Note 266 — CHAP. XX. Of the Drill-Boxes.

I believe, if it were less by a Fourth or Third of its Diameter, it might be better, as being more proportionable to the Smalness of the Turnep-seed. I have had the Mortise much wider; but it cannot well be made much narrower, whilst the Tongue is of this Fashion; for this Steel Tongue, if narrower, would either be too stiff, or else apt to break, nor would there be Room in the Mortise for a sufficient Setting-screw to follow it. But there is another Fashion, wherein a narrower Brass Tongue has a broad Spring behind it; and when it is in this Manner, the Mortise may be a Fourth of the Breadth of this. I have had many of these when I made my Boxes in Wood; but cannot describe them by these Cuts; neither are such narrow Mortises necessary, unless it were for drilling Tobacco seed, Thyme-seed, or some other Sort of an extraordinary Smalness.