Pokračování textu ze strany 151
… species, the bamboo-palm, is the source of the raffia we use for basketry. The leaves of the Palmetto, peeled, make excellent material for wrapped splint baskets.
The Buckeye (æsculus) makes very good splints, the wood being white, soft, spongy, and easily worked. Splints may be also bought in the market, already cut in long wide strips.
Bulrushes are largely used in basketry. The kind whose tall, smooth, bluish-green, round stems are seen projecting above the water — lakes, ponds, pools and rivers, — dries well, and is excellent for the purpose. Be careful not to mistake the flag for the bulrush, as the former is too weak for satisfactory weaving.
The Tule of California is a bulrush whose root is a rich brown color, and is very good for wrapping splints for coiled baskets.
Corn husks may be used, but are too perishable to make anything very durable.
Sweet Grass is an aquatic plant which grows immersed in shallow bogs. It is largely used in the making of simple baskets.
The Long Moss of the South is useful for the inner coils of baskets.
Broom Corn also makes excellent filling for the coiled ware, and is cleaner and stronger than the above.
Pine needles dry easily, and are well adapted either for material for the inner coils of coiled baskets, or as unwrapped coils sewed together. The Long-leaved (or Georgia) Pine furnishes the longest of these. They can be bought in bunches in the market.
The Martynia (unicorn plant) supplies the black used in the designs of the Pima, Apache, and Havasupai Indians. The plant can be cultivated in any part of the country. A small package of seeds will be enough for half a dozen baskets, at least.
The Maiden Hair Fern gives the rich black wrapping splint of the twined basketry of Northern California. The stem is used for the purpose.
There are two or three species of Willow that are largely cultivated for basket making, these trees being used probably more generally than any other plant.
Indian Hemp is employed by the Indians, usually in the strings and cords used in beginning a basket, and in making the carrying loops.
