The San Francisco call., 1897-04-15
Came Here From the Islands
on the Steamer
Australia.
Found on Wreaths Presented to
Passengers Before Leaving
for Home.
In Future All Such Presentations
Will B, Consigned to the Fur.
mace by Mr.. Craw.

The cabin passengers on the Oceanic
Steamship Company's Australia and In
spector Craw of the Horticultural Society
had e 'spat" yesterday. For years it has
been the custom to pass all the flowers
and wreaths presented to passengers on
the departure of the steamer from Homo
lulu.
In the paradise of the Pacific" the val
Ieys and hills are always covered with
wild flowers and creeping plants. The
gardens of the welI-to-do are in bloom
from years end to years end, but unfor-
tunately there is not much supervision,
and in consequence mum berless pests have
found lodgment in the soil. Ferns, man.
goes and other South Sea island plants
have been thrown into the furnace on ar
irving here, and on one occasion mag
nificent consignment for the conservatory
of Claus Spreckels was destroyed on the
order of the Sugar King. The remark OF
the latter was when spoken to about the
matter by Mr.. Craw, Better should be
out few thousand dollars than that
pest should be introduced into Califor-
nia." 1t has made several attempts to
make landing here. but on every occa-
sion has been bsffied by the vigilance of
Inspector Craw.
When the Monowai arrived here few
weeks ago q mum ber of pot plants and
lais, or wreaths, were consigned TO the
furnace. When the Australia arrived yes
terday Mr.. Craw saw the red wax scale on
at tleast half dozen wreaths, so he cut
off all the green foliage and lett nothing
but the wilted flowers for the indignant
women. In future every wreath that
comes from Hawaii will be consigned 10
the furnace when it reaches San Fran
cisco.
In order to understand the widespread
significance of this ruling 1t must be un-
ders ood that il strikes at one of the roots
OF Hawaiian custom. On leaving the
islands it is an established rule that the
statenooms of friends and relatives must
be duly decorated, and wreaths 10 crown
them must be at the wharf prior TO the
vessels sailing. Nearly all these flowers
and wreaths, If taken care of, viii last un-
til this port is reached, and then the pas
sengers will show them with pride 10 Their
friends. Now the edict has gone forth,
and no more Hawaiian wreaths will come
to San Francisco.
Every grsen leaf that comes here on the
next steamer from Hawaii will be de-
stroyed. The islands are infested with
bugs and a stringent quarantine is the
only thing that will keep them out Of
California.
Three years ago I wrote to Commits
sioner of Agriculture Marsden and pointed
out that the red wax scale had been carried
into Hawaii from India" said Inspector
Craw yesterday. The answer l received
was that it was not doing mucL damage;
but now / can see plainly that it is
spreading, and the most stringent meth
DDS must be taken to keep it out of Cali
tornia. 1t does not attack fruit, but it is
death to the leaves, and that means death
to the tree. No more wreaths, no more
flowers. no more palms, no more flower
ing plants, no more mangoes and no more
vines of any kind that have the slightest
trace of the red wax scale on them will be
allowed to land. ALI will be consigned to
the furnace"