The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-07-08
HAWAIrS FAMOUS MELONS
MAY ONCE MORE FLOURISH
The Board of Agriculture and Forestry Has
imported the Parasite of the Melon Fly
Good Cucumbers Possible


clared on the melon fly, the pernicious
little insect that makes the growing of
the juicy melon, the luscious cantaloupe,
the crisp cucumber next to Impossible
on a profitable scale in Hawaii. The
Board of Agriculture and Forestry is
going after the scalp. of the pest, and
if its hopes and expectations are car
ried out, this Territory will soon be an
unhealthful place for the melon fly.
The announcement which Will bring
10Y to the heart Of the melon lover and
hope to the soul Of the truck-farmer
was made at the meeting of the Board
of Agriculture and Forestry yesterday
afternoon. by Entomologist Jacob Ko-
4insky, who stated that two parasites
have been received here recently which
it is hoped will prove to be an implac-
able enemy of the pest that now rem
ders it necessary to stand over a melon
vine with fan to keep the insects off
If the plant is to bear. If the parasites
do the work that is hoped of them, it
viii no longer be necessary to cover Gu
cumber vines over with mosquito net
ting to keep the long, green vegetable
from being destroyed.
The parasites were received here from
Australia a few weeks ago on the 40
rangi, being collected by George Com
PEREZ, searcher for beneficial insects for
West Australia and California, and for
warded by the Department of Agricul-
Sure of West Australia. They are para
sites of the fruit fly, one of the worst
pests that Australia has to contend
with, and the eggs were sent in the
bodies of the fruit flies. Precautions
were accordingly taken to prevent the
fruit flies from escaping after they
reached Honolulu, as should they estab
iish themselves here they might prove
TO be a worse pest than even the melon
fly.
Ensomologist Kotinsky explained that
it is as yet too soon to predict results,
but one of the parasites is apparently
doing well, and if it attacks the mag
gots of the melon fly, as it is hoped it
will, and proves to be primary in
stead of a secondary parasite, relief
from the effects of the melon fly is to
be anticipated.
The parasites, Mr. Kotinsky explain
ed, come from India, which is hopeful,
as there they must have fed on and
bred in inseels similar in nature to the
melon fly. The life cycle of the most
promising parasite, Mr. Kotinsky said,
is about two weeks, SO in that length
of time he ought to know what is to be
expected from it.
SIN this Connection said the ento-
mologist, 81 wish to impress upon the
community the Importance of destroy
ing by burning all material that is
known to be infested with the melon
fly. Such material merely forms a hot
bed for the further propagation of the
insect
1'The other day / found in an aban-
doned garden on King street thousands
of cucumbers and millions of maggots-
enough to supply the city and the vi
entity for months to come. The garden
originally belonged to a Chinese, who
was compelled to abandon att because
the owner raised his rent. If people
would take the precaution to destroy
all infested material, they would De
saved much annoyance and loss
In reply to a question by Superin-
tendent Marston Campbell, Mr.. Kotin-
TO take charge of infested premises and
destroy all material which contains the
fruit fly. Upon the basis of this state
Inent, II. Nj. Won Holt moved that the
Board take immediate action to enforce
Chapter % of the Revised Laws, the
chapter giving the Board the above
mentioned authority, the idea being to
cause the destruction of all infested
auaunh ar folds This notion ID
unanimously
Kca Trees Dying.
Paul Isenberg made the disconcert-
ing statement that the koa trees ON
Tantalus are dying on account of the
attacks of insects. He expressed the
belief that if the people would take
hold there might be some hope of
graduating the pests that are doing so
much damage.
Another serious matter was brought
TO the attention of the Board by Mr..
Isenberg, who stated that there is
report that some pest is attacking the
algaroba flowers and destroying them,
and the trees are not bearing. sit
will be a mighty serious thing for the
islands, he said, "if this is true. The
ground feed industry is just getting
started and should be big industry,
but if this caterpillar is really attack
ing the flowers of the algaroba, the
dry lands might as well go out of bust
ness. -
Mr. Isenberg moved that the En-
tomologist be instructed to look into
the matter Immediately. The Board
SO instructed Mr.. Kotinsky. The latter
stated that he had observed caterpil-
lars working in the blossoms of the
algaroba, but so far as he had no
ticed, they were only the blossoms
that had already fallen, and if it were
the same insect of which Mr.. Isenberg
spoke, there is no evidence upon which
to condemn it as injurious. However,
he would look into the matter and see
if there is. any reason for apprehen-
sion.
In this connection, Mr. Kotinsky
stated that Dr. Wilcox has imported a
parasite which is attacking the alga-
roba weevil 81 think he said.
that we are fortunate in having DR..
Wilcox to take up the work of in
PRODUCING beneficial parasites, as the