The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-16

Oh THE
LARTANA
Parasite Killing
Scourge Over
Il Maui.
GREAT AREAS NOW
FREE OF PLANT
No Damage Done to Other and
Valuable Trees by Enemy to
the Bush.

From experiences so far, DR.. ]. f
Raymond of Kahikinui ranch, is c
opinion that the lantana blight is max
ing great Roadway on the island o
Maui, and that the parasite does no
attack valuable trees or shrubs or w
weeds. Going further, DR.. Raymonc
believes the lantana has a certain per
iod of life and that in many section!
Of his home island the scourge is dying
practically for want of sustenance.
While it is too early to decide just
what viii be accomplished by the Ian
tana blight Ia DR.. Raymond, from
the experience of the Kahikinui ranch
I am of opinion that within a few years
the antan viii be dead upon the 5000
or more acres of the ranch which now
are covered by the scourge. There is
now a systematic endeavor to spread
the blight, as no one believes it will at
tack valuable or forest trees. employ
one man who does nothing else but
spread the blight.
In Wailuku I saw a hedge of Ian
tana which had been killed by the
blight. In the midst of the hedge was a
rose bush, which was in the very best
shape, the leaves being excellent and
the blossoms bright and plenty. I was
told that when the blight attacked the
hedge it the rose bush and
went on over 1t to the rest of the Ian
tana. 1t was noticed that the parasite
was on the leaves and stem of the rose
but it did not take hold and nave any
effect at all.
when 1 removed to U~lupalakua the
premises had been somewhat neglected.
1 began to clean up and found that on a
lantana hedge within 25 feet of some Of
the most valuable trees was the blight
in force. ] had the hedge taken out in
the course of my improvements, but 1
could not find that the blight had at
tackled q single valuable tree or plant.
Then. too, I have watched some weeds
which grow close to the Ian
tana. have seen the blight upon
the leaves but have not been
able to see that a particIei of dam
age was ever ion by the parasite to
any Of the plants.
of course, as I said. it is too soon to
say absolutely what blight will do. In
one place in a period of. six months the
blight spread over an area fifty times
that Of the spot where it was noticed
originally. I should say that the blight
once wen spread oyer q plant. would
destroy 1t within a month. Once the
blight is introduced it VIII propagate
and spread all over a plant until it can
be found on every branch. Then the
leaves fail and the wood blackens and
splits and dies. You can break the
branch or stem with the slightest pres
sure. In spreading the blight have
my man take branches of the lantana
containing the blight and spread them
about among the healthy plants These
in turn and thus a new cente'
is created from which new infected
branches may be secured to start the
blight at another point.
Once TIE lantana is ~blackened and
killed the sun and rain get through to
the ground beneath and then the grass
begins to grow. The spread has not
been sufficient to permit of judging of
the effect Of the disease. but it is my
opinion that once the iantana is dead,
unless the growth has been very great,
the cattle viii force their way in
the growth and break down the
to get at the tender grass. In
ease the growth is too long it viii be
cut down. The spread of the blight is
slow owing to the fast that the thickets
often are quite impenetrable and the
parasite can be introduced only about
the edges. Should the blight continue to
all I expect it viii my plan viii be
to cut trails through these thickets so
as TO spread the blight right among the
bushes and insure it getting a good
start.
"I am convinced that lantana, like
all other plants, a its period of life
In a certain soil, and is not like d forest
tree for instance. Thus when 1 have
been riding over the hills a native for
would tell me that an area of
which shows it Is declining
was. ten years past, a most thriving
forest. Many places you will see the
rlant seemingly dying. The flowers are
iull and few, the plant is scrubby and
has no element of life at all. I have
many acres Of this kin Of plant
which I believe IN five years will have
worn itself out completely. The na-
ives believe this VIII result n say
the kolu had a similar life history
Il am carrying on my fight against
he young lantana just as II there was
10 blight, but I am hopeful that in five
II ten years I viii have some 5000 or
acres cleared entirely Of the Ian
ana, through the blight" Il