256 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



mit, hang the varnished work out in the sun and wind 

 the wind especially. It is this that hardens varnish, and 

 a coat that will remain " tacky " for a week in-doors, will, 

 thus treated, become perfectly hard in twelve hours. Ap- 

 ply no second coat till the first is hard, and remember to 

 lay it as thinly as you can, and you will have no trouble. 

 Apply four or five coats. 



When these are perfectly hard, rub down with pow- 

 dered pumice-stone and water, till the surface is smooth. 

 Rub the work frequently with a damp sponge to clean 

 the surface, that you may inspect your progress, lest you 

 cut through the varnish altogether, and be compelled to 

 begin again. When this is finished, rub well with pow- 

 dered rotten-stone and water, and then polish with dry 

 rotten-stone. Wash again to remove any that may ad- 

 here, and when dry rub briskly with buckskin or a piece 

 of silk. This will give a beautiful and durable finish. 

 I use " Crockett's Spar Composition." In good drying 

 weather, when treated as directed, a coat may be ap- 

 plied every twenty-four hours. 



The conclusion of the preceding chapter should not 

 be overlooked. It was there shown that all wood is 

 hygroscopic i.e., absorbs water from the atmosphere ; 

 that wood seasoned indefinitely in an ordinarily heated 

 dwelling-house still contained from eight to twelve per 

 cent, of moisture ; that the less the contained moisture 

 the greater the strength and elasticity ; that whether 

 the wood was imperfectly seasoned, or whether it had 

 been thoroughly dried out and then allowed to absorb 

 moisture, was the same so far as the effect on its strength 

 and elasticity was concerned ; and that wood could be 

 artificially dried without injury provided it was not ex- 

 posed to a temperature above 120 F. 



