Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-01-16
maui BLIGHT
To Be KILLED
Board Of Agriculture
And Forestry
To Act

Damage done by the Maui
Blight" and what could be done to
overcome 1t was the principal
topic of discussion at the regular
meeting of the Board OF Agriculture |
and Forestry yesterday afternoon.
The Maui Blight" or orthesia in
signis, is especially noticeable on the
Island of Maui, where II attacks the
lantana. The matter was brought to
the notice of the Board by the Homo
lulu Improvement Advisory Board,
which urged that in view of the dew
astating spread of the blight OF late,
some measures be taken as soon as
possible to introduce the natural en-
emies of the orthesia, that they may
multiply and be distributed in the
various Islands Of the Territory.
Prof. Rochelle, who is now and has
been for the past two years in Mex
leo, doing work for the Board, will
probably leave there in the near fu-
ture for Hawaii. IL was through
MIN that w. M. Giffard was able to
make the authoritative statement
that natural enemies of the blight ex-
listed in Mexico, and that 1t would
not be any trouble to secure them
when they were needed. But 1t was
again shown that 1t might not be
possible to reach Prof. Rochelle by
cable before he left Mexico, as he
was due already to depart. Efforts
to do so, however, will probably be
| made.
Captain Kidwell, who had intro
duced the resolution first that the
enemies of the blight be secured, ac-
cording to Forester Hosmer, was quo
ted as stating that the orthesia had
already spread to a number OF plants
| besides lantana. Although the dan
ger from this blight was already as
suming large proportions, Forester
Hosmer was of the opinion that the
cattlemen of Hawaii would object to
any eradicating efforts on the part
of the Board. These men. 1t was said,
believed the blight to be the only
agent that would limit the growth OF
iantana.
A minute description OF how the
orthesia affected the lantana as COM
pared with what the natural insect
enemies of the plant would do, was
given by Mr.. Giffard. In his opinion
the blight did not prevent the spread
of lantana, on account of the fact
that it did not touch embryonic
seeds. However, the insects would
so clog up the plant that the forma-
ton of seeds was prevented. The
matter was finally referred to the
Committee on Entomology. 1t will
also be brought to the notice OF DR.
Perkins.
Two forest reserves were created
one to be known as the West Maui
Forest Reserve and the other as the
Waiaha Spring Forest Reserve, by
resolutions to that effect introduced
by Geo. r. Carter.
After considerable discussion on
various matters, the following report
from Forester Hosmer was read and
approved by the Board:
Honolulu. Hawaii, Jan. Is, 1908
Board of Commissioners of Agricul'
| ture and Forestry, Honolulu
Oahu.
Gentlemen:-Oneo of the forest re-
esrve projects that for some time has
been before me is the question of ere
Gting reserve in the District o.
South Kona, Island and County Of
Hawaii. During the early autumn o.
1907 | made an extended investiga
, ton of the forest lands in that dis
trict, seeing as much of the forest al
POSSIBLE from existing trails, and II
general getting in touch with thu
forest situation.
South from Hookena the district Il
practically undeveloped. Except TO
a narrow belt along the government
road, that hardly anywhere reache
above the 20O0-foot contour line, tn
higher land is heavily forested; ant
even the cultivated area is not con
tinuous, for ancient lava fields an
more recent, well-defined flows con
fine the good soil to pockets and Ike
pukas of varying size. In many @
/ these the soil is rich and OF hig
! productive capacity, but their loca
! ton is known to but few persons an
q what little accurate informatio
! there is is not generally available.
At irregular intervals lava flow
mainly of the "a-a" type, extend
and below the government roa'
Many Of these are covered with OH
lehua trees of large size and exec
i Lii. La. hnt tnIal