Golf balls are made from pure guttapercha, procurable in rods and ready for cutting into pieces suitable for the mould, which should be of size 274. To prevent waste, the cutting is done with a knife operated on the guillotine system; the pieces should be slightly larger than will exactly fill the mould, the superfluous guttapercha being afterwards pared off with a very sharp knife. Before moulding, the guttapercha requires to be thoroughly softened in water kept hot over a fire. The guttapercha is then placed in the engraved mould, and subjected to great pressure. After the balls are made they should be put away in a dry, warm place for about three months to allow them to become thoroughly seasoned. They are then given three coverings of special paint, a small quantity being put on the palm of one hand, and the ball rolled between the palms of both hands. Two days should elapse between each covering, and in a week after the last covering the balls are ready for use.