The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-06-16


Hard 70 Control.
Mr.. Ehfhorn states that the methods
Of residents here arc conducive to the
breeding Of such pests. While one man
may keep his premises or small farm
in excellent shape and use every meth.
cd to prevent the Introduction Of pests.
his neighbor may have slovenly habits
and do nothing whatever to safeguard
his fruit trees, plants and vegetables,
thereby assisting in running the first
named grower.
David Haughs, Of the forestry bureau,
states that the fruit fly is generally
known as the Mediterranean fruit fy.
It gained a foothold in Australia sew
eral years ago and shipments from there
to Hawaii were prohibited by the local
authorities. He believes that Califor-
mia will take the most drastic steps to
prevent the introduction of the fly in
the Golden State, for if ever it got
foothold there it would be the means
of destroying millions of dollars worth
of fruits and might be the cause of
destroying the entire fruit industry.
There are so many sources that this fly
might come from, with vessels arriving
at its ports from every part of the
world, that Hawaii must suffer from its
embargo.
1t is said that a pair of these flies
are sufficient unto themselves to be the
forerunners of sixty-million flies in a
year. Already the pepper industry has
been fatally attacked; papayas have
been badly nipped and the alligator
pear and mango are next in line unless
something can be found to kill off the
enemy.
Oceanic Gets Same Order.
The Oceanic Steamship Company at
San Francisco also notified Brewer &
CO., their local agents, to the same
effect as follows:
Estate quarantine is enforced against
fruit fly. Notify passengers that they
must submit all baggage and parcels to
government inspection on arrival in
San Francisco. Baggage must not con-
tain fruits or plants or other horticul-
tural products. "
An Apple Responsible.
Walter P. Kelley of the United
States Experiment Station states that
up to year ago this fly was unknown
here. Ten months ago federal expert
ment stations received inquiries as to
what pests were damaging mangoes.
The local members of the station ex-
amined this fruit and came to the con
clusion that it was the Mediterranean
fly, the worst pest in the world.
1t is believed the fly was introduced
into Honolulu from Australia and prob
ably by passenger on Canadian
Australian liner bringing an apple
ashore in his pocket. This was done
in spite of a strict observance of the
rule to prevent its introduction, as no
fruits from Australia were allowed
here.
This fly attacks any fruit with deli
cate skin and the theory is that it
will wipe out papayas altogether and
add to the troubles of the mango. The
fly has no known parasite. The Aus
tralian horticulturists have searched
the world for parasite but so far
without success.
So far as the federal people know
this fly has obtained foothold only
upon the island of Oahu, and steps were
taken by the federal authorities few
weeks ago to quarantine all Oahu fruits
from being taken to otLer islands.
The pineapple is believed to be i'm
mune owing to its tough skin. 1t has
not been definitely determined whether
the fly attacks the alligator pear.