To secure the cords in the press, the bottom of each cord is wound round the "key" two or three times, and then the key is turned, so that it takes the end into its forked portion. The key is then pushed longitudinally through the slot of the sewing-press, and then turned at right angles, so that it rests against the bottom. The crossbar is now raised by screwing' the nuts up, which tightens the cords that are held by the keys, until they are taut enough to sew to, which may be known by their emitting sound when "twanged." Fig. 52

is an excellent representation of the' position of the sewer at the press. The left hand is kept in the centre of the section, to seize the needle when it is passed into one of the saw-kerfs from the outside.

The size of the thread used in sewing any particular book should be considered. If the book consists of thick sections, a stouter thread may be used than if they are thin. Only practice will teach the tyro when his book has its back of the proper thickness. If it have too much thread in it, it will be unwieldy and unmanageable; while, on the other hand, if it have not sufficient, the back will not take a proper degree of curvature.

French and other Continental paper covered new books are generally sewed with cotton. They have no bands or cords; but the cotton takes one stitch in the centre of the first section, then the needle emerges from the back aud is thrust into the second section at the same place. It makes a stitch in

the middle of the second section; then, emerging, is plunged into the third section, and a single stitch taken backward; and the whole of the book is thus sewed with one length of cotton, and each section has but one stitch, there being no kettle stitches.

It may here be well to mention that a single sheet pamphlet, as a sermon, list, or catalogue, is generally secured by a single stitch at the middle of the back, as at Fig. 53. The needle is pricked through the centre of the back, as at A; it is then put through the back from the outside, a little lower down, as at B. The needle is then passed upwards, inside the section, to C, as much above A as B was below it, and is here passed

through the section to the outside. Lastly, the needle is brought down outside to A again, and is passed through beside it at D. The stitch B, C, is now between the two ends of the thread, and when these are tied together the whole stitch is secure.

When there are more sheets than one, they are placed on each other, and three holes made through them, as at Fig. 54, with the bodkin and hammer. Where much of this stitching is done, the amateur had better have a wooden stabbing machine (Fig. 55), which forces three bodkin blades through at one pull of the lever. The price is about 12s. Mr. Frederick Ullmer, of Cross-street, Farringdon-road, recently introduced

a treadle machine of this kind (see Fig. 56), which is very useful, as it leaves both hands free. Book-sewing machines have lately been introduced from Germany. They are very

ingenious, the sections being secured to the back by little links of steel wire; but they are only adapted for new cloth boarded work, so we need not enter into any detailed description.

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