CUTTING TIMBER AT THE TIME OF THE FULL MOON.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Six,—I have just read with much interest the review of Mr. Guise's book, Six Years in Bolivia, which appeared in your issue of October 28th. As a forester I have been especially interested in Mr. Guise's account of the polillo wood-borer. It is well known in the tropics that certain timbers are very much more liable to attack either by fungi or insects when the wood is in an unseasoned condition. The life cycles of the wood-borer may coincide approximately with the phases of the moon, in which case the wood cut at the period at which the insects are mature will be vulnerable and liable to attack. On the other hand, if the timber has had time to season even a little it may not be tempting enough to satisfy the fastidious borer. This seems a rather extreme case of insect cycle and astronomical conditions, but at any rate there is a forestry explanation. I shall be interested to see what the Astronomer Royal or the Society for Psychical Research has to say about it.—I am, Sir, &c.
W. M. McNerix.
_Forest Department, Hurunegala, Ceylon, November 23rd.
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