XXXVi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Kumaon, at an altitude of 12,000 feet (" Fl. of Br. Ind.,' vol. L 

 p. 161). 



White Ants in France. — Communications were received by- 

 Mr. Morris from E. S. Warburton, Esq., of the British Vice- 

 Consulate of Eochelle, respecting the ravages done by Termes 

 lucifugus, a native of South Europe and North Africa. It was 

 introduced about the end of the last century, and has now spread 

 almost everywhere at La Eochelle. Many public and private in- 

 stitutions are in a dangerous state, as at the Prefecture, where 

 wooden beams have had to be replaced by iron. They have de- 

 stroyed part of the archives, and it is found that it is useless to 

 grow certain plants in the gardens (as Geraniums), as the ants 

 consume the interior of the stalks. It has been found impossible 

 to destroy or get rid of them. Dr. Muller remarked that they 

 had proved very destructive to Vines in certain parts of France, 

 Mr. McLachlan added that another species (T. flavipes), which 

 had appeared and done much damage in xA.ustria, has now been 

 pretty well exterminated. Mr. Morris reminded the Committee 

 that the white ant had once been imported to Kew in a log of the 

 Copal-tree, and that when old slave ships were left at St. Helena, 

 after liberating the slaves, the ants soon spread over that island. 



Potato Disease, and the Use of Sulphate of Copper. — Some 

 discussion arose on this subject relative to the statement that on 

 certain occasions, and probably on different soils, it had proved to 

 be less beneficial than expected ; and that the question had been 

 raised whether it did not render the soil injurious to plant life. 

 Drs. Muller and Eussell pointed out that the results might be 

 very different if there were an excess of the copper salt or of lime y 

 as there might be not enough of lime to precipitate the former, 

 resulting in an excess of copper salt undecomposed in the soil. 

 For example, Dr. Eussell stated that he had taken the consti- 

 tuents of the mixture used by Messrs. Sutton, as stated in the 

 Times, and found that the lime was not sufficient to decompose 

 all the sulphate of copper, so that some of the solution had 

 probably entered the soil. Secondly, the quality of the lime was 

 an important point, as there might be an excess of caustic lime, 

 which would probably be equally injurious. Moreover, the 

 results might vary considerably according as the soil was 

 naturally calcareous or purely siliceous. In the latter case a 

 deficiency of basic materials would very likely bring about an 



