ON PREVENTING THE DRY-ROT IN WOOD. ] Q^ 



flowered and produced effective seed*. It is certain, how- 

 ever, that the essential oil of turpentine will act as a poison 

 on growing vegetables; and perhaps the same property may- 

 exist in resin, which seems to be a similar essential oilj 

 united with a certain proportion of oxigen. 



It is ho\i'ever highly probable, that the union of the brim- The brimstone 



stone may have another good effect, which is to prevent one ^"^^ deiend 



-, . ^ . o ■ t i-iTi ™"^ uisecti. 



of the causes of the destruction or timber which 1 have be- 

 fore mentioned, the depredations of insects. Whoever 

 would learn the havoc, which certain animals of this kind 

 are capable of making in hot countries, would do well to 

 read Smeathman's description of the termes, or white ant, 

 originally published in the Philosophical Transactions, and 

 thence abridged into the English Encyclopedia Britannica, 

 and other collections. In this country we know little of 

 such ravages. Mischief however of this kind does some- 

 times occur, and may be the work of various animals, a par- 

 ticular account of which may be met with in the fifth volume 

 of the Transactions of the Linnaean Society. 



I am informed, that in India, a circle of Lord Dundonald's Coal tar. 

 coal tar drawn on the floor round boxes and other furniture, 

 will effectually preserve them and their contents from the 

 depredations of the white ant. 



It appears, that most insects are fond of sugar and muci- Other defences 

 lage; which is the probable reason why that wood is most ^g^i"st insects. 

 subject to be penetrated by worms, which is felled when it 

 most abounds with sap. In such cases, it might be well to 

 try the effects of washing the wood, previously to the use 

 of the varnish, with a solution of arsenic in hot water, in , 

 the proportion of 1 lb. to 10 gallons ; or with a strong de- 

 coction of coloquintida or bitter apple, or white hellebore; 

 after which the wood must be completely dried before the 

 application of the varnish in the manner before directed. 

 All these preparations are extremely cheap, and are either 

 destructive or offensive to insects, and therefore will, proba- 

 bly, be an effectual defence against any injury from that 

 cause, 



C. H, PARRY. 

 Circus, Sept. 30, 180?. 



* See Journal, vol. XVIIl, p. 18. 



VI. 



