200 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



increased in weight to the extent of 8 per cent, by absorption 

 of So'.or. In September 1907, that is after three years of 

 submergence at the pier, a transverse section was cut from each 

 of these pieces of wood, when it was seen that the untreated 

 specimen had been severely injured by Teredo, while the piece 

 treated with Sotor was absolutely untouched." ^ In M. Coomans' 

 opinion the experiment was not sufficiently prolonged to enable 

 a definite conclusion to be based on it, and he advises further 

 investigation. 



What has been said regarding measures of protection against 

 Teredo, applies equally to meeting the attack of Liinnoria and 

 Chelura. 



M. Henry concludes by saying that the above-mentioned 

 encouraging experiments ought to incite marine engineers 

 and others to achieve their desired end by such means as those 

 indicated, rather than by costly sheathing, or by the use of 

 other materials in the place of wood. Without doubt, he says, 

 antiseptics more efficacious and cheaper than those now in use 

 will be discovered ; and he invites all who are interested in the 

 question to repeat, with variations, the experiments that have 

 already been made in the United States, Denmark, Holland 

 ^nd Germany, with antiseptics derived from coal — creosote, 

 carbolineum, and Sotor, etc. — and to encourage further study of 

 the subject by chemists. 



Sea- Worms in British Ports. 



Mr Walter G. Coles, Engineer to the Secretary for Scotland, 

 writes as follows : — 



We have had several experiences of the ravages of the 

 Teredo ?iava/is on the west coast of Scotland. It used to be 

 thought that greenheart piles were immune from the attacks 

 of this worm, but it is now recognised that in certain waters 

 the worm will destroy this wood as well as others. 



In 1906, the piles at Portree Pier were found to be eaten. 

 They were of greenheart and had been built for twenty-five years. 

 Again at Blackmill Bay Pier, in the Island of Luing, Argyllshire, 

 it was found in 1906 that the piles of this pier, which had 

 been built for only eleven years, were badly eaten by the 



^ M. Henry tells me that Sotor is far superior to creosote. It can be 

 obtained from the Fabrik Carbolineum Avenarius, Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, at 

 a price of about 6d. a quart. — F. B. 



