162 Fly^rods a/nd Fly-tackle. 



quently averted a famine among the swarming popula- 

 tion of those countries of which it is a native, when 

 other crops have been blighted. Notwithstanding the 

 length of time which precedes maturity and the pro- 

 duction of its flower and seed, its growth is extremely 

 rapid. At the seat of the Duke of Devonshire one is 

 reported to have grown forty feet in forty days, while 

 instances are on record of from two to two and a half 

 feet in a single day. But such at least as is generally 

 exported is not allowed to attain maturity, but is cut 

 annually while still green, the succeeding crop springing 

 up as shoots from the still living roots. 



Which of these many varieties is best adapted to our 

 purpose may safely be said to be unknown. Species 

 attaining a height of one hundred and fifty feet, a diame- 

 ter of fifteen to eighteen inches, and an interval of " sev- 

 eral feet " between the nodes or joints, are known. I 

 have myself seen varieties of small diameter perfectly 

 solid throughout, and as stiff and elastic as tempered 

 steel. The veteran rod-maker Mr. William Mitchell, of 

 New York City, showed me a solid joint but little less 

 than half an inch in diameter planed from a single piece 

 of bamboo. A bow of South American origin came 

 into his possession, apparently of bamboo, yet colored 

 so as to leave this in some doubt. Upon removing the 

 exterior this surmise was found to be correct ; and 

 though the bow was six feet long, not the slightest in- 

 dication of a node or knot could be detected. From 

 this he planed the joint in question. While this was 

 not as stiff as a hexagonal joint of similar size, made in 

 the ordinary manner, would have been, still it was nearly 

 if not quite equal to the ordinary run of greenheart, 

 and would make most excellent rod material could it 



