SOME FUNGI IN WOOD.
107
Apart from the fall in salinity, changes in the proportions
of salts present as compared with sea-water, a high alkalinity
(pH 9.8; cf, sea-water, about pH 8.2.), a wide temperature
range (—1°C to 21°C: cf. English Channel, 9 to 17°C), the
presence of hydrogen sulphide and of a comparatively large
amount of iron in solution, were observed. It is considered that
all these factors contribute to make the environment a par-
ticularly severe one, especially since they fluctuate over com-
paratively wide ranges throughout the year. Hence the animals
present have survived, not because of their specialisation, but
more by reason of their physiological resilience. Changes in
New England Creek have been slow, e.g., the salinity has fallen
only an average of 1‰ per annum and, since it is well known that
the majority of animals survive gradual better than rapid change,
this slowness of change has increased the chances of survival of
animals present.
REFERENCES.
Howes, N. H. 1938. The Ecology of a Saline Lagoon in South-East
Essex. J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (In the press).
Lambert, F. J. 1930. Animal Life in the Marsh Ditches of the Thames
Estuary. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. Pt. 3, 801.
SOME FUNGI IN WOOD.
By FRANK W. JANE, B.Sc, Ph.D., F.L.S.
(Continued from p. 50).
The Protection of Wood from Fungal Infection.—
From the point of view of the grower or user of wood, interest
in wood-destroying fungi centres, not so much on the fungus
itself as on the means of getting rid of it, or better, of preventing
its entry into the tree or timber. It is not difficult, in theory, to
devise suitable prophyllactic measures, once a knowledge is gained
of the fungus in question; in general such measures involve the
removal of one of the necessities of existence of the fungus or, in
the case of dressed wood, in impregnation with a toxic substance.
Thus the ideal timber yard would have its timber stacked on a
concrete base to prevent the entry of fungi from the soil into
the lower wood in a pile, and also to promote dry conditions ;
the boards or baulks of wood would be stacked separate from one