The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-08-15

I ourselves and insects, except IN few
| things, at present
There is a sliding scale about this
insect business that is law, well un
derstood by some, but not generally
sufficiently recognized. 1t is a fact that
any injury to plant from any cause
renders it less able to resist attack by
insects and disease. Thus we find that
plant with chewed leaves becomes
troubled with sucking insects and fun
gus diseases. Everyone ought to realize
this fact; it should be taught in our
schools and proclaimed from pulpits. II
can be easily verified by observation
everywhere.
METHODS OF CONTROL.
There does not appear to be any eff
fort made to control the insects except
by melting mutiny in their ranks and
getting them to devour each other;
probably much good may be accom-
plished in this way but it does not ac-
complish the much needed results. Ny
own theory of breeding immunes has
not had the test of experience on a
large scale and might be as unreliable
as is the predacious insect scheme
Spraying and fumigating have ac-
complished results that have changed
failure to success on the mainland.
This Is matter of record and the ex-
perlence of others may be useful to us.
| advocate a plain statement of our
case to the Department of Agriculture
asking for special assistance for our
selves and protection to the mainland.
The japanese beetle and melon fiy
were brought here. 1t is fair to as
sumo that they will find their way TO
California and from there will march
to Washington, D. c., and present a sad
story of devastation. 1t would be we'll
to take notice now and help us extermi-
nate them here. Think of the loss in
crops and then the large fight to CON
troll on that wide area. If praying
or swearing would be effective | would
be willing to do both, but it is fighting
we need to do. This country would be
gem if we could eliminate the de-
structive insects. The plants are sick
from injury by biting and sucking in
sects. You who know how roses bloom
ed and melons bore their rich ripe fruit
ought to be stirred to action Look
at the algaroba that is hardly touched
with insects. Tt grows Justify, is not
sick, yields an abundant harvest of rich
food for stock It's form and color are
divine and there is soft, sweet Hawai-
ian music in its branches. / can go to
the mainland and bring in my vest
pocket eggs of an insect about one-half
the size of a flea that will, [ believe,
thrive on the algaroba and in year
or two the trees would look as if fire
had gone through them; and then scale
and blight would do the rest.
Would that [ could command Ian
guage to rouse the people, including our
beneficial entomologists, to a true appre-
citation of the conditions and opportuni-
ties; but language fails one and the
people do not seem to care.
Some way of control can be found
practical and effective. To this end [
would advise the selling of the best
fighting machines (spray pumps) and
the most effective ammunition (spray
materially at cost, and drill volunteers
to use them to the best advantage by
our experiment station force.
I would also advise the study of en-
tomology from the insects themselves
in our public schools and demonstrate
by actual work by spraying, how the
injurious insects can be destroyed.
l would appeal to sentiment, to love
of home with blossoming rose, fragrant
vine, fronded palms, beauty in fruit
and flower sweetness, cleanness, pros
perity; great good to little children, to
patriotism and duty.
A. B. LECKENBY.