Rods and Rod Material. 137 



bows by all the tribes of Indians of the region where it 

 abounds. When wrought it receives a beautiful polish, 

 of the appearance and brilliancy of satinwood." 



SHADBLOW. 

 Specific gravity, 0.8620. 



This shrub is known also as Juneberry, Serviceberry 

 Shadbush, and Wild -plum. It grows throughout the 

 Eastern and Middle States and Canada. Its botanical 

 name is Amelanchier canadensis. Its blossoms precede 

 its leaves in April or May, about the time the shad 

 ascend the rivers, whence one of its names ; while an- 

 other is due to the fact that its edible fruit ripens in 

 June. Many varieties are found, differing in size from 

 a mere bush to a small tree of thirty or forty feet in 

 height. The wood greatly resembles the outer wood of 

 the hornbeam in color and texture, being quite white and 

 close-grained. It is very strong and tough, but inclined 

 like hornbeam to be " logy" i.e., not very prompt to re- 

 cover when bent; still I have seen one rod made from it 

 throughout by Mr. William Mitchell of this city, which 

 seemed about as good as a rod could be, the prompt- 

 ness of action of which left nothing to be desired. My 

 personal experience of this wood is confined to an exam- 

 ination of this rod and quite a number of specimens of 

 the wood in the square. From these I should judge 

 there was an unusual difference in the stiffness and elas- 

 ticity of different samples, which may be partly due to 

 the many varieties which occur; also that, though occa- 

 sionally better may be had, still the general run of this 

 rod material would require pretty good -sized ferrules 

 and a liberal allowance of timber if other than a withy 

 rod were desired. 



