The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-06-26
PESTS ARRIVE
IN QUANTITIES

Kotinsky, made at the meeting of tn,
Board of Agriculture and Forestr,
held yesterday afternoon, was in par
rs follows:
on the s7th the s s. Manuka
brought a consignment of orchids from
Fiji In the box were found several
live beetles. 1t was Immediately
placed in the fumigation chamber and
given the usual dose of cyanide. NJ
live insects were found on the plants
after fumigation, but in the soil n mill
| lipede and several earth-worms were
! found alive. The soil was therefore
carefully removed and dumped over
board.
| The 5. $. Virginian arrived from San
Francisco late in the afternoon of May
% and brought among other things
twelve cases of plants. an unusually
large number for one steamer. Upon
examination the following morning
they We're found invaded by a horde
of cockroaches (Phillodromia ger
manic0. In addition. a number of the
cases contained mango and avocado
trees from Florida, the former even
! bearing specimens of species of Pull
vinaria. Fumigation of the entire lot
was imperative.
The Alameda of May % brought
three large cases containing 5000 roots
of asparagus for planting purposes. To
prevent the introduction of that terri,
BILE pest of the asparagus grower on
the mainland, asparagus rust (Pucci-
mia aspagari d. c.. the plants were
dipped in a standard solution of Bor-
deaux before being passed.
Some of the green peas reaching this
market were found to be heavily in
tested with a rusty spot, probably
"pea-spot" (Ascochyta pise Liberty.
Peas so infested were destroyed.
Mr.. George Compere, entomologistl of
the West Australian Department of
Agriculture, was a through passenger
from the Orient on the 18th, and much
of the day was spent with him. He
left here another colony of the ORR
entail red-scale parasite (Comperiella
bifasciata Howl, males and females of
which were bred out the same day
and released on a citrus tree in the
Government Nursery grounds infested
with this scale. Material was also
collected of several of our common
parasites of white-fiy and scale bugs.
which Mr.. Compere took along for re-
leasing in California.
Aside from the big collection of vari-
Gus fruits sent to California with Mr.
Compere, there were distributed in the
Territory eighteen colonies of useful
insects during the month, to supply
some of which it took considerable |
time to collect.
The fumigation formula for pineap-
pies in universal application prescribes
the use of IS per cent. guaranteed po-
tassium cyanide. The grade in the /
local market was found to be inferior
and ineffective against the pineapple
mealy bug in several instances when
used at the usual rate. Tests were
therefore undertaken to ascertain ~ |
the inferiority of the cyanide
(2) whether the 9S per cent. C. p. a
few pounds of which were secured. in
the usual dose would kill the bugs;
and 81 whether an overdose would in
lure the pine. The Wahiawa Pineap-
pie Co. kindly supplied the fruit for
the experiments. One fruit was treat
ID with a regular dose of the COM
nercial cyanide. Two other infested
oineapples were treated with a regu-
ar and double dose, respectively, Of
he C. P. grade of cyanide. One fruit,
lsed as a check, was left untreated.
n the first instance the mealy bugs
we're found decidedly alive at the end
If the operation. The pines fumigated
~ % A. 81 .
md double dose, had all the bugs dead
lfter fumigatiOn and the fruit unin-
ured. Moreover, these two fruits, to-
,ether with the unfumigated specimen,
in a closed box for about
wo weeks afterwards with interesting
esults. The two fumigated pines were
n an excellent state of preservation,
arely showing signs of ripening, |
rhereas the unfumigated fruit was i
ipe and almost rotting where most
cavity covered with bugs. The evil t
ence, though by no means conclusive {
$ yet, seems to suggest the probable /
y that fumigated pineapples will
tand a longer journey than those not s
0 treated. The experiment needs rep
tition before definite conclusions are
rawn, and seems well worth it.
In anticipation of three steamers, in
Iuding the Alameda on the sth, it be-
anne evident that, unaided, Mr.. Smith
nd l could not attend to the work.
Tith The subsequent consent of your
resident 1 enlisted the services of Mr..
. B Kuhns, a graduate student of
lie Normal School, for two days. At
lie lectures l gave to this class in the Il
ornal School, Mr.. Kuhns has each s
me impressed me more favorably G
ian the previous as embodying the
ements for making a fine naturalist.
e has been a member of the Hawai- ;,
n chronological Society ever since !,
: existence became known to him, :,
Id eagerly seeks an opportunity to -
1rk along natural history lines. l -
mmend him favorably to your at -
ntion, should the board be in need =,
an assistant. -