82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1892. 



observations go, reach the ground. I believe the only root-drops of 

 F. Bengalensis, (Wad.) Linn., reach the earth. 



It is not ascertained, at least no author I have consulted, explains 

 why some trees should produce aerial roots and not others. Among 

 fig-trees in a few species only such as Wad. Pipree, and Nundrook, 

 F. Benjaminu, Linn., and F. MysorendSf Heyne, arc such roots 

 seen. 



Cure of the Disease in Ficus Tsiela. — As to the cure of this 

 abnormal condition which I consider to be a disease, it would, I 

 think, be considered absurd by some that I should propose such a 

 thing, especially in a country where valuable fruit-trees such as 

 the mango are allowed either from apathy or ignorance on the 

 part of the proprietors to be destroyed by the attacks of parasitic 

 plants, without employing such a remedy as that of cutting them 

 down as soon as they make their appearance. 



The Pipree is only used as a shady avenue tree, neither its wood 

 nor fruit being of any value. The ball-like green masses of small 

 leaves hanging like Chinese lanterns add at first to its beauty, but in 

 course of time they die, remaining attached to the tree as an ugly 

 appendage for a great length of time, often many years. Then the 

 leaves of the entire tree thus attacked become smaller and of a rather 

 paler colour than in health. To prevent this, I would recommend 

 those who have opportunity, to watch the disease carefully for years, 

 to find out whether it is caused by an insect puncturing a branch or 

 fruit, &c., and whether by cutting the first branch, in which the disease 

 appears, it be possible to arrest its further progress as is done by 

 extirpating a cancerous part of the human body. The Pipree plant 

 is certainly not of much value, but the experiment is recommended in 

 the interest of science, for if a remedy be found, or if the cutting of 

 a branch lead to the arrest of the disease, the fact may lead us to the 

 knowledge of some other phenomena of plant-life, and give us an 

 insight into the nature of this and similar abnormal conditions. 

 As Dr. King thinks that it is a sport — I would ask you to plant this 

 sport in good season and appropriate soil and see whether it can be 

 reproduced. 



Besides the photographs already mentioned at the commencement 

 of this paper, there are on the table others which give graphic 



