ADDBESS BY THE PRESIDENT, NOVEMBER 7, 1873. 121 



Ash la assailed by Hylesinm fraxini, elm by Scolytus destructor, 

 larch by Bostrichus lands, Scots fir by Sylobius abietis and Hylurgus 

 piniperda, willow by Trochilium crabroniforme (the lunar hornet 

 sphinx), and others. The plane, maple, and walnut suffer less severely. 

 Much interesting and reliable information about insects is given in 

 Selby's "British Forest Trees" and Loudon's " Arboret. Britannicurn." 



In like manner, incalculable mischief is caused in India by the 

 destructive agency of white ants and other insects. One insect 

 (Bostrichus) reduces the bamboo to an impalpable powder ; another 

 infests the seeds of tamarinds (Calandra tamarindi), which crumble 

 to dust; and the coffee-bug (Coccus coffece) has been destructive to 

 coffee estates in Ceylon and Coorg. In some parts the carpenter 

 bee (JCylocopa) bores through posts, rails, and beams, occasioning 

 serious injury to houses. In visiting wood depots one cannot fail 

 to observe the damage caused by timber-eating beetles, and it is 

 important to trace out the history of these destroying agents and to 

 apply a remedy. Any observations upon the natural history, 

 economy, and proceedings of such insects as are injurious to trees 

 (living or dead), and any detail of experiments made for the 

 destruction of the insects, or for preservation from their attacks, 

 might be of much practical utility. Figures of the insects in their 

 different states, and specimens of the wood showing the effects 

 produced, would enhance the value of such communications. The 

 highest authorities known to me in this country regarding insects 

 which attack forest trees are Mr James Hardy, Penmanshiels, Ber- 

 wickshire, and Mr Albert Muller, Xorwood, London,* who have 

 devoted themselves to this branch of entomology, and whose 

 opinion might be valuable to those whose trees are suffering from 

 the depredation of insects. 



This leads me to dwell for a moment on the importance of 

 quickening your power of observation. The forester, like the 

 farmer, has to watch the seasons, the destructive effects of insects, 

 and many incidental circumstances, including the rise and fall of 

 the markets, which hasten or retard his felling operations, the profit 

 or loss being materially affected by his shrewdness and judgment in 

 availing himself of all advantages. 



In selecting trees to be felled, the condition and qualities of each 

 individual tree have to be examined as a farmer studies the peculia- 

 rities of his cattle. Some trees are of a more rapid growth than 

 others ; these should be left as long as this quality shows itself, 

 * Appointed Director of the Zoological Garden, Basle, Switzerland. 



