THE YOUNG 
SCIENTIST. 
cutter, a drilling instrument, a vertical 
cutter, and a few tools for each. We may 
now in reality begin to work, and with 
such an assortment of tools as named, 
much beautiful work may be done. As to 
what it will do, it is a difficult matter to 
explain by pen all or any of the different 
objects to be produced ; but as an example 
for a tyro, let us set about making a box 
in cocus or blackwood, or even boxwood, 
which is sufficiently good to practice upon 
in case of a failure, which is not at all im- 
probable at the commencement. The box 
is about three inches in diameter, the lid 
having been faced over with a fixed tool 
in the slide-rest. Kemove the tool, and 
in its place substitute the eccentric cut- 
ter, set out the eccentricity about one-half 
an inch and it describes a circle of one 
inch. Use the 96 division on the dividing- 
plate, place in the eccentric cutter a double 
angle tool of 35°, and cut deep enough to 
bring the pattern up sharp, and what is 
called the " barley corn pattern " will be 
the result, and if well executed, cannot 
fail to be satisfactory to the operator. So 
far so well ; but this will not be enough to 
cover the surface of the box-lid. About 
g of an inch from the inner side of the 
pattern place a row or circle of beads, 
which must be done with a bead-drill, 
and in the centre cut another eccentric 
pattern, and we think a very pretty effect 
will be obtained. We need scarcely say 
that the style of pattern, although done 
with the same tool, may be altered to al- 
most any extent. Having finished the lid 
of the box, which is, or should be, fitted on 
the bottom, instead of a chuck, the side 
or cylinder part must be turned, and a 
very good illustrative pattern is that pro- 
duced by the vertical cutter, thus : Set 
out the radius of tool to cut about a 2-inch 
circle, and then cut until the cut repre- 
sents about I of an inch, and take such a 
division on the plate that will bring each 
edge up to a sharp point. Having cut all 
round, take, say, two divisions on the 
plate, and move the slide-rest just the 
width of the tool, and cut again, using the 
same division, only starting two in ad- 
vance of the previous cut ; repeat this the 
length of the box, and another very ef- 
fective result is obtained, and it will ap- 
pear in a spiral form. This pattern is 
usually called the basket pattern. When ]i 
this is done, the lid may be removed and i 
the inside of the box turned out. When f 
this is accomplished cut off the bottom, I 
turn a boxwood chuck to fit it, and so 
hold it while the base of it is turned flat, 
and by way of practice another pattern 
may be cut upon it. ^ 
To he continued. H 
Our Amateur Workshoo. I 
IN the present number we publish thm 
first of a series of papers, which are tl 
be continued, entitled : *' Three Amateifl 
Workers— And What They Did." The obi 
ject of these papers will be to show the 
young reader how to care for and use edge 
tools, and to give easy lessons in the art 
of making kites, seolian harps, hand- 
sleighs, small wagons, hanging cabinets, 
girl's work-boxes, doll's furniture, and a 
hundred other things that clever little 
folks can make if they receive a little 
help. Little girls will also find many 
things in these papers that will both 
amuse and instruct them, as a play-house, 
furniture, dolls and all, will be intro- 
duced. Foot lathes, scroll saws, and what 
can be done with them, will be talked of 
and discussed. 
Preserving Flower-Stakes from Rot. 
Ed. Young Scientist.— l^othing is more annoy- 
ing: than to find, after a strong wind, some of 
your finest flowers blown down because the 
stakes have rotted oft' at the surface of the 
ground. 
I have now in my possession flower-stakes 
which have been in constant use for over nine 
years, and their points are yet perfectly sound 
and good. I take common coal-tar and bring it 
to the boiling point in a kettle some 10 to 12 
inches deep ; I then place the lower part of the 
stake in the boiling tar, immersing it as deeply 
as the pot will allow. After they have remained 
therein about ten minutes, I take them out, 
allow the surplus tar to drain off, and roll the 
tarred portion in clean sharp sand, covering 
