The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-11-03
PROFESSOR IaRGIH DELIVERS IN ADDRESS
- - IN LOUISIANA Oh THE GlAE B0RER
Subject of Immediate InterestHabits
of the Borer-Remedy Is to Smother Burn Him.
Cane Tops stubble Should Be Promptly
Observation-Disclosures of the Borer

consumed b. IRE In month or six weeks
after cutting. Whatever may b your
method. 49, 70 IL that not a vestige OF
eane top : left upon the ground, from
which moth will ind easy exit next
spring.
In 0ur experiments. not single moth.
OF the many that were put down in the
Dupa condition. ever came out Of a depth
~ soil Of half an acre or more
The experiments embraced the pupa in
soil 3 inches, IL inches. , inches. IL
inches. ] inch and half an inch. and in
no case did a single moth escape.
Nov thaf We know the months are
unable 10 escane from soil even half an
I inch deep every pains should be taken to
get infested cane tops under ground. If
conditions are unfavorable for complete
1 burning. Particular attention should be
/ paid 20 trash along ditch banks. where
/ burning or burvinp is never very salts
j factOrily accomplished.
Wiudrowed cane like cane-tOps. con-
/ tains two hroOds Of bOrers. an older one
/ the caterpilars Of which are nearly full
/ grown M the time the cane is cut: and
/ another in the egg or very young larvai
stage. Many Of the older brood perish in
1 the cane before Il is removed for spring
| planting. but those of the last brood work
in seed cane all winter. destroy many
I eyes. and are large. vigorous and ready to
! The source Of danger does not lie in
/ the borers put down under the ground in
/ snring plant cane. but is in the pieces
1 containing borers which are scattered
over the seed cane area and in those left
above ground in the field in which this
cane is planted. and those along the roads
and turn rows. Although these are very
| dangerous sources Of borer-suppIv. the
tracts involved are limited. even on large
plantations and it viii not be expensive
nor troublesome to have both the seed
cane area and the planted area carefully
gone over, and every stalk and piece Of
cane removed and planted or DESTROYED
| cannot refrain from emphasizing this
means Of perpetuating borer infection. for
often sufficient cane is left on the wind
-Owed land that permission is given per
sons 10 CLEAN such tracts. and frequently
large quantities Of seed cane are pro-
cured in this way. Particularly important
Is IL that the seed land should be clean
If corn is TO follow in your system of
rotation. since corn has been found to be
the principal food plant of the borer
during April. Nav and June.
The other means of carrying the borer
through the winter is in stalks of cane
dropped along roads. tramways, railroads
around elevators. in and around the SUI
gar house. and those left in cars and
wagons at the close of the grinding and
planting seasons
OF all these instances cited, perhaps
the trash-pile ehind the mill is the most
dangerous for sometimes this trash is
scattered over the fields in spring in or
der 10 secure. to the land. all the vege-
table matter available. While the matter |
of obtaining plenty of humus may be |
highly commendable still the great |
danger from the horer many times out |
weighs the benefit vour land may receive /
from n fertilizer of this kind
Every piece of cane around the sugar
house along the tracks. and roads should
be picked up. and If not run through the
MIL should be thoroughly burned. buried
or otherwise DESTROYED.
All the known methods OF carrying the /
horer through the winter in the cane
plant have been mentioned. but nothing /
has been said of other plants upon which 1
the borer feeds and lives. such as corn, /
sorghum. Johnson grass and Guinea corn.
There are planters present who have wit
messed the destruction of the corn crop /
this year by the sugar cane borer, and
who Win / am sure agree with me that /
corn Is an important foOdplant of this /
insect While the bulk of the damage /
done to corn is IN Kidding the stalks, vet
the attack upon the ear. even in the cen
ter Of wel-matured cobs, is not uncOm-
mon,
An this indicates another possible
corn. Ii is a significant fact that borers
may live in 'punky" and dry cane and
corn stalks provided they (the borers) |
recpme well crown before the stalks reach
this ~panky" condition.
All that has been said of cane and corn
is equally true OF sorghum. Guinea corn
and johnson grass. particularly as these
plants produce a second and even a third
growth. and many produce green food for
the borers well up 10 the alternating pc
Rod.
In the light OF these facts, it may be
best to cease planting corn and sorghum
until the bOrer has been exterminated
from your fields. Though it may be alb
soinfeiy safe 10 plant corn after peas
or ON land which has been well prepared
IN the fall or early winter. Under no cir
however, plant corn on seed
cane land.
All OF the foregoing DISCUSSION has
iealt exclusively with the suppression Of
the borer in winter IL seems an inter
undertaking. however. to check 1
its spread during the plant-growing pc /
Rod but in conclusion. methods lessen
INK the spread Of the borer in corn and
zane will be suggested aud Advocated yet
our hest efforts toward the determination
af the borer shoald be made in fall and
winter.
From careful observations made upon
fia NATIONS NhtTC Tue lutnuidt OUT % {
corn and caue stalks (afected with ,
.orcrs al the nrSt brood has been care
fully and systematically done. il is gen
orally conceded that this class Of work
Nill protect the crop very much. but can
act. In any sense be depended upon 10
completely clear the fields Of borers
Mr +. J. Kock OF Belle Alliance was
he first 10 institute the plan of cutting
,uf Of canes with dead hearts The
ane fields were gone over twice in June
md one strip Of 100 ceres was culled
hind tine In all. something like 2.t00
lcres were culled At an expense Of Sl9O.
approximately the cost per acre was
little over : cents.
When the ravages Of the borer we're '
discovered in corn. this crop throughout / o
he alluSial section Of the sugar cane belt q
gaS too far adTanced TO permit OF sue :
e<Sfui culling In fact. the second brood Z
Z borers were al work and 10 Gull would !.
ave meant the cutting cut Of nearly the y
ntSre crop In some instances. hadfv in ?
esfed corn fields adjacent 70 cane were 4
ntirely cut down. hnt had we known u
arlieg that corn was an important feed I,
,lsnt, cuiling ont the hrsf brood would )
axe been practicable and inexpensive
On Mr. y. = pougherty's plantation,
orr not 50 far advanced as that uHon 2
he river. was culled with good results. .
3 Seasons similar 70 the one just past, y
ORR should ~ cnlled in early Nav. and Ii
ane IA late Nay aud early June. OF 4
aurse NJ can easily understand that cane :
III Kermit the culiiH< our Of infested !.