RODS AND ROD MAKING. 4I 
times for as much as ten years,—when they are finally 
worked up into rods, 
The inferior billets, which are rejected by the larger 
manufacturers, are cut up at once into joints and sold 
about the country by hawkers, who make it their regular 
business to supply the small country makers with wood 
for their rods. The same thing takes place as regards 
bamboo. After this insight into the zma penetralia of 
the rod-making trade, no one I fancy will feel inclined 
to grumble at having to pay a good price for a really 
good rod, or will be surprised at the comparative 
worthlessness of the rods turned out by inferior 
makers, 
Hickory is the heaviest wood used in rod making, 
with the one exception of greenhart ; and the purpose 
for which it is most commonly employed is the middle 
joints of rods, and for so/zd butts where weight and 
strength are required. In hollow butts it is never used, 
as it will not stand being bored. 
Greenhart, which is an export from the West Indies, 
demands the next place, or rather I should have said 
the post of honour, in the rod maker’s table of prece- 
dence. In all kinds of rods and in every different posi- 
tion it is to be found, whilst in some cases, as in the 
Salmon rod of Castle Connell, and many other Irish 
rods, it forms the sole material employed. Its speciality 
is, however, for tops; and here it is simply invaluable, 
as it is the only wood sufficiently stiff and at the same 
