Chambers's encyclopaedia; a dictionary of universal knowledge . aw. Since that time split straw has been chielly instrument employed forsplitting (fig. 1) consists ofa number of little sipiaresteel blades radiating from astem which terminates in thepoint ((, and at the other endis bent and fixed into thehandle b. The point a, being Fig. 1. inserted into the hollow oi the straw, is pressed forward, and cuts it into a.«many strips as there are blades in the English straw used in plaiting is obtainedprincipally from the varieties of wheat known asthe White Chittim and th
Chambers's encyclopaedia; a dictionary of universal knowledge . aw. Since that time split straw has been chielly instrument employed forsplitting (fig. 1) consists ofa number of little sipiaresteel blades radiating from astem which terminates in thepoint ((, and at the other endis bent and fixed into thehandle b. The point a, being Fig. 1. inserted into the hollow oi the straw, is pressed forward, and cuts it into a.«many strips as there are blades in the English straw used in plaiting is obtainedprincipally from the varieties of wheat known asthe White Chittim and the Red Lammas, whichsucceed best on the light rich soils of Bedfordshireand the neighbouring counties. Only bright, clear,and perfect pipes can be employed, and to obtainthe straw in good condition great care has to beexercised. The crop is not mowed, but pulled up,and the ears are cut oH by the haml for straws are then cut into lengths, cleared oftheir outer sheath, and assorteil into sizes in akind of sieve apparatus like lig. 2. The apertures. Fig. 2. in each successive perforated top are incieasinglywider, so that line straws only |iius> through ii bythe shoot 4, >-, into the box d at the oiu! end, andthicker pipes in each succeeding box. The plaits,made princi|pally by women and chililren, varygreatly in pattern, (piality, and cost. They aresold by the icoce of 20 yards, chielly in Luton,where spacious plait halls have been providei ami linest and most costly plaits anywhere mafie—the Tuscan or Leghorn made inTuscan villages around Florence, and are not straw there useil —very fine in the pipe andbright in colour—is produced from a variety ofwheat thickly sown and grown in a light thin crop is imlled and prepared as in the Knglishtrade, and tlie plaits are worked by all andages of the rural populace. The tiiier qualities of 766 STRAWBOARD STRAWBERRY Tuscan jilaits are worked witli excci>iliii
Size: 2214px × 1129px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1901
