SPLIT BAMBOO RODMAKING 183 



make a 5^ -foot bait-casting tip, the selection 

 of canes will be a more important matter. 



The darker the enamel of the canes, the 

 better are they likely to be. Avoid all that 

 are green, grayish-green or pale yellow. Sea- 

 soned canes are reddish-yellow, orange, or 

 straw color, with no green tone whatever. 

 When tapped with a stick they give out a good 

 strong round ring, somewhat like a metal tube, 

 whereas the green canes give forth a dull, flat 

 sound. 



Do not discard a cane merely because it is 

 cracked, but if it has been crushed, avoid it. 

 Grayish stains may indicate mildew, possibly 

 from the hold of some leaky old ship, but 

 irregular brown stains are sought by some 

 makers, and are found on the strips of nearly 

 all the best rods. This, I fear, is but a lame 

 description, for I am sure that I can pick out 

 good canes better than I can describe just how 

 good canes should look. It is a good deal like 

 picking out a ripe watermelon. Any country 

 boy can do this instinctively, and yet he will 

 find it difficult to explain just how he does it. 



One thing more: You may not agree with 

 me as to the color of seasoned and green canes 

 because you have seen rods made up from 

 canes showing decided greenish hues. This is 



