Editors Box. 581 



ness ut axe head 1^ inches, which gradually tapers down to the cutting 

 edge ; shaft 3 feet 3 inches long ; total weight 1\ lbs. 



In conclusion allow me to say that these axes should be well wedged 

 into the shaft with a good iron wedge, placed not across, but lengthways of 

 the eye. The length of the eye is 3^ inches, by rather more than an inch in 

 the widest part, and ought always to be made as large as possible, as it is 

 at the eye that all shafts generally break. 



Hawlcstone, Saloj). E. Jandrell, 



THE PINE BEETLE. 



Sir, — In reference to the letter at page 501, from Mr. Scott, Southwick 

 Park, upon the pine beetle in Hampshire, I may state that while upon the 

 Lenuoxlove Estate in East Lothian, between the jeava 1838 and 18-il, 

 eight or ten acres of an old Scotch fir plantation were cut down annually, 

 the ground drained and replanted, chiefly with larch, spruce, and Scotch 

 fir, the former of which were soon attacked by the beetle. 



"VYe set to work and traced them to some old wood lying upon the 

 ground, where we found them iu all the different stages from the larva to 

 the full-grown beetle, and where I have no doubt they lived and carried on 

 their operations the previous winter, aud would do so again in the same 

 way had the old wood been allowed to remain ; but we cleared it all away, 

 burning the decayed portion, and in this way we soon got rid of the insects ; 

 but before this was done they had destroyed a considerable number of trees, 

 chiefly larch, newly planted. Boys were also employed to collect and destroy 

 the full-grown beetles. Mr. Balden, the intelligent forester, wrote an essay 

 upon the subject, for which he obtained a gold medal from the Highland 

 and Agricultural Society. I may mention that I have only seen one tree 

 affected here during the last twenty-six years. 



John McLaren, 



Hopi'toiui, sfh Xoremher, 1877. Forester. 



Sir, — In the last issue of the Jouiual Mr. Scott makes reference to this 

 insect, and believes it is propagated in the dead or wasting branches of the 

 pine itself. It is a pity he did not mention as minutely as possible how 

 many stages he found them in, as well as the different sizes and colours. 

 I know a good many deeply interested parties who do not believe in this 

 manner of propagation ; I am also rather sceptical. It is generally 

 believed [by none but the ignorant — Ed.'\ that the aphis or larch bug is 

 propagated by the natural sap in its ascent being suddenly checked and 

 caused to stagnate in the plaut by a lengthened period of hoar-frost in early 

 Bpring, or at least after the sap has commenced to ascend the trunk of the 

 tree or plant. And why may it not be the cause of the piniperda's propa- 

 gation also? Possibly some entomologist may help to clear up this 

 VOL. I. 2s- 



