The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1893-09-12

we-s present MeSsrS- W G. Irwin
!. Herbert, John Ena. Commis
siouer Marsden and the Hon. J A
King. minister Of the interior,
a communication was read from
Prof. Koebele. The professor Of
Tered his services to the board foi
the sum Of 5000 = year. The
offer was accepted conditiOnalIy-
provided the government and
Planters company agreed to beal
the expense.
The following interesting report
Of Commissioner Nsrsden was read
and ordered printed
His ExeelIeuey !. \. KING, Presi-
dent Of the Bureau Of Agriculture
and Forestry.
SIR: I have the honor TO submit
for your consideration the following
report on the different blights and in
sect pests, that are 80 seriously Injur-
ing the vegetation Of these islands.
one Of the most Injurious Is s. brown
beetle, 4 species Of sc0rebGcfdeS,
which there i every reason 70 believe
VS. imported from Japan The raw
ages Of this beetle are truly alarming
At first IL seemed TO cOntiue its atten-
zion 70 the young and tender leaves
u the rose bush, but IS its members
increased 50 did it appetite Ii takes
IN it. DILL Of fare, orange, avocado
pear, bananas, grap=-vines, besides
many ornamental trees and shrubs.
Even the hard, fiiuty leaves Of some
% the palms do not escape. Nothing
has been devised that has had any
success in diminishing the numbers
Of this beetle. 1t only works ST night
and disappears in the daytime. Many
thousands are caught every night, but
sheiF numbers seem 70 be continually
on the increase. Il i only question
Of time. even with the mos stringent
regulations when this beetle viii
make its way 70 the other Islands. Ii
penstrates into the houses after the
lights are lit, snd nothing i more
likely, than sooner or later, some Of
them viii be carried in freight to the
other islands. No account has as Yet
been heard Of this beetle attacking
sugar cane, but 1t seems likely judg-
ing from past experieuessl, that the
sugar cane viii be attacked. II this
beetle once gets an appetite for young
cane, our planters will suffer great
loss. There seems 10 be no possible
way to get rid Of this destructive bee
lie, except by introducing an enemy
that will prey upon it. Il Is possib
10 protect Individual plants by dust
ing the leaves with poisonous pow
ders, but that does not destroy the
beetle, he simply goes to some other
plant and deYOUrs it. \ consignment
Of tOads from California i expected
which viii no doubt prey upon the
beetle, but from the past experience
d those people VINO have brought
tO2ds 10 this country, IL i doubtful
If they viii thrive and increase here. I
Your commissioner has sent some Of (
these beetles with several other speci- /
mems Of blight and insects to Professor 4
c. V.RiIey, Chief EntOmol0gist Of the l
[. :. State Department Of AgTicul- I
-ure at Washington. D. c., with a 1
letter asking II the department has 4
any knowledge Of any night flying 1
birds. that would be likely 10 prey 4
upon the beetle. The reply will be 4
awaited with much interest. As there
seems 20 be no doubt but that We are
to Japan for this destructive
insect, and a. the japanese say that
in their country It does not DO any
hing like the damage IL does here,
e seems probable that an enemy ex-
SIS there, which was not brought
here with the beetle In what form
his enemy may be. whether a bird,
-sptile or parasite, only an examiua-
ion Of that country can determine.
Another destructive pest i the
white cottony blight puIvinaFia psi
III maskeII.. This blight l. very in
uriOus % our citrOn trees Il also
stacks the mango, breadfruit, avO-
ado pears and many ornamental
ices and shrubs. II also attacks the
0ffee tree, and l. harder 10 Kill BY
praying than the old coffee blight,
hat has been known for many years
4 the coffee districts Of these islands.
he puiviuaFia If once introduced into
he coffee districts will be q severe
heck 10 any enterprise III coffee
llautiug. - IL VIII entirely prevent
he coffee tree from bearing, unless
he trees are subjected To continual
praying, which would prove %
Ostly, a. TO render the industry IN
.TOfitabIe, and although the regula-
ion u the bureau l. very strict, it Z
ertafn sooner or later 70 be evaded 5y
ONE inscriptions persons who
mink HOre Of a little personal gratifi-
alton, than the welfare Of the com 1
1unity. smuggling infected plants 70
be other islands
One small c0ttony cell Of the Phi
iHnTiq concealed among the leaves
{ j plant would be quite enough to
Meet whole district a. each cell |
1uLains hundreds Of eggs which soon {
atch, aud the young insects which I
r. almost invisible 20 the naked eye.
pam over the plant and attach them
elves 10 the leaves, buds and fruit, Z
I'd IN less than j week mature and
y thousands OF eggs, which soon I
ati5h and spread u other plants They I
+, descend % the roots and multiply !