AIR -WORK. 207 



of tlie kind, have one peculiar to themselves, that they cannot 

 be cut with a knife. Under the above head may very properly 

 be included some articles such as trunks, boxes, &c., which are 

 strengthened by having combined with them straps, or pieces of 

 iron, which are first covered with gum-elastic vellum, or tissue. 

 Some of these articles will be found described in Vol. 11. 



WICKER-WORK. 



Wicker-work is made in the same manner as the cord ware 

 already described, except that the vellum cord is braided or 

 woven chiefly by hand, in open-work, into baskets and such 

 -Other articles' as are commonly made of willow. When lined 

 with gum-elastic vellum, the same are substituted for baskets 

 lined with tin or zinc. 



The advantages proposed by this description of ware, are du- 

 rability and cleanliness. The more bulky articles of this sort 

 may be made by covering rattan, reeds, or willow, with vellum. 

 Among other things, a very light and durable row-boat may be 

 made of lined wicker-work. 



AIR-WORK. 



This is a term which has been technically applied to all arti- 

 cles that are inflated with air, such as beds, pillows, cushions, 

 life-preservers, &c. Some observations upon this kind of work, 

 and descriptions of many articles such as have formerly been 



made, may be found in Vol. II., page . But the work which 



is particularly referred to here, and is thought to be entitled to a 

 description as a separate class of goods, is of a very different 

 kind, and but recently invented. 



The simplicity, cheapness and completeness of these goods 



