Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1912-02-05

We must admit that II is difficult
for those versed In the past and pres
cnt work of the expert entomologists
, in the employ Of the Federal and Ter
ritorial experiment stations lat TIo-
nolulu to understand why there
should be any necessity for further
scientific assistance from the depart
ment AT Washington in the local en-
tomological campaign. Should Con-
gross act favorable towards the bills
referred to, 1t would probably mean
the establishment here of sub-bu-
rcau of entomology under the direct
supervision OF the u. s. Bureau AT
Washington with an additional staff
OF expert entomologists to door to
duplicate--work which is now being
efficiently accomplished by our Ter
ritorial Board of Agriculture, whose
members are at all lime cooperating
with the local u. s. Experiment sta
ton in this particular work. The
custom has been on the mainland for
the L. S. Bureau of Entomology to
establish sub-stations In the different
States where work was to be done
under appropriations passed by Con-
gross which provided that the money
was to be expended by the Bureau
under the direction of the Secretary
of Agriculture.
Should the Bureau of Entomology
send more experts here, as would be
more than likely, II is safe to predict
that clash will occur among the diff
ferent authorities, and that the main
issues will be lost sight of in a diff
ference of opinions as to methods In
obtaining thhe same results.
There are already in the Territory
six or seven expert, economic ento-
moloGists and the cooperation of all
Of these has been sought and obtained
by the Board of Agriculture, with, up
to the present, most satisfactory re-
suits. T
While the wcll-planned clean cul-
ture" campaign against the Mediter-
ranean fruit fly pest has been going
along satisfactorily and harmonious
ly, the entomologists have not lost
time in their efforts to deal with the
fruit ny In manner as effective as
that adopted by the sugar planters i'm
their fight against the cane leaf-hop-
per and the cane borcr. The great
success Of some of these scientists In
finding, introducing, and finally es-
tablished parasites to prey on the two
last-named pests Is well known here
as well as in scientific circles abroad.
Their expert work on these partic-
ular lines cannot be improved upon
by experiments of new and untried
entomologists who are yet unac-
quainted with our peculiar climatic
conditions and environments, which
II takes the study of years to become
familiarized with.
II seems difficult to the thinking
for a further increase in the stan of
scientists, especially of those who
claim to be experts in economic en-
tomology. The new men" would
probably through their unfamiliarity
with, local conditions change the
clean culture" methods so far sue
cessfully adopted by the Territorial
Board of Agriculture, and with two
organizations in the field, there would
likely be much overlapping and dup
LEGATION of work, to say nothing about
the unavoidable friction with house
holders and others. 1t is not diff
cult to forecast either that the para
site end of the campaign would he
entirely dropped by the Territory, not
withstanding the fact that arrange
ments are now practically concluded
for the sending of noted economic
entomologist to tropical West Africa
(Which IL said by noted authorities to