Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1904-06-28

the various stages Of growth through. |
ont the year insuring constant food |
supply to the pest. many of the precau.
tionary measures practiccd elsewhere !
are limited.
Varieties Of Cane.
There Is noticeable in general
throughout the plantations a marked
difference In the power OF the different
varieties to resist the attack ot III"
leaf.hopper while the same VARIETY
would vary IL different localities ms re
CARDS growth and resistance, still the
difference between any two varieties
remained constant. For example, Of
the common varieties grown, Yellow
Caledonia and Domerara III were In
variably the more resistant as cOmpal.
cd to Rose bamboo and Lahaina, and
while the former were more seriously
attacked in some localities than in
others. wherever the opportunity Of.
fercd itself for comparison with tho
latter. the Yellow Caledonia and De-
merara III made the best showing. II
is for the planter To decide whether
or not the advantages OF one variety
over another Is Offset by the ravagcs
of the lcaf-hOppcr If the work OF tho
leaf.hoppor Is greater than the gain, in
the absence OF the lCaf.hOpper, in tho
yield between the two varieties, then
IL is policy TO select the more resistant
cane. Here certainly Is an important
line of investigation from the stand.
point OF plant-breCding. \ variety
test should be made al once to onabl.
the planters to know the relative value
of the varieties they already possess
and the further determination and es'
tablishmcnt of other resistant canes.
In the establishment OF resistant
variety of cane IL Is encouraging to
remember that cane Is planted from
cuttings and not from seeds, ana there.
fore will not be likely 10 revert TO q
non.resistant form.
Plant Vigor.
Another point In preventive meth.
DDS Is the difference in the power OF
healthy and unhealthy plants to with.
stand an insect attack or any injury.
for that matter. All plants are sur.
rounded by their various enemies, but
when the plants are in vigorous con.
dition of growth. the pests cannot
easily overcome them. Let a plant for
any reason. such as degeneration Of
the plant itself. lack Of proper avail.
able plant food In the soil. unlavorabls
location as regards climatic conditions
or any of the various unfavorable con-
ditlons of growth, become weakened.
and the work OF destruction by any
enemy that is present becomes evi.
dent. The vigor OF the plant must be
maintained by cultivation, irrigation
and the use of fertilizers.
II seems probable that many of the
plantations will find IL not only neces-
sary but profitable to give certain OF
their cane lands a rest once In several
years and plant an intermediate crop,
either for the product itself or for
green manure. In some cases, the
check to the cane through the work of
the leaf chopper combined with other
sources of loss, more than covers the
profit. II Is. therefore, hardly wise to
continue to plant such lands longer to
cane since such fields simply tax the
DOIliDn VI 'u' w
that extent in making the crop as a
whole profitable.
In conclusion. II can be said that the
limitations Of the natural enemies and
the active measures are so many that
the leaf.hopper cannot be controlled
by these methods. A general effort on
the part Of the planters in selecting a
variety resistant to the attack OF the
pest, a careful consideration OF the
various sources OF loss In the cane
fields, aside from the destructive work
OF the leaf,hopper. cultivation based
on the life-history and habits OF tho
insect, and the maintenance of the
vigor Of the plant by irrigation and tho
proper fertilizers along with thorough
cultivation, will be the methods Of con
troll for this pest,