pierced with a conical hole, which 

 is fitted with a conical iron plug, heats them in a stove to tho temperature of melting 

 lead, and, having previously cut lip the horn lengthwise on ono side with a saw, he 

 inserts its narrow end into the hole, and drives tho plug into it with a mallet. I!y 

 the heat of the irons tho horn gets so softened, in the course of about a minute, as to 

 bear flatting out in tho usual way. 



Importation of Horns. 



1871. 1872. 



Tons Tons 



6 ' 700 110 ' 466 6 ' 362 160 ' 490 



The largest quantities being from British India, tho United States of America, and 

 Australia. 



HORNBEAM. The Carpinus bctulus, sometimes called tho yoke-elm. It is a 

 stringy and tough wood, which grows in some parts of Europe, and which is imported 

 from America. It is used by millwrights for the cogs of wheels, also for skittles, and 

 for mallets. 



HORNBLENDE. (Amphibok, Fr. ; Hornblende, Qer.) Tho term ktimilmJk, 

 restricted originally to certain dark-coloured lamellar minerals occurring chiefly in 

 eyenito and dioritc, was afterwards considerably extended in its application, and 



