French Garden. Equipment. 77 



about 2in. Tarred string is tied to each nail at the top then 

 brought down tightly and tied to the corresponding nail at the 

 bottom. To each bottom nail a further piece of string, 12ft. 

 long, is left attached, each of which is wound round a short 

 piece of green wood with a slit in one end, in which the string 

 is fixed to keep it from unwinding. 



Frame for Mat Making. 



Mat Making After having shaken out of the straw any 

 small and broken pieces, lay a bundle at each side of the 

 frame arranged straightly, with the butt-ends all one way. 

 Then take as much as can be held between finger and thumb, 

 and lay it on the lower board, resting on the nails, with the 

 butt-ends level with one outer edge ; repeat this with another 

 bunch but place the butt-ends level with the opposite edge. 

 Hold the straw near the middle with the left hand and with 

 the right pass the centre ball of string over the straw and 

 under the upright string, bringing it back under itself so that 

 it will draw up and hold tight. Repeat this with all the other 

 strings. Lay on more straw, as before, and repeat the tying, 

 always taking the middle string first. Lay the straw in equal 

 bunches and draw each down firmly upon the previous one so 

 that the mat will be made of an even thickness of about lin. 

 throughout. When the top row of nails is reached the xnat is 

 finished off by firm knots, and the sides are then trimmed level 



