ON ANGLING. 87 



manner. Whatever wood is made use of, 

 the shoots ought to be got in winter, when 

 the sap has descended to the root, and kept 

 a year or two in some dry place, oiling them 

 now and then, with linseed oil, and placing 

 them in such a position that they may not 

 warp. If they are crooked, they may be 

 made perfectly straight, by warming them 

 over a gentle fire. I speak here of ash or 

 hazel, the bamboo cane, brier, and elder 

 are cut into joints, and thick enough when 

 divided lengthways into four pieces, to form 

 the top of the substance required. Bam- 

 boo cane is preferable for fine tops ; brier is 

 cheaper and little inferior, plenty may be 

 found in hedges of ancient inclosure, which 

 have not been plashed for many years, but 

 it should be thoroughly seasoned before it is 

 split, otherwise the small pieces will be apt 

 to warp in drying ; elder is rather brittle, 

 and is never used when cane or brier can be 

 procured of sufficient substance when split, 

 to correspond with the part to which it is 

 intended to be joined. 

 H 3 



