Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-08-05

fly campaign, is pleased to report to
the commissioners of agriculture and
forestry that during the past two
months there has been gradual but
marked Improvement in the condition
Of infestation throughout the area of
Honolulu covered by existing regula-
tons. The same may be said, in a
measure, of portions of outside but
adjacent territory. In the latter, in.
stance the apparently improved con-
dition may to some extent be due to
the few wild guaya at present in
fruit, although the mountain apples
In the valleys, which are now in sea-
son, show very little, if any, infesta-
ton at all. The Improvement in Ho-
nolulu gardens is undoubtedly due in
part to better and more general Co
operation on the part of Household ers,
who are now taking more interest in
the work of the campaign and partic-
.ularly in the proper disposition Of
their fallen fruit. IT,
Daily Clean Up Needed. .-.
Very much better results would
be obtained If the whole community
combined in an everyday clean up
and the city and county government
could be prevailed upon to adopt the
daily free garbage system throughout
the city and suburbs, which I have.
strenuously advocated since the be-
ginning of the campaign. Credit,
however, should be given the county
supervisors for having cooperated in
our campaign work to the extent that
the incinerator was again placed in
commission at the service of the pub
lie after having been closed down dur
ing long period Had it not been
for the effective destruction of the
large quantities of fruits taken to the
incinerator by the garbage depart
ment and the additional service of
special outside transportation arrang-
ed for by the board of agriculture,
the outcome of the campaign at this
time would have been obviously diff
ferent. As it is, there is, as already.
stated, room for much improvement
in the garbage transportation system,
which, however, can hardly by RENE
died until this is made free to all"
Spraying Fruit Trees.
Mr.. Giffard states that since his
previous report special corps of in
spectors under the immediate super
vision of Mr.. Weinland has continued
spraying with Mally's arsenate of lead
solution areas of fruit trees in local
gardens. He mentions the day of ap-
preparation bills in Washington, say
ing it was expected they would have
favorable attention before adjourn
ment of Congress this month, and
adds: In the meantime the depar-
ture from Washington of the repre-
sentative (Dr. Back of the u S.. Blu
reau of Entomology has been indefi-
nitely postponed. Advices received
by me from the chief of the bureau
state that DR.. Back will leave just as
soon as Congress finally passes the
appropriation bills referred to-"
Mention is made of manE COM
plants regarding peculiar condition
affecting a very large percentage of
mango fruits this season. In the
earlier parts of the season it was sup
posed that decay of the fruit on
the trees was caused by the fly. Elk
periments in the laboratory, however,
showed that the fly had nothing to do
with it, nor was the particular form
of rottenness caused by a fungus dis
ease as originally suspected. In every
case 1T has been found that the seed
was attacked by the mango weeviL
This diagnosis has been corroborated
by the U. S. experiment station"
Insular conditions of infestation re-
main the same, Hilo, Puma and Kau
being the only districts in which the
fruit fly has not been observed. In
spcctions on the other islands Mr.. Gift
fard regrets are not what they should
be, but there are reasonable excuses,
among the principal ones being lack
of funds and the absence of law max
ing is legally possible to search the
passenger and his baggage when en-
barking on or disembarking from in
terisland steamers without a search
warrant.
Hilo Unguarded.
Even at this moment" Mr. Giffard
says, the district of Hilo has prac-
tically thrown up it's hands and the
inspection work at its main port is
not now being carried out as eff
GENTLY as it should be because of the
alleged impossibility of controlling
the thoroughfares leading into that
district from Hamakua, where the
pest has already been admitted BY