The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-11-22
FAULT IN
PLANTING
Experts Remedy
for Pineapple
Blight.

Mistakes in methods Of planting are
the causes OF blight which has been af-
fecting pineapple cultivation in Hawaii
recently. Jared Smith received n re-
port yesterday from the Department of
Agriculture upon some pineapple speci-
mems sent to Washington about six
weeks ago. The diseased pineapples in
question came from Pearl City, but all
over the islands the growth has been
similarly affected, though no material
damage has as yet resulted. The dis
ease is somewhat in the nature of a
blight, and does not spread to a whole
field of the plants. affecting pineapple
only here and there.
II. J. Weber, who is in charge of the
plant breeding laboratory at Washing
ton, in his communication to Director
Smith, gives some advice in regard to
pineapple cultivation which will be of
great value to'the growers of the fruit
here. Mr.. Weber expresses u keen in
terest in Hawaiian agriculture and ex-
presses a Willingness to assist in every
way possible. the efforts OF Mr.. Smith.
He. refers to the disease as "tangle
root" and says that the Hawaiian prod
uct shows symptoms of the blight. and
suggests an easy remedy. The letter in
so far as II refers to the pineapple is
as follows:
Mr.. J. G. Smith, Hawaii Experiment
Station, Honolulu. II. L..
Dear Mr.. Smth:-Mr. Woods has hand
ed me some diseased pneapples which
you sent In for examination. The trou-
BILE in this case seems to be due to the
malady which We have termed "tangle-
root" a figure of which was given In IL
paper of mine in the Year Book for 1895.
This condition of the pineapple, where
the roots are detected by the subtending
leaves and grew around the stock in
stead OF into the soil is an accompani-
ment of pineapple blight and seems to
be symptom OF that disease
Ii Is In many cases without question
due TO improper preparation of the slips
in planting, and judging from the plant
you sent. 1t is the case in this instance.
The specimens are of the Smooth Cay
enne variety. l notice. on a careful ex-
animation of the bases of the plants,
that they seem not to have been prop
erly trimmed in planting, or to have
been left in connection with the old
plants.
In planting pineapple slips or suckers,
the basal leaves should be pruncd down
considerably. that is the leaves should
be pulled or, and when one reaches the
soft tissue of the base careful cross
section should bc made with n knife, as
in preparing cuttings of peaches or
pears, leaving a smooth surface from
which the roots will push out easily. The
plants you sent seem never to have been
put in the soil, but had been simply al
lowed to sucker from the bases Of tho
old plants and remain without replant-
Ing II fields OF pineapples are allowed
rpprndnCp them col IL Il.
for growers to carefully go over them
and pull OFF the suckers located above
the ground, leaving only what are called
'rattoons." that Is, those suckers which
spring out from the base of the old
plants below the soil. 80 that the roots
when developed will be pushed out into
the surrounding soil.
While 1t is impossible at'this distance
for us to be certain that the disease In
your case is due to improper manipula-
ton In planting, etc, | am inclined to
think that this is the case. OF course,
II may be that you have the regular pine
apple blight out there. and that the
blight is associated with tangle root in
Hawaii.
] have found by careful microscopic
examination in the field that plants af-
fected with blight almost invariably
show fine mycelium in connection with
the small roots, which gains entrance
through the root hairs. grows into the
small roots, and thence into the main
stem or the plant. 1t seems to be close
~ related to the Fusariun disease which
Doctor Smith has described. Whether
this fungus induces the malady. how
ever can DE determined only by careful
cultures which have not been made.
II anything of this nature comes up at
any time, We would of course be glad 70
hear from you and give you whatever
information We can.
II. j. WEBER
In Charge of Plant Breeding Laboratory.