The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-22
ROYAL PALACE OF KING PETER At sERvLA 10y

4
and the Bahamas have at times re-
suited in non-success through the in
PRODUCTION of the wrong species of "a
gave. The first attempt at the cultiva-
ton of Sisal in the United States was
in Florida in 1884 when the plant was
introduced from Yucatan. From Flo
rida the industry has spread in recent
years not only to the West Indian Is
lands but to many parts of the globe.
The chief centre is the Bahamas and
it is also largely grown in Trinidad,
Mauritius, Caicos. Grenada, st. Lucia,
Antigua, the British Colonies in South
Africa and Australia, and the Fijis.
The importation to the Hawaiian Is
lands was from Florida and the plants
are now hourishing on nearly all the
islands of this group
! There follows long and thorough
dissertation on the culture of sisal,
machinery required, drying and baling.
ETC., the article terminating with the
following paragraphs:
ENEMIES OF SISAL.
The sisal industry has heretofore
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 H. Dewey, Botanist
in charge of fibre plants for the u. S.
Department of Agriculture. dated from
Washington, D. c., January 16, 1903,
has already been published, but in
view of the report of a similar disease
having occurred on. the sisal plants in
these Islands it is of sufficient impor-
tance to be reprinted
My Dear Mr.. Smith: / have just
written Knudsen Brothers of Kauai,
Hawaii, cautfoning 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 l regard
it as of the utmost Importance to the
sisal industry in Hawaii that the in
PRODUCTION of disease be prevented if
possible.
when I was in the Bahamas last
May, l noticed that there We're, in az
few localities, indications of dis
eased condition of the sisal plants.
brought back with me some specimens,
and referred them to Mr. Woods who
reported IndI THERE was d AallSOS OiA
the leaves, but that it was not in
condition for determination. Recently
I have received from one of the prin-
cipal growers in the Bahamas letter
stating that while the disease condi-
ton seems to be confined to sruali
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 becoro-
ing pinkish in color In a week or 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
er. Sometimes the funnel, as it car
ed in the Bahamas, consisting o. the
unopened leaves, is attacked at the
tin. The disease usually affects only
five or six inches of the upper part OF
the funnel, but sometimes eXtehds
clear to the base This condition mas
not been observed in the Bahamas IN
til within the past year. 1t may nave
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
sisaI plants are found exhibiting
symptoms of the character described,
that they be grubbed out and de-
stroyed."
Besides the fungoid disease reported
above. a 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. issued by the Office of Expert
ment station of this Territory and EN-
titled insecticides for Use in Hawai-"
bv D. L. Van Dine, contains much use
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 sisa1 Conspicuous among .nt Sc
may be mentioned Furcraea gigantea,
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