Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-01-23

10 NC IdhCH UP ny tne sldtlOn anu IulS
will entail not only the expense of an
additional member of the station staff.
but the equipment of buildings, live
stock, etc, which the station as now
organized can i'll afford.
A collection is being made of the
grasses and forage plants Of the isl.
ands, and 1t is hoped that a bulletin
can soon be issued concerning them.
This will contain notes on the native
and introduced species, with sugges.
tions relative to their value for differ.
ent purposes.
Injurious Insects.
The entomologist has been engaged
during the past year upon general
warfare against all sorts of injurious
insects. The alligator pears in a por.
with destruction by a mcaly bug, but
by energetic work In pruning and
spraying the trees were saved. Atten.
tion is being given the Japanese rose
beetle, the melon fly, poke or cut.
worms, cane borers, and other insects
which are especially injurious. Dur.
ing the past year. serious outbreak
OF leaf.hoppers was reported In the
cane fields of Hawaii, and at the re-.
quest Of some of the planters the en-.
tomologist spent several weeks study.
ing the pest In the hopes of finding
some method OF combating them that
would do away with the tedious delay
and consequent loss attending tho in.
PRODUCTION of predatory insects.
The assistant agriculturist of the
station has been dcyoting his attention
very largely to the subject OF fiber
plants. and has prepared a bulletin on
the sisal hemp in Hawaii, as well as u
press bulletin on Manila hemp or
abaca. There have been many inquir-
les regarding fiber.producing plants
and there was a demand for informa.
tion on the planting and management
Of sisal plantations. There are extern
sive areas in these islands which are
adapted to sisal growing. and the cx.
rcriments thus far carried out show
the practicability and profit Of the in
dusiry.
Experiments have been begun and
plantations commenced Of vanilla and
cacao. These will he continued and
extended as opportunity presents IL.
self. Some investigations have been
inaugurated In growing cotton and to-
bacco. The experiments with tobacco.
especially with Sumatra leaf tobacco.
grown under the partial shade furnish.
ed by light cloth. have been apparently
very successful. and will he continued
upon u larger scale. Thc quality Of the
product Is yet to be tested but 1t IL be.
licved there are a number Of localities
IN the island whore Sumatra tobacco
can be grown under shade at a decided
profit.
Plans for 1904.
The several lines Of investigation de
scribcd above will be continued during
the year and new Investigations taken
mp as opportunity offers. The building
of a small insectary Is contemplated "a
enable the cntomologist to prosecute
his studies on the life history Of some
of the troublesome insects which prey
upon the various agricultural AMI hor
ticultural plants In Hawaii. II Is in
tended TO make thorough trial Of to
bacco growing under shade to see II II
can be made commercially profitable
On account Of the assistance given by
the Territory II Is possible for the sta
ton to have chemist, and DIR. Shorey
has been appointed to fill that place
II Is expected that IN addition to Other
matters he will take up study of the
soils OF Hawaii and the use OF fertili
GERS so as to supplement the field worl
of the agriculturist and other member,
Of the station stan. Special efforts
will he put forth to secure improve,
varieties of tropical fruits and othe
products for introduction into Hawaii
There are doubtless better varieties o
bananas, pineapples, vanilla, cacaO
J etc, than those now grown In Hawaii
. and persistent efforts should be made
! to secure them. The work on forag'
: plants will be prosecuted and some In
, vestigations begun on the rationa
} feeding of animals.