22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVIII. 



available as to the effect the felling of bamboos and posts at different phases of 

 the moon has upon their subsequent immunity or otherwise to the attacks of 

 boring pests. 



In their Forest Proceedings * the Marlras Board suggested in 1898 that in- 

 vestigations should be carried out in this subject, and the experiments initiated 

 as a result, although made in a few divisions in Madras only and in a manner 

 which leaves room for improvement, are of very considerable interest as 

 serving to show that the so-termed superstition of the natives of the country 

 has perhaps some substiatum of solid fact to rest upon. 



Before detailing the various experiments made in this country I will first 

 refer to a paper read by Ernest R. Woakes before the American Institute 

 of Mining Engineers f in which the author stated that in South America 

 (Columbia) not only bamboos but all trees are felled during the waning moon only 

 and not during its increasing phases. It would appear that in that country 

 the effect of the moon's phases is treated as an accepted fact. Mr. Woakes 

 states from his own experience that he has often seen the sap running out of 

 stumps during the increasing moon which were absolutely dry during the 

 waning moon. 



In a letter J on the subject Mr. A. W. Peet, Acting Conservator of Forests, 

 Central Circle, Madras Presidency, made the following remarks in 1899: — 



' As regards bamboos I expect that the question of durability depends to a 

 great extent on the question of sap, but the problem seems to be complicated 

 by the doubt whether we are to reckon with the effect of the moon's phases, 

 as well as with the period of the year at which they are felled. I doubt if 

 even the borer can subsist without tbe elements of the sap on which to feed, 

 and the principle of soaking bamboos is, I think, useful, chiefly because it 

 tends to dissolve the fermenting constituents. Heating and smoking bamboos 

 are additional precautions generally adopted. 



' The point, however, which I wish to emphasise here is whether we should 

 not primarily consider the period of the year at which bamboos are felled, and 

 only secondarily the period of the month. There seem good grounds for 

 paying attention to the latter, if we can only determine definitely the number 

 of days in a month in which bamboos can be felled with confidence, and I 

 will revert to this point. However, I think that, unless strong evidence is 

 adduced to the contrary, we shall treat bamboos like other vegetation and 

 assume that the period when % the sap is most vigorous, and therefore the 

 fear of fermentation most pronounced, is in the spring, and that this season 

 should be avoided for felling if durability is of importance ; and it may even 

 be a question whether the root stocks will not be more injured during this 

 period. 



* Board's Resolution. Forest, No. 255, d»ted 24th June 1898. 

 t This paper was reprinted in the T/opical Agriculturist for October 1899. 

 X No. 454, dated Madras, 25th October 1899, to the Commissioners of Land Revenue, 

 Madras. 



