The Washington herald., 1908-08-30

Honolulu. Hawaii Aug. 15-To her $50
lated position in the center of the Pacific
ocean. Hawaii our insular territory. owes
her exemption from many unpleasant and
dangerous things Of the continents. par
Jicularly those peculiar 10 the tropics.
This immunity IS especially true as re-
lates 10 uoEious species OF both the ami
nal and the vegetable kingdom. and the
varieties Of animal and plant pests now
20 be found in this Paradise Of the Pa
cifc" have been introduced unwittingly
o- otherwise. since the discovery Of the
Islands by Capt Cook. over a century and
a quarter ago. The deIightful sense Of
security with which one may plunge
through the densest junEles. on mountain
slopes or ma-shland. confident fu the fact
that none OF the Islands ha-bors a single
snake or poisonous plant IS something
that can scarcely be experienced Fl any
other spot In the world. and certainly not
IN any other tropical country.
Mosquitoes Come with Whites.
Indeed. ii was not until long after the
coming Of the white man 70 Hawaii that
there were even any mosquitoes. and az
the present time only two or three species
Of this large and annoying family are
known The genus AnopheIes has thus
/ far not secured foothoId IN the islands.
and as a result Hawalians know nothing
OF malaria To this fact some scientists
I have held 70 be due the splendid physical
[ and mental development of the Hawaiian
race. which. az the tine Of the discovery
( OF the Islands. was much superior 20 that
( Of aborigines Of almost any other part
/ Of the world. The debiIitatinE effects Of
mala-iaI diseases following the fntrOduc-
I tion OF the Anopheles into ancient Rome
/ and Greece Is nov believed 70 have been
I the prime cause OF the decadence Of both
| Of these splendid peoples
To supplement the limited fauna and
Z fora indigenous 10 the Islands. the eariy
| settlers a. once began the importation Of
! great numbers OF new varieties and in
I this way some destructive insect and
/ vegetable pests reached these shores be
I fore science had come 70 recognize theil
| pernicious proPensities. The mongoose, a
| small. veaseI-like animal was brouSh,
1 here with the idea that Il would DESTROY
the rats and mice which caused damage
I to growing crops This Il has prObabIy
done in soms measure. but incidentally
it has practically exterminated the once
/, plentiful game birds OF certain district:
by its raids upon the nests and youns
birds. II Is also q bad customer II the
chicken yard. and a bounty is now paid
for its scalp
AEressiveness L. shown.
At the present time the Territory Z,
very aggressive in protecting itself from
the possible introduction OF any new
forms Of pests. and IN controlling tn.
ones already here. Qualified experts o.
the territorial board Of agriculture and
forestry watch every arriving vessel and
no diseased animal or infected plants o1
vegetables are allowed 10 be landed
Even the lady travellers bunch Of hot
house flowers. brought from the Coast II
cold storage. IS seized by the WatChfu
inspector at the foot OF the gangway ans
subjected TO careful scrutiny for possibI,
injurious insects which il may harbor be
fore being permitted TO pass farther. Tn,
precauton is wise one, inasmuch as th,
climate is one which In many instances
would offer an ideal home to many insec
pests which IN their native habitat ar,
held in check by natural enemies or rigo,
Of the winter season.