WILLOWS FOR CRICKET BATS 385 



multiple of 2 feet 3 inches, would be saleable if it were of 

 good enough quality, and n or 12 inches quarter girth at its 

 smaller end. 



Rotation. As a general rule, it will be found that the 

 trees should be cut when from 30 to 35 years of age. 



Financial Returns. In cases where most of the timber 

 can be sold for bat making, at the current price of 53. to 6s. 6d. 

 per cubic foot, the growth of tree Willows is by far the most 

 profitable sylvicultural undertaking that can be embarked 

 upon. 



Of Fungi. Various species of Melampsora having a 

 change of generation in a Caeoma form (probably often on 

 conifers) produce a rust on the leaves. 



Polyporus sulphureus produces red rot in the wood. 



Fomes igniarius produces white rot. 



Of Insects. The larvae of various Longicorn Beetles, 

 especially Cerambyx carcharias, bore into the sapwood. The 

 larvae of the Goat Moth Cossus Ligniperda bore into the 

 timber. So also do the larvae of the Willow Wood Wasp 

 Sirex dromedarius. 



The foliage is attacked by the larvae of various Spinner 

 Moths e.g., Bombyx antigua and Bombyx salicis^ and also 

 by the beetles and larvae of the leaf beetles Lina populi and 

 Lina tremula. 



The bark is attacked by a scale insect, Coccus salicis, 

 which appears as a felted white scale. 



A weevil, Cryptorhynchus lapathi^ gnaws the bark of the 

 young shoots of trees, whilst its larvae burrow into the wood 

 and form small galleries. 



2 B 



