The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-23

oH the - -. Dorlc that arrived from
China and Japan on the 18th inst. were
fourteen QD cases of 10000 rubber tree
seedlings from India. Nothing was no.
uced upon the trees. AS they were in
tended for another island, and as the
weekly steamer sailed in the evening
the trees were fumigated and allowed
to go forward to complete their long
trip.
DANGEROUS SHIPMENT.
Upon the arrival of the S s Man
churia on the Goth inst. from Japan there
were TWO boxes of trees on the bridge
one of these cases was made with very
fine brass wire cloth ventilators and
door OF the same material, but without
a lock to prevent the over inquisitive-
ness of any individual that felt dis
posed to open the door. Through the
screen l observed great numbers of the
destructive Gypsy moth caterpillars in
various stages of development. l i'm
mediately requested Chief Officer A
Barron, in whose charge the trees We're
sent by the United States Minister
Griscom of Toxic, to have the carpenter
fasten the door with large screws The
other package consisted of cherry trees
from which to cut branches to supply
the caterpillars with food during the
voyage. The leaves of latter trees were
badly infested with ''saw-fy" larvae
that We're rapidly defoliating the trees.
l went up town and purchased eighteen
yards of mosquito bar, with which we
wrapped the trees and crate to prevent
the escape of any insects that might
have developed on the voyage. l re-
quested Mr.. Barron not to feed the
caterpillars later than one day before
reaching San Francisco.
1t is pleasing to note that
at last the Massa chusetts au-
thoritieS are waking to the fact
that it is useless to attempt the
determination of that pest and are now
making an effort to check it's destruc-
tiveness by the Introduction of its nat
ural enemies. This should, however be
done by experts who understand the
care of such insects as we'll as the i'm
portance of preventing the escape of the
destructive species in new territory. 1
wrote and cautioned the horticultural
inspectors in San Francisco to have the
shipment pass right along without in
spection. l mailed the letter and sent
a copy by the same steamer to be
handed the inspector upon arrival at
the dock.
The introduction of the Gypsy moth
Porthetria dispar) shows the necessity
of preventing the spread of such pest
into new countries. In Massachusetts
a French naturalist was conducting eX-
periments in raising silk from native
silk worms, and in the course of such
experiments he imported some Gypsy
moth eggs from Europe and some OF the
larvae escaped through an open win
dow. over thousand eggs have been
counted from a single female. An
average of six hundred eggs are de-
posted by each female, so it is no Won
der that it proved so terribly destruc-
tive in Massachusetts, where in some
districts it destroyed various kinds of
forest and cultivated trees and plants.
All kinds of pOisons were applied and
even fire used in an effort to check it,
but it went on spreading and millions
of dollars We're expended without any
practical benefit
Upon the delivery of the mail by the
same steamer. received letter from
Professor s. 1. Kuwana stating that he
had forwarded the Gypsy moth caterpil
lars with parasites at the request of
Mr. Griscom, and hoped that they
would reach their destination safely.
Respectfully submitted.
(SigneD ALEXANDER CRAW,
Supt. of Entomology and Inspector.
MR.. KOTINSKY'S REPORT.
Mr.. Kotinsky, assistant entomologist,
returned on Monday from a trip to
Maui and Hawaii, investigating en-
Genealogical conditions there. He stated
that he would make a written report
later He visited Lahaina, Waikiki,
Makawao, Kula and UIupalakua on
Maui and Kohala, Hilo, Olaa, Kau and
Kona on Hawaii
bad attack OF Cotton Cushion scale
on trees at Puunene and UIupalakua on
Maui was called to his attention. Ship
ment of Vedalia Iady-bug had been
made TO these points. He was of the
opinion that the reason of the increase
of the scale and the injury to the trees
was a recent drouth which lowered the
vitality of the trees and enabled the
scale to get ahead. He had no doubt
that the Vedalia would soon eradicate