62 GARDENING FOR PROFIT. 



"uprights" or warps are formed of five strands of a 

 tarred string known as " marline." These are tightly 

 strained ten inches apart by being attached to five strong 

 nails at bottom of a wall, corresponding with the same 

 number seven feet from the bottom. Against these 

 strings (beginning at the bottom) are laid small hand- 

 fuls of rye straw, the butt ends out, as long and straight 

 as can be procured. This is secured to the uprights by 

 a lighter kind of tarred string by taking a single turn 

 around the upright and the straw, and so continued un- 

 til the mat is finished. Some use a frame to which the 

 strings forming the warp are attached, as shown in figure 

 5. This allows the operator to have his work upright 

 or horizontal, as may be most convenient. Two work- 

 men will make about five mats in a day. When fin- 

 ished, the mats should be seven feet in length and 

 four and a half feet in width, two being sufficient to 

 cover three sashes. The reason for having them made 

 one foot longer than the sash is that there may be six 

 inches to overlap at top and bottom, which are the most 

 necessary points to secure from frost. In making these 

 mats they may be constructed of sedge from the marshes 

 or salt meadow hay when rye straw cannot be procured. 

 It is important, however, that they may be made as 

 light as possible, one inch in thickness being quite suf- 

 ficient. By care in handling them, these mats will last 

 for six or eight years. 



