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


growth practically ceases. During the
winter the leaf.hopper became epidem.
ic on this portion of the plantation.
The hoppers not only made enormous
numbers Of punchires In the cane
stalks, which had been stripped for
their full length. but concentrated to
such an extent on the leaves that the
tops Of the cane died or became very
much weakened. Alcoholic and acetic
fermentation ensued In the cane, sim.
ply because of the great number Of
wounds In the stalks, every joint hav-
ing hundreds OF punctures. II the
cane had not been stripped the joints
would have been largely protected
from this injury and the cane would
not have soured. The 10 3 from this
particular field was not due to any OF
the prevalent fungus G:s'ases. Ger.
tainly the lesson In this instance was
that cane should not be stripped at the
beginning OF winter.
cone of the chief reasons for strip
ping cane Is to prevent the formation
of adventurous roots within the lower
leaf.sheaths, a circumstance liable to
occur with those varieties In which the
stalks bend over and rest upon tho
ground for considerable portion OF
their length. especially during wet
seasons or in low.lying fields. Such
root production would result In loss OF
sugar In the cane. Other reasons for
stripping cane are the effect Of direct
sunlight on the cane, increasing the
sugar-content or affecting the purity Of
the juice. II cane Is stripped too
high there els danger Of infection Of
the stalks with the spores of parasitic
fungi through the wounds made by
tearing OF the leaves which are still
green. This source OF fungus infec-
ton has been much emphasized by
West Indian observers.
Ono hard and fast rule can be made
as to whether cane should or should
not be stripped. Stripping during the
summer months, the growing season
OF the year. Is undoubtedly beneficial
II may or may not produce beneficial
results in the winter time. II the cane
Is to be harvested In late autumn OF
early winter It may safely be stripped
even II the hopper is abundant, where
as, II the crop Is not to be harvested
until spring or early summer. the dead
leaves left on the cane will protect thu
stalks from Just such injury as In the
case above cited.")
Kerosene Emulsion.
The general conclusions Of the ex
periments are that the use OF sprays
dust, nets, or adhesive surfaces are no
practical against a leaf.hopper attacl
In cane fields. On limited areas which
are badly infested, however, two rem
edies give promise Of being Of som'
value. In level fields where the cant
has not attained height OF over three
or four feet. q spray OF kerosene emul
sion delivered from power-spraye
J will no doubt reach and kill many o
the insects. The force OF the spra.
J must be strong enough to carry wei
, down into the leaves and strike tn
hoppers with sufficient force to we
them thoroughly. Prepare the emu
sion by adding s gallons Of oil (disti
late $3.50 gravity and ~ pounds o
whale-oll soap to . gallons OF boilin
, water. The soap should first be dis
solved In the water before adding tn
:. distillate. Churn the mixture with
, force pump until II has q creamy cor
3 sistency and dilute with Is to 20 part
, Of water before applying to the cane
The question OF proper machiner
should be well looked into before a
: tempting to use this method. Sine
, spraying Is greatly limited and canno
A be at all generally employed the d,
/ tails are not discussed in this paper.
!, busting Cane. ~
As to the second remedy. the write
believes that II Will pay to dust can
Q On which the smut" or black fungi
!. following the attack Of the leaf-hoppe
, Is at all abundant. The dust is pr,
= Jared by dissolving 25 pounds Of col
; per sulphate (blue-stone) In sufiicier
Y water to slake thoroughly one barr,
4 Of fresh stone lime. The resultin
. powder should be well mixed and the
sifted to remove all Jumps. Thu
] dust can be applied to the cane by m,
Y chimes made expressly for the purpos,
}. in the form Of powderguns, Sever;
D TYPES are now on the market. ~ .