FAMILY BOSTRYCHIDAE 141 



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 * on the subject Mr. A. \V. 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 the 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 pre- 

 cautions generally adopted. 



" The point, however, which I wish to emphasize 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. 



" In order to test this presumption I lately questioned a bamboo contractor, without giving 

 him any leading questions, and he told me that he believed that there was something in the 

 waning moon theory, but that he had come to the clear conclusion that bamboos felled during 

 March and up to the end of July had less durability than those felled during the other months 

 of the year. 



" As regards the phases of the moon a hill man told me that he considered that bamboos 

 might be felled safely during the seven days before new moon, and the seven days after ; but 

 on being pressed as to what he considered absolutely the best period he said during the 

 seven days before. His theory of the seven days after would seem to conflict with Mr. Woakes's 

 theory." 



The experiments carried out in Madras, although they cannot be considered to have been 

 as definite as is desirable, are still of very considerable interest. They were initiated in torn 

 separate lotalities, viz., the Nilgiris, North Coimbatore, South Coimbatore, and South Malabar, 

 and the following summarizes the observations made : 



NILGIRIS, -y^June 1899. Bamboos were cut in all the ranges except Ootacamuiul a u-\\ 

 days before and a few days after new moon and full moon, and kept separate from r.u h other. 

 Some were smoked and others were soaked in water. It was found that bamboos cut on <l;uk 

 nights and immediately soaked or smoked for a period of two months were not attacked by 

 the borers. From the experiments conducted in the various ranges it was observed ih.i 

 bamboos felled during moonlight nights were more severely attacked than those felled dm in- 

 dark ones, and that soaked bamboos fared much better than unsoaked oiu-s. As .1 H-MI! 

 the experiments the recommendation was made that as soon as felled the li.unlioos should 

 be fully immersed in water for some time or properly smoked in a shed, or otherwise they 

 were liable to be attacked by the borers. 



As 1 have shown, however, in my previous papers on the preservation of bam 

 from the borers, neither immersion in water nor smoking is to be depended upon as a safe 

 preventive. 



* No. 454. dated Madras, 25 October 1899, to the Commissioners ot Land Revenue 

 Madras. 



