THE BASSWOODS OR LINDENS 203 



weaving purposes. The Louisiana Indian 

 belles made mantles of basswood-bark network, 

 which they covered with swan's down. 



Basswood is the joy of the woodcarver, be- 

 cause it is so uniform in texture that the rings 

 are hardly noticeable. The timber is whitish 

 and without knots. It is a favorite for carriage 

 paneling, but extreme care is necessary in han- 

 dling it, because of its disposition to crack. 



