204 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of the special conditions in each case. The following considera- 

 tions are important in forming a decision, Carbolineum imparts 

 to the timber treated by it a persistent odour which many find 

 disagreeable, and which might possibly taint food, etc., placed in 

 closed cellars, sheds, etc., whose wood had been treated with it. 

 Again, it soils to a considerable extent both the clothes and the 

 hands of the workmen using it, and precautions have to be 

 taken to protect the skin and eyes against its irritating effects, 

 this being especially true when it is employed hot and within 

 closed spaces. Further, timber treated with carbolineum cannot 

 be painted, for, even after a long period of drying, the preserva- 

 tive diffuses through and alters the paint, producing long brown 

 marks. In the case of skirting-boards and wainscoting, it is, 

 however, sufficient if the side in contact with the wall is painted 

 with carbolineum, and if this is not done until after the front face 

 has been painted, and has thoroughly dried, the paint will not be 

 affected. If, however, it is desired to leave the wood in its 

 natural colour, microsol is indicated. This product has no 

 smell, does not produce irritating vapours, does not prevent the 

 wood being painted, and seems generally to be indicated for 

 wood in the interior of buildings, while carbolineum should be 

 reserved for that to be exposed in the open. 



In a final section the author discusses the damage done to 

 wood by various destructive insects, the means of recognising 

 the more important of these, and methods of prevention or of 

 cure. Thus he gives an illustrated account of Hylotrupes 

 bajaluSy which attacks all the useful conifers, and is extremely 

 destructive. A characteristic which renders it especially de- 

 structive, is that it may go on breeding for many successive 

 generations without the perfect insects ever appearing at the 

 surface, and thus the beams, etc., attacked, may be completely 

 destroyed internally before the presence of the beetle is sus- 

 pected. A simple and efficient preventive measure is to paint 

 the surface once or twice with hot carbolineum. The same 

 antiseptic can be applied to wood already attacked, and will 

 prevent further damage. Similar treatment will prevent the 

 attacks of Termes lucifugus, which is becoming more and more 

 common in south-west France. 



The author also discusses at some length the ravages of the 

 common wood-borers Anobium, Ptilinus, etc. Here again one of 

 the antiseptics named above, especially carbolineum or microsol> 

 is the remedy indicated. Marion I. Newbigin. 



