Rods and Rod Material. 179 



GREENHEART. 



Specific gravity: 



This wood is a native of the West Indies and South 

 America, though our supply comes principally from 

 Demarara in British Guiana, often through England. It 

 is a tree of large size, yielding timbers from twenty-four 

 to fifty feet long, and from twelve to twenty-four inches 

 square. The wood is dense in grain and heavy, some 

 specimens dark as the darkest black-walnut, and others 

 of a yellowish brown or light snuff-color a difference 

 which does not seem to affect the strength and elasticity 

 of the wood. It is very strong and elastic, is unaffected 

 by moisture, and takes a very attractive finish. In my 

 opinion it takes the first place among rod-woods. 



Some complain of it as treacherous, but I have not 

 found it so. Indeed it may well be questioned whether 

 upon close investigation this fault, so freely charged 

 against more than one rod material, should not more just- 

 ly be attributed to negligence on the part of the maker. 

 Before any wood of any and every kind is ennobled by 

 conversion into a fly-rod, its fitness can and should be 

 thoroughly tested. When the proposed joint is still in 

 the square, and after the taper has been planed in, a 

 strong bend should be given it towards each of the four 

 sides. If it breaks, be thankful that it failed in the shop 

 and not in actual battle ; and on the principle that it is 

 better for a fire-arm to burst in the proving-room than 

 in the hands of its owner, congratulate yourself as one de- 

 livered from danger. Also, if it " sets " that is, does not 

 recover its former straightness when the strain is removed 

 reject it till time and further seasoning remedy this. 

 To one with but limited time to devote to the amuse- 



