The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-30
S|SAL PESTS ARE
FAST DISAPPEARING
EntomoIogist Craw Will Draft Re-
guIations For Oriental Fruits.
Koebele's Good Work.


Probably all the serious pests found
upon cultivated plants have been in
troduced by the aid of man and the
only hope of overcoming such pests, is
the method you are now pursuing OF
ascertaining where their native home IS
and sending experts there to search fol
and introduce their natural checks.
After a pest is once introduced this is
really the only method by which the
destructive ones can be held in check
or subdued.
The old adge of IAN ounce of proven
ton is worth pound of cure has been
verified in the work done in California
where no new pests have bean estab-
lished within the past twelve years.
There is a marked Improvement in
the quality and freedom from insect
pests and diseases of fruits and vegeta-
bIes brought from the mainland. Sew
eral lots have been destroyed and others
returned, and that has evidently had
a good effect.
Out of a cargo of 1856 packages of
fruits and vegetables brought in on the
last trip of the S. S. Alameda were
several 1ots-40 boxes of nectarines,
manifested as plums. Those We're in
tested with peach worms the larvae
of Anaesia lineatella. Those were re-
turned to the shipper. Scaly citrus
fruits have also been destroyed, or re-
turned. Our people pay good prices and
should have the best to be had.
On September Goth the S. S. Mongolia
arrived from China and Japan and
brought another importation of eight
boxes of pears, infested with the larvae
of the Chinese fruit moth. Boxes and
contents were promptly destroyed by
fire.
We are making preparations for a
vigorous campaign with fungus against
the japanese beetle" during the rainy
season.
The propag ation of beneficial insects
will also be attended to.
Respectfully submitted,
ALEXANDER CRAW,
Superintendent of Entomology for the
Board of Agriculture and Forestry.
The report was placed on file and
by vote of the board Mr.. Craw was
instructed to draw up regulations re-
lating to the Oriental and Inter-Island
fruit trade as suggested in his report
and submit them to the Committee on
Regulations before the next meeting
of the board. Z
1t was announced that Jacob Kotin-
sky had arrived on the Korea and had
entered upon his duties as Assistant
Entomologist. The resignation of R.
C. L. Perkins as assistant entomologist
to take effect from August 1st was ac-
cepted. A letter from F. w Terry re-
garding the sisal plantation was read
as follows:
REPORT ON sIsAL PLANTATION.
Honolulu, T. H, Sept. IA, 1904.
Board of Commissioners of Agriculture
and Forestry, Honolulu, T. H.
Gentlemen: Owing to the report
which has been circulated as to the
unsatisfactory condition of the sisaI
on Sisal Plantation I accompanied Mr..
Thurston to that district on the 10th
inst. in order to investigate the mat
ter; and found conditions somewhat
better than when visited last April
The distribution of the internal fungus.
causing a yellowish and later a brown
discoloration of the APPEAL third of
the leaf, was very limited, and GER
tainly showed no signs of spreading.
The effects of mealy-bug attack is
very evident on some of the older
plants, but the more mature insects are
very scarce, apparently having been
destroyed through some agency, either
insect or climatic. Very young mealy-
bugs are numerous locally, but think
that the lady<bug, Cryptolaemus mon
trouzieri and its larvae will increase
accordingly with the food supply, and
prevent any Serious increase of the
pest.
AS present the larvae of the beetle
are rather scarce. Several plants of
various ages were observed to be look
ing very limp and shrivelled, but up
on examination no cause could be de-
termined; the plant tissue appearing
perfectly healthy. The cause is no
doubt the shallowness of soil and con-
sequent drought. In support of this
theory it was observed that the adj
joining weeds We're also stunted in
growth.
Generally speaking, the stock looks
very healthy and promising; and the
number of young plants ready for
transference, far exceeds the availa-
BILE area.
Respectfully submitted,
(Sgd) F. W. TERRY,
Assistant Entomologist.
Mr. Craw stated that he would pro-
pogate an insect that will destroy the
pests attacking sisal. 1t was stated
that the pest does not affect the quail
ty of the sisal fibre although it hurts
the vigor of the plant.
The following letter from Mr.. Koe-
belle was read and placed on file:
Cairns, Queensland, 10, VIII, 'o4.
w. NJ. Giffard, Esq, Chairman of Spe-
eial Committee on Entomology of
Board of Com. of Ag. & For, Ho-
nolulu.
Dear Sir: We are shipping today in
order to catch the Sonoma at Sydney
another parcel of beneficial insects.
full details of which have been sent