JULY 99 



the basket, where they clash on to the others with a 

 hard ringing sound. In about four days the pegs dry 

 to a surprising hardness ; they are better than wooden 

 ones, and easier and quicker to make. 



People who are not used to handling Bracken 

 should be careful how they cut a frond with a knife ; 

 they are almost sure to get a nasty Httle cut on the 

 second joint of the first finger of the right hand — not 

 from the knife, but from the cut edge of the fern. 

 The stalk has a silicious coating, that leaves a sharp 

 edge like a thin flake of glass when cut diagonally 

 with a sharp knife ; they should also beware how they 

 pick or pull off a mature frond, for even if the part of 

 the stalk laid hold of is bruised and twisted, some of 

 the glassy structure holds together and is likely to 

 wound the hand. 



