The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-13

In reporting to the Governor, the
Board of Agriculture and Forestry
says:
The force of the division has during
the year been increased by the ap-
pointment of two Deputy Territorial
Veterinarians, one for the district Of
Hilo and one for the district of Maui.
Their appointments were only effected
through the cooperation of the local
Sugar Planters Association and vari-
Gus agricultural and live stock inter
ests, which by taxing themselves at
pro rata scale provided a salary Of
800 per month for each of the two
deputies. The value of this service
has been fully demonstrated during
the period in which it has been in
effect, and it is hoped that the com
ing Legislature will see its way clear
to provide funds for the salary of the
two deputies above mentioned as well
as for two more, one to look after Ko-
hala and Hamakua and one to be sta
toned on Kauai Such an arrangement
would open all of the ports of entry of
the Territory to the importation of live
stock and would place the other islands
on the same basis as Oahu as far as
the eradication of infectious and con-
tagious diseases among live stock is
concerned.
The new regulations governing the
importation of live stock, and which
were published in the report for last
year, went into effect on the 1st of
January, 1908. These regulations,
which made the inspection and testing
of live stock compulsory before ship
ment to this Territory, and which plac-
ed this inspection and testing in the
hands of the inspectors of the Federal
Bureau of Animal Industry, have prov
en- highly satisfactory. That CHAMBERS
nevertheless, in one instance, gained en-
trance to the Territory with inspected
and tested stock was not due to any
defect in the regulations or their en-
forcement, but to the unfortunate live
stock sanitary condition of California.
The incident in question, which is fully
discussed in this report, necessitated
+ the PRONUNCIATION of new regulation
imposing a quarantine of three weeks
from the date of shipment on all horse
stock arriving in the Territory from or
through California. This regulation
will continue in effect until conditions
IN California warrant its abrogation.
In regard to diseases among live
stock, considerable number of out
breaks of CHAMBERS have occurred on
both Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.
On Hawaii widespread epidemic of
catarrhal disease has prevailed
among the horses on many plantations
and ranches and has caused consider
able loss. This disease is fully describ-
ed in the appended report of the Dep
uty Territorial Veterinarian for the
Hilo district.
Otherwise the general health Of the
live stock has been good, except so far
as affected by the prolonged drouth,
which has caused greater losss than
ever known before.
Bee Industry.
Under Act 90 of the Session Laws
of 1907 the Board of Agriculture and
Forestry was charged with the duty
of supervising the introduction OF
honey bees into Hawaii, and with the
regulation of the Bee Industry. In COM
pliance with this law regulations re-
garding the Importation of queen bees
and of honey were promulgated by the
board and approved by the Governor
on September II, 1908. These regula-
tions were published as General Cireu-
lar No. 3, already referred to. Further
to carry out the provision OF the law,
on December 4, 1908, Mr.. ID. Il. Van
Dine, Entomologist of the Hawaii Ex-
pertinent Station, was appointed hon
orary Agricultural Inspector of the
board.
General.
Substantial progress has been made
during the past year in the several
branches of work being carried on un-
der the board. The forest work helps
to insure the continued supply of wa
ter. without which agriculture on
large scale, no matter what the crop,
cannot be carried on successfully IN
Hawaii. The inspection work OF the
Division of Entomology prevents the
introduction of injurious insects into
the Territory. That of the Division OF
Animal Industry does similar service
by protecting the Territory against
dangerous diseases of live stock.
Through each of it's divisions the Board
of Agriculture and Forestry is OF dl-
rect service to the people of Hawai-.
Its work is not spectacular in opera
ton, but in its results it touches prae-
tieally every interest in the Islands.
Were this relation better understood
there is no question but that the board
would receive the additional financial
support necessary to carry on its work
in the most efficient manner. The OBJ
jeet of this report is to present IN read
able form a statement of what the
Board of Agriculture and Forestry us
and what its work means to Hawaii
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GROUP.