62 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



interesting and characteristic feature of bamboo, 

 namely, its action under the local application of a 

 considerable degree of dry heat. (It was this one 

 point that proved the " open sesame " to satisfactory 

 results in rod construction for the writer, and he was 

 enabled, in return, to tell the friend who told him, 

 about a point in gluing-up that also " straightened 

 out " things for the friend. Until we consulted one 

 another on these two matters each had been dis- 

 satisfied with his handiwork.) Upon holding the 

 strip over but not in - a gas- or oil-lamp flame, 

 turning it the while to and fro between the fingers 

 to expose all sides, a point is quickly reached, short 

 of charring deeply enough to cause permanent in- 

 jury, where the fibers become so softened and pliable 

 that all angles and sudden bends are easily straight- 

 ened out by cautious but firm manipulation between 

 the hands; or the hot strip may be clamped straight 

 in your vise. Immediately on cooling, the wood is 

 again hard, rigid, and elastic. Professional rod- 

 makers place the strips in a steam-box. 



In this straightening, only abrupt deviations 

 whether curved or angular need to be remedied, 

 but it is imperative that all such should now receive 

 careful attention, else later they will prevent the 

 strips from lying flat under pressure of the plane, 

 in the V-groove of the planing-mold, when cutting 

 them down to their ultimate triangular form. All 

 long, sweeping curves may be disregarded ; these will 



