There are three qualities of cane used in their construction: ‘Mackerel back,’ recognised by its peculiar markings, ‘Short Nature,’ and ‘Squeaky.’ Of these, the first is the best, the others following in the order named. It is a defect of the baskets as ordinarily constructed that their handles and bottoms give way after very little wear. Several improvements have been put on the market, the best of which are shown as follows.
Fig. 69
Fig. 70
In [fig. 69] the black line represents an iron hook bent to the shape required, and the cane plaited round as for the ordinary basket.
It is claimed that the handles and bottoms of these baskets cannot give way, and it is a claim that is probably correct.
Owing to the difficulties of construction due to the rigidity of the iron hoop, they cost more than the ordinary basket, and this, with their extra weight, is unfortunately against their general adoption. Variations of the same idea are shown on figs. [70] and [71].
Fig. 71