The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-13
THE SMYRNA FIG
AND MELON FLY
Two chronological Subjects
Upon Which Work Is
Being Done.

Jacob Kotinsky, Entomologist of the
Board of Agriculture and Forestry in
his annual report says:
Blastophaga grossorum is the insect
that played so conspicuous role in the
successful establishment IF Smyrna fig
culture in California a few years ago
Normally the insect breeds in gals
produced within the male fig which is
borne on separate tree (Capritree).
As the pollen in these figs is produced
simultaneously with the maturity of
the insects, these, upon emerging, carry
away more or less of the pollen on
their bodies. The Smyrna figs which
bear the female part of the flower, are
also receptive about that time. Fail
ing to distinguish these from the male
figs the female flies enter them to owl.
post and incidentally fertilize many of
the flowers with the pollen ON their
bodies and thus produce the large num-
Der of seeds characteristic of the
Smyrna fruit. These seeds, it has been
recognized, contain essential oils which
give the fruit the peculiar nutty flavor,
and make the Smyrna fig such a favo-
rite.
We were aware that the Moanalua
gardens had the requisite Capri and
Smyrna trees, but not the insects, with
out which Smyrna fig culture is inn
possible. To bridge the gap the late
Mr.. Craw communicated with DR.. Geo,
Roeding, the moving spirit of the
calimyrna fig industry, and was prom
ised colony of the insects. On April
= 81 hos
insects. Unfortunately all of them
seem to have emerged en- route from
the figs in which they were sent, and
perished-at least we got no satisfac-
tory result. By kindness of DIR. Roed-
ing we received another colony in Oeto.
Der but having hardly expected results
owing to lateness of season we were
not disappointed with failure. How
ever, we are determined to repeat the
importation until successful.
Evidence is accommodating pointing to
the necessity of institnting interisland
inspection. At one time the Hawaiian
Sugar Planters Association sought our
cooperation in preventing the carriage
to other islands of a small. cane-top-
boring beetle known on Oahu only.
Several other insects known or sus-
peeted to exist in Honolulu and not
on the other islands suggest strongly
the necessity of some protection for
those islands. What should not be lost
sight Of is that the object of inspee
ton must be to protect the prospective
agrieulturist as well as the present one.
Thus insects infesting citrus plants, for
example, are Of comparatively little
= he xaaf
vet an economic plant of value to US.
But it is not an impossibility that even
citrus may some day play an important
role in the economy of these islands,
and therefore should be afforded now
all protection of plant enjoying that
distinction. So that il is imperative
to maintain pest-free as much of the
Territory as possible in order to re-
tain the possibility of growing profit
sssSSsssSSSsscscssS csSSecsSSssssssSScSSscssSss.
from s. F., March 4.
T. P. EMIGH, Am. bkt., 1rsen, ar. Hilo
from Everett, Jan. 27.
THEIRS, Fir. sp., from Hon. for Sgd
ney Heads, Jan. II.
THOMAS. Z. s. A. T., Lyman, from
Hon. for s. F., Mar. ).
TEXAN, Am. S. S., ar. s. F., from
Salina Cruz, Feb. 81.
VILE de MULHOUSE, FIR. bk., Bony,
from Hon. for Sydney, Jan. %.
yIRGINIAN, Am. s. s, from S. F. for
Hon. Mar. II.
VERMONT, Br. S. s, ar. Newcastle
from Eleele. Jan. IS.
W. II. MARST0N. Am. sehr., ar. s. I.
from Hilo. Mar 6.
WM. P. FRYE, Am. sp., from Hon. for
Philadelphia, Feb. II.
W. s. PORTER. Am. S. s, ar. Gaviota
from Hon. Feb. 10.
". F. CAIRNS, Am. sehr., ar. Kahului
frnr,, Innin,,e Feb %.