The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1904-09-23

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4 = fshatstd - ra8uti fnWmfuiaI
ahfe ~ saud 1haili, hW hs adoption
sh"ulh ~ lfis1 With fsuiish tHsmtAs
"a he cultivation " sl8ai III Fisfias
aNf ihH hHhaWla have at u urs 20
suited w nnnisurpFss ihfNufh ihh inl
tuiutilUh " the Wfona spet4ts N o..
raVe. The nfsi attempt ai ihe Dlitlta.
lion of RisHi IN the tnlte1 states was
iu Florida w 1895 when the plant was
introduced from Yucann From no.
flda The industry hns spread IN recent
years not only a. the West Indian L.
lands but id many parts ~ the globe
The chief centre IL the Hahnmas aud
| it is also largely grown Nv Trinidad
Mnufitlua. Cnicos Grenada, 81 Lucia.
Antigua. the british colonies In South
Africa aud Australia. and the Fiiis
The importation 10 the Hawaiian Is
lands was from Florida and the plants
are now nourishnE on nearly all the
Islands " this group
There follows long and thorough
dissertation on the culture of slsai
machinery required, drying aud baling,
etc. the article terminating with the
following paragraphs:
ENEMIES or sIsAL.
The sisal industry has heretofore
been remarkably free from the raw
ages OF disease OF any note. but within
the last year or two the presence of
a fungoid growth has been noted in
the Bahamas. The following letter
from Mr.. Lyster III. Dewey, Botanist
In charge of fibre plants for the u. S.
| Department OF Agriculture dated from
| Washington. ID. c., January 49, 1908,
has already been published. but in
view of the report of u similar disease
having occurred on the sisal plants in
these Islands 1t is of sufficient impor-
| lance to be reprinted:
| MY Dear MIR. Smith | have Just
written Knudsen Brothers of Kauai,
| Hawaii cautioning them to look out
| for the Introduction of diseased plants
In the new sisal plantation which they
are starting, and | write you. giving
you the same information, for / regard
1t as of the utmost Importance to the
stsal industry in Hawaii that the in
PRODUCTION of disease be prevented If
| possible.
when l was In the Bahamas last
| May, | noticed that there We're, I'm II
few localities, indications of n dis
eased condition of the sisal plants. 1
| brought back with me some specimens,
and referred them to Mr. Woods, who
| reported that there was a fungus on
the leaves, but that 1t was not IN
condition for determination. Recently
/ have received from one of the prin-
cipal growers in the Bahamas letter
stating that while the disease cond-
| ton seems to be confined to small
areas, it is spreading, and is causing
some alarm lest it may In time prove
destructive.
1.-The symptoms are described as fol-
lows: Yellowish spots or patches first
appear on the leaves. These spots
| spread. The leaf gets dry and curls,
usually about half way down from
| the point, the edge of the leaf hecom-
ing pinkish in color In week " two.
sometimes longer, the leaf dries and
| becomes black and hard. Usually the
upper half of the leaf is affected. the
lower half remaining green much long
err. Sometimes the funnel, as II s call
ed in the Bahamas, consisting % the
| unopened leaves, is attacked at the
tip. The disease usually affects only
five or six inches of the upper part of
the funnel, but sometimes extends
clear to the base This condition has
not been observed in the Bahamas I'M
til within the past year. 1t may have
existed there before, but to so small
an extent as to be regarded as of 10 |
importance.
II would suggest that the sisal grow
ers of the Islands be warned in regard |
to the possible introduction of such
diseases, and that they be urged to go
through their plantations and. If any
sisal plants are found exhibiting
symptoms of the character described
that they be grubbed out and de-
stroyed."
Besides the fungoid disease reported
above, mealy bug, which has also
recently been reported locally, has
been injurious to the crop in the West
India Islands Prompt spraying with
Kerosene emulsion should eradicate
this pest. In this connection Bulletin
No. 3 issued by the Office of Expert
ment Station of this Territory and an
titled Insecticides for Use in Hawaii"
full information.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY PLANTS.
Besides the various species of Agaves
which yield fibre there are many
plants which possess excellent fibre
deposed In such a manner as to he
easily extracted by machinery adapt
ed to sisal Conspicuous among these
may be mentioned Furcraea gignntea,
a plant somewhat similar in appear
ance TO Agave rigida and which
Is found in many of our gardens. ,
The leaves of this enormous plant are ,
often ten, twelve or even more feet in /,
length The popular name for the
product of furcraea Is "Pita" and in 6
Central America its great strength has ,
long been made 1t of use for excellent .
netting, hammocks and harness. In
Tobago and Trinidad its
has been very successful
The yield of pita per acre is about
equal to that of sisa and it's habit of {
growth and civilizations are about the !