The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-03-05
FIGHTING THE INSECT PESTS IN
AUBREY ROBINSON'S ORCHARD

d. L. Van Dine. the United State
entomologist has returned from a visI
to infested fruit orchards on Kauai
Touching his Investigations. he says:
After visiting the orchards. though
they can hardly be called orchards il
comparison to such paintings in thu
fruit districts of other countries. Their,
certainly seems no need for Hawaii t,
import citrus fruit from California
There is also just as little need VIII,
many of the more tropical fruits ar.
not to be found in the markets here
1t is true they cannot be grown to adj
vantage in all parts of the Islands. but
such districts as MakaweI on the Is
| land of Kauai are not few in number
| and seem to lack only the chance for
the proper men to get the land. Kauai
seems TO be especially favored in this
or rather should. form an important
part of the diet. there should be no
great alarm about the question of a
market.
I'm the orchard of Mr.. Aubrey Rob-
inson is found. perhaps. the most sue
cessful attempt in these Islands to pro-
duce tropical fruits. There are three
varieties of oranges, the native Wash
ington navel and late Valencia, and sew
eral Chinese and japanese varieties:
varieties of grapefruit; figs; the vi;
bread-fruit; the real mangosteen, the
choicest of fruits from Ceylon; and sew
eral other tropical fruits All of these
trees are suffering severely from the
attacks of several species of scale in
sects. Two species of 1ady-birds.'
brought into the orchard some years
ago are still feeding on the scales, but
are not able to overcome the pests,
though they have no doubt kept them
in check to some extent. Many of the
oranges were fine as regards size, color
and quality, but ruined for market by
being covered with the scale. This is
by no means the greatest damage. The
very life of the trees is being Slapped
out by these pests.
THE fruit industry which has reach
ed such gigantic proportions in Cal
ifornia was at one time threatened with
destruction from these scale insects,
but prompt measures and continuous
effort since has made it possible for
the fruit industry to continue in It's |
Remedies are at hand and neel but |
to be changed to suit the local coEdi- |
tons. In California the work was, at |
the beginning, almost entirely expert |
mental. Here advantage can be taken
Of the results of work in other places.
The seriousness of the attack of the
scale insect pests is shown by the
amount that has been given to their
in time and money, in both
l scientific and a practical way, not
'nly by the various experiment stations
4
of large sums by the Leg
slatures for carrying on the work of
and determination. Such
appropriations. if liberal enough to
AIRY on the work thoroughly, and Civ
ng the proper persons the authority
o act, will go a long way to rid a
ountry OF these undesirable pests but
t is not wise for one whose trees are
offering to depend too much on Leg
Station as a remedy.
The large number of sprays and
Tashes recommended for this class of
Insects shows the difficulty that has
cen met in combating them. There {
re several that have been found (
fectual, but as has been stated, the
)cal conditions must be considered in
heir use. This matter is discussed in
'ulIetin No. 8, of the Hawaiian Ex-
eriment Station.
The work at Makaweli consisted of
trial of spray pumps and some of the
ell known mixtures. 1t was clearly {
that the conditions here
re not unlike those in other countries
matters of Importance The results
re, so far, very encouraging and sat
factory. The scales are not expected
disappear as by magic. In some
lses a vigorous pruning will be given.
l some cases it might even be adj
sable to destroy the entire tree, for
lie reason that a young tree, free from
lie scale. under the proper treatment
ould yield equal returns in nearly
lie same time, and not be a constant
enace to the others. In time the
ests viii be under control and by
'ntinuous effort can be kept in check
THE scale insects occur throughout y