40 AMATEUR EODMAKING 



published in 1885, and in the second edition, 

 which appeared in 1901. Of dagama he said: 



" Compared with a stick of approved green- 

 heart of equal size the dagama showed no in- 

 feriority that I could detect, while it was cer- 

 tainly much lighter. ... I have made and 

 used several rods made of dagama, and have 

 seen many made by others. If well selected 

 and well seasoned, as a rod wood it is difficult 

 to equal, much less excel, as far as my experi- 

 ence goes. It is very strong, very elastic, con- 

 siderably lighter than any wood I know of 

 which has equal strength, and works with a 

 keen tool in a way that is simply a delight." 



The late John Harrington Keene favored 

 four varieties of wood for rods, after split 

 bamboo. These were snakewood, lancewood, 

 greenheart, and bethabara. Snakewood, in his 

 opinion, was the best where weight was not 

 important, as for bait-casting rods. " It is," 

 said he, " one of the most satisfactory woods 

 to work that I know, cutting smoothly and 

 without apparent grain, and coming out from 

 the plane with a surface like ivory for smooth- 

 ness. Greenheart is a much harsher wood to 

 work, but if the tool is keen it works fairly well. 

 For fly-rods it is one of the best woods I know, 

 being of medium weight and great stiffness." 



