CH. XVII STICK OF THE WHIP 39 1 



straightest of course being preferred, but those 

 which are somewhat crooked can be steamed and 

 straightened by the maker. They are cut to nearly 

 the length required, and stored, seasoned, and dried 

 with great care, being- examined at intervals, and 

 kept straight, the whole operation requiring, with 

 the best makers, a period of about five years. 

 They are then trimmed to their final shape, stained, 

 varnished, and mounted. The varnishing is of great 

 importance in protecting the stick from the effects 

 of dampness, and every maker has his special way 

 of doing- it, the work of some makers beino- far 

 superior to that of others. 



The stick should be springy but not soft, and must 

 be proportioned to the weight of the thong ; a four- 

 horse whip requires to be stiffer than a pair-horse 

 whip, which has a short thong. 



The whole length G f the stick should be five feet, 

 measured from the metal butt of the handle to the 

 end, which end is marked by the knot always worked 

 on the quill. Five feet, one inch and a half, is the 

 extreme length that the stick should have. 



The stick usually has a handle, but some sticks 

 show the wood throughout from butt to knot ; they 

 do not, as a rule, balance as well in the hand as 

 those that have handles. Rabbit-bitten hollies * are 

 much fancied ; they are found in holly plantations 

 frequented by rabbits ; these animals eat the bark 



* See note on page 414. 



