116 .VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 MATTING AND BASKET-MAKING. 



THE art of interweaving rushes into a thick texture 

 is one so simple and obvious, that it is found to 

 be among the first attempts of the rudest people, 

 while it is so useful and convenient that it still 

 retains its place among the arts of the most civilized 

 nations. 



Matting, baskets, the bottoms of some chairs, and 

 other useful articles, are made of bulrushes ; these 

 grow in this country, naturally but not very com- 

 monly, in deep slow streams. The demand for them 

 is greater than the home supply, and a considerable 

 quantity is imported from Holland. 



The Junc.us acutus, or sharp rush, is planted 

 with great care on the banks of the sea in that 

 country, in order to prevent the water from washing 

 away the earth, a portion of which might otherwise 

 be removed at every tide. The roots of these rushes 

 strike very deep into the ground, and mat themselves 

 near the surface in such a manner as to hold the 

 earth closely together. Whenever, therefore, the in- 

 habitants perceive that the roots of these rushes are 

 destroyed, they are very assiduous in replacing them. 



In the summer, when the rushes have attained their 

 full height, they are cut and tied into bundles, 

 which are dried and conveyed to the towns, where 

 they are wrought into baskets and other useful articles. 



