STRAW PLAT. 167 



plat in England, though it would seem to be less 

 obvious and natural. 



The trees which are most appropriate for the pur- 

 pose are the lime, the poplar, the willow, and some 

 others, the wood of which is white without knots. 

 While the wood is yet green it is divided into very 

 fine chips ; this operation is easily performed by 

 means of a very simple instrument, a plane with two 

 irons. The first of these is provided with several 

 teeth, the width of which is proportionate to the 

 required fineness of the chips ; the second iron, which 

 follows the first, has a common plain chisel-edge. 

 On this plane being passed over the wood, it is 

 evident that the shavings will be divided longi- 

 tudinally into as many slips, and one more, as there 

 are teeth in the first iron. That the teeth may be 

 made to repass always over the same spot, the plane 

 is pushed between two guides, by which means it is 

 kept steady in one direction. Several machines have 

 from time to time been invented for dividing these 

 chips, but this double iron plane is the simplest, 

 and perfectly answers the purpose for which it was 

 intended. 



The chips are whitened, either before or after 

 manufacture, by steeping them in cold soapy water, 

 coloured with a small portion of indigo; after which 

 they are exposed for some days on the grass, where 

 they are frequently sprinkled with clear water, as they 

 must not be allowed to become dry. 



Hats manufactured from this material recommend 

 themselves by their extreme lightness, while they are 

 sometimes made to assume a delicate and tasteful 

 form ; they are however at best but very fragile from 

 their want of flexibility and firmness. The French 

 have endeavoured to impart to them something of 

 these qualities by the union of another substance, 

 making hats composed of willow chips and whale- 



