PROCEEDINGS. 123 



DISEASES OF FIG TREES. 



Dr. J . C. Lisboa then delivered a lecture on •what appears to be an hereditary- 

 disease of the branches and leaves of the fig-tree known as the Pipree {Ficus tsiela).. 

 This tree occurs in large numbers on the road between Poona and Mahableshwar, and 

 those who have travelled along that road must have noticed a curious phenomenon 

 presented by the tree. From its branches may here and there be seen hanging 

 large green balls, like Chinese lanterns. They are composed entirely of numerous 

 small leaves, thickly congested on small branchlets, which are also numerous and 

 congested on larger branches. As seen from a distance one is apt to infer that the 

 leaves have been brought together either by spiders or red ants, but closer examina- 

 tion, shows that the leaves are free, and that the appearance is due to the innumerable 

 short branches shooting out in close proximity to one another and bearing small 

 closely imbricated leaves. The branch of the tree thus affected gradually dies. The 

 lecturer stated that these abnormalities were, in his opinion, due to an hereditary 

 disease, and were not caused by either a fungus or by insects. 



A vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Lisboa for his valuable lecture, which was 

 illustrated by means of photographs and specimens. 



