42 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



though it does not seem to be very much used 

 abroad at present. In England greenheart is 

 more of a favorite, but over there more atten- 

 tion is given to combinations than here. For 

 example, hickory is frequently used for butt 

 joints in high grade rods, whereas on this side 

 of the water it is put into the cheapest ones, imi- 

 tations of bethabara, stained, and for spring 

 butts of surf rods. Over there, too, whole cane 

 butts and even middle joints, with greenheart 

 tips, are common, while as a rule we stick to 

 one material throughout the rod. 



Lancewood is more easily obtainable than 

 bethabara. The latter comes from Africa by 

 way of Liverpool, whereas lancewood in large 

 quantities is brought up to New York by the 

 coastwise vessels trading in Southern waters. 

 It costs less than bethabara, and is much easier 

 to work. It is not so heavy as bethabara. In 

 the rough it is easier to select good stock than 

 is the case with bethabara. But it is " softer " 

 and more resilient in equal diameters, and has 

 not the steely snap and quick recovery that 

 characterize the other variety mentioned. In 

 addition to this it is prone to take set; in other 

 words, to warp permanently, and this fault is 

 more marked on damp than on dry days. 



There are so many varieties of wood avail- 



