i 5 2 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



form of metal wrappings; but, when he uses them 

 at all except for guide lashings, he applies the silk 

 differently from the usual method of a series of in- 

 dividual, narrow circular bands in the form of 

 a continuous trellised or diamond-patterned whip- 

 ping which extends the whole length of the joints. 

 And he whips with unwaxed silk, just as obtained 

 from the drygoods store. For this method he 

 claims the following very practical advantages, 

 wholly irrespective of its highly distinctive appear- 

 ance: It makes a good holding-ground for the 

 varnish, the bare outer skin of bamboo offering, in 

 this respect, a surface not much more acceptable than 

 does glass or steel; it supports or stiffens the rod 

 to a greater degree than could the closest practical 

 individual bands, a good idea of its effectiveness be- 

 ing obtained by comparing the " backbone " of a 

 top-joint thus wound and even before any varn- 

 ish is applied with its unwound duplicate; it ma- 

 terially assists in preventing set; it reduces to a 

 minimum the number of invisible-end fastenings 

 necessitated in the complete winding of the rod. 



Unwaxed silk is preferred as offering the varnish 

 a better chance to penetrate, shrink it, and glue it 

 down onto the wood. And we do not use the more 

 brittle white shellac, white French lacquer, or thin 

 white glue or mucilage as a preliminary coating for 

 the windings, to prevent a darkening of the silk, 

 which we do not regard as at all objectionable. 



