Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-11-25

Ever since the reading of the report
on lantana by r. c. L. Perkins, the
naturalist. before the Planters and Live
Stock Breeders Association not long
ago, there has been great deal of in
terest taken in the matter by people
who had never paid much attention TO
1T previously. The report showed so
conclusiyely that something can be
done II an organized effort is made,
that people interested have started In
to make inquiries. Mr.. Perkins was
seen In his room in the basement OF
the Capitol building yesterday and in
answer to questions regarding the Ian
tana and the lantana destroyers, spoke
as follows:
Yes. the lantana Is a native of Mex
leo and has probably been there for
thousands and thousands of years.
The insects which Prof. Rochelle Is
sending to Hawaii now have as II were,
grown up with the plant. There are
many Of them, the great majority be-
ing very small and somewhat difficult
to handle when mounting for speci-
mems.
"These insects have proven Of great
benefit In Mexico. There is no ques-
ton whatever that they do destroy
the plant The fact that the lantana
still exists in Mexico comes from the
fact that its home is there and II has
been in existence for thousands Of
years. II 1t were not for the insects,
there would be an Infinitely larger
spread.
In Hawaii, II is just question II
the insects will thrive here. There
comes In the gamble but Il is certainly
well worth the while to TRIP the expert
ment. The expense connected with the
importation OF the insects into the
country Is nothing in comparison to
what is now being spent each year by
different people in the attempt at
eradication of what has become pest
here. On some of the ranches OF the
country as high as 10000 is spent each
year for this purpose.
"As | say, the gamble comes in
when 1t Is question Of the possibility
OF the insects living in this country
For myself. believe firmly that tho
insects will live here. II the lantana
their natural food, lives here, why
should not they?
~ am now carrying on some expert
ments at my home with the insects
that have been sent here by Prof
Knohaia boya lontopn nlanto capal
in a place where the insects cannot
escape and insects such as ants may
not enter. As yet have had no direct
results but expect 10 notice some by
and by. II may be that these expert
ments will not prove successful hui
! this will not prove that the insects will
not be beneficial to the country for Il
is quite possible that insects In con
finement will not breed. | know thi!
to be the case with certain moths thai
find IL necessary TO have the free opeT
II they are to multiply.
People are spendings thousands o.
dollars year here In the work o
Graduating the lantana and will ven
ture TO say that II Is doing but yer,
little good. The plants are being TAX
en- from the ground by hand but wha
good can this do There is a clearing
for a while. Next comes the rip'
lantana berry season, the mynah bird
and doves fly over the land and In
little while there Is a whole new crol
that Is Just as difficult to remove.
believe that the only successful metho
of eradicating the lantana will b
through the existence here of the Ian
tana destroyers. II they will not liv
then | believe that Hawaii is doome
to be a lantana infested country for a
time.
"a great many people do not seer
to understand how the lantan
spreads so quickly. The thing is YER
easy II the mynah birds and doves ar
n only taken into consideration. Thes
fowl OF the air when the lantana berr
!, season is on. scatter countless number
u of seeds all over the country each day
They fly many miles and consequent
a the distribution is great. II the myna
birds and doves could be killed OF,
@ would not he very long before tn
y lantana could be eradicated for theI
1 would then be no means or distribl
u Ing the seeds and place once rid {
the pest would remain cleared of tn
lantana for all time.
THE doves and the mynahs are III
great trouble makers. Very few {
the other birds have anything to d