The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-07-09

cnHpter giving tne bOaTu Une aDOVe-
mentioned authority, the idea being to
| cause the destruction of all infested
| cucumber fields. This motion carried
unanimously.
Koa 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
| eradicating the pests that are doing 80
| 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. cit
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
parasite which is attacking the alga.
roba weevil. "I think" he said,
"that we are fortunate in having DR..
Wilcox to take up the work of in
Federal government is financially able
to do the work on a much larger scale
than we can ourselves. The parasite
for the bean weevil is only the first
of many which are to be brought here
by DIR. Wilcox, who is putting up a
special laboratory for the work.
Grass Prevents Fires.
The Board, upon suggestion Of Mr..
Isenberg, decided to put stop to the
cutting of honohono grass Wandering
jew on the, slopes of Tantalus. Mr..
Isenberg stated that this grass is on.
ly just getting good start and that
it should be let alone until is well
established. The honohono grass, he
said, will not catch fire, and it will
in time not only preserve the moisture
in the ground, but will prevent con-
hagrations on the mountain. The Jap
anese and Portuguese, he said, have
been cutting it and carrying it away
by wagon loads.
Smyrna Figs in Hawaii.
Bugs formed the most fruitful sub.
ject for discussion during the meeting
of the Board. Mr.. Kotinsky mention
ed another beneficial insect from which
much is hoped for the good of the
Territory. This is the Blastophaga,
the wasp the presence of which is
necessary for the production of Smyr-
ma figs. This little insect was import
ed into California some years ago
from Asia Minor and was the main
cause of the great success that has
been experienced in that state in the
growing of figs.
Unlike the commoner varieties, the
Smyrna fig is not capable of produc-
ton alone. 1t needs the presence of
the Capri fig, which though not fit for
eating, yet produces the pollen to fer.
!, tilize the Smyrna. But this pollen can
not be transferred from one plant to
the other except through the activ-
tiles of the Blastophaga, an insect
l oh ,,, hn
its eggs in the Smyrna fig. Going
from one plant to the other. it carries
with it the pollen, which fertilizes the
female or Smyrna fig and causes it to
reach maturity. Otherwise it falls off
young.
a colony of the Blastophaga was
brought to Hawaii from California,
though the good offices of W. Il. Swim.
gle, of the Department of Agriculture
at Washington. Mr.. Kotinsky said that
yesterday he found a number of speci-
mems of the fig fertilizing insect in
the fig trees of the city and believed
that they are doing well here.
The Federal department, he said, has
established n fig orchard at LOOMS,
California, where both Capri and Smyr-
na figs are being grown for distribu-
ton. Any citizen who wishes can get
cuttings of the Capri fig and seedlings
of the Smyrna by making applicatio
A circular on fig growing and blank
application for trees can be obtained
from Mr.. Swingle.
Reclamation Wanted.
Forester Hosmer and l.. G. Black
man will represent the Territory at
the Seventeenth National Irrigation
Congress to be held at Spokane, Wash
ington, August 8 to IA. A strong eff
fort will be made by Hawaii's repre-
sentatives to have resolution adopt.
ed by the Congress, recommending the
extension TO Hawaii of the work of
the Reclamation Service, With this in
view, Marston Campbell stated that
he had written, asking that Mr.. Hos.
mer be given prominent place on the
program. Mr.. Blackman will also dc
all he can TO aid Hawaii at the Con
gress. Forester Hosmer has been