BOTANICAL NOTES. 147 



the timber is "used for house building; " probably be meant cnly for temporary 

 structures ? I write from experieDse, and beg to differ from him. A beam of this 

 wood, to save expense, was put up in a bungalow in 1880, and in 1886 perforations 

 by boiers were the result! I anticipated this, and informed the builder at the 

 time that a certain percentage of saccharine matter is contained in this tree, 

 consequently, it was open to the ravages of insects. The timber is certainly 

 tough, the average weight per eft. = 49 lbs.; is almost equal to that of teak 

 (Tectona grandis) ; it planes smoothly and receives a good polish ; but cui bona? 

 En passant, Creosote, possessing that powerful antiseptic property, has 

 been recommended for the preservation of timber ; but instances have occurred 

 where creosote, chloride of zinc, carbolic acid and corrosive sublimate have been 

 used, but without satisfactory results, excepting that they retard the destruction 

 by insects for a couple of years or so, when the above have not penetrated the 

 wood. Creosote, I know, acts like a charm, and is efficacious in preserving 

 animal substances. Then in my humble opinion I consider that the wood of 

 the Feron\a is unfit for permanent structures, though it may be used for 

 agricultural implements, but should not be classed with the M Indian timber 

 trees" of durability. 



F. R. 



Note by Editor. — The Feronia, Koit, or Kaith bel is mentioned in Balfour's 

 t' Timber Trees of India," 1862 Edition, and he reports it as much used for build- 

 ing in Gujerat and Coimbatore,where it is said to be durable, but inVizagapatam, 

 where it is also much used, it is said to be not very durable, thus confirming 

 Mr. Hose's opinion. Its strength (360 lbs.) is apparently almost equal to teak, 

 but there the comparison ceases ; the durability of teak, its properties of resist- 

 ing insects, and preserving iron from rust are chiefly due to the amount 

 of tar contained in the wood ; this tar, which was first brought to my notice by 

 the Gipsies (Bunjaras) of the Central Provinces in 1863 or 1864 was sent by me 

 for analysis to the Agri-Horticultural Society of Bengal, and the report will 

 be found in the journal of that time. 



R. A. S. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY DURING 

 THE QUARTER. 



TaE usual Monthly Meeting of the Society was held on Monday, April 5th, 

 at 6, Apollo Street, Dr. D. Macdonald, Vice-Piesident, presiding. 



The following new Members were elected : — H. H. the Maharaja Saheb 

 of Indore, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, Bart., Captain Street, Mr. N. R. 

 Cumberleye, Captain L. L. Fenton, Captain W. Aves, Mr. G. W. Terry, 

 Mr. J. Franklin, Captain Barclay, Captain Bishop, Mr. H. Van Buith, and Mr. 

 D. George. 



Mr. II. M. Phipson then acknowledged receipt of the following contribu 



