Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-12-05
BATTLEOF Hawaii PLANTATIONS
AGAINST PESTS TOLD IN REPORTS

Mr.. SWeZey reports That TO MS great
satisfaction areas once badly infested
have not remained so, and that good
crops OF cane are growing IL fields
where previously much of the cane
was killed by. the grubs. The spots
most heavily infested one year do not
necessarily coincide with the worst
spots of the previous year
During the wet weather of last win.
ter the Metarrhizium fungus was an
active agent in reducing the multi
plication of the grubs. II was also OBJ
served that the grubs sought the
drier ridges when the fields were wet
from the heavy rains. thus relieving
the damage Immediately about the
can stools in the furrow.
II is today an open question whether
the retention of cane trash on field
will be beneficial or otherwise in con-
tending with the Anomala beetle.
According to Mr.. Swezey. from the
great abundance of grubs beneath the
layers of trash in fields where trash
has been left it looks as though this
organic matter would offer an attrac-
ton that would keep them from the
cane stools On the other hand, 1t
may furnish so favorable a breeding
ground as to result in such vast in.
crease in the total number of beetles
that in the end the damage to the
cane might be greater than If the
trash had been burned.
This point will be studied with great
interest, as we feel that the practise
of retaining trash may have an i'm
portant bearing one way or the other,
Natural Enemies and Parasites OF
AnonaIa
Work along this subject has re-
solved itself into introducing and es-
tablishing a number of natural
enemies and parasites which have
been found through Mr.. Muir's efforts
in the Orient during the past three
years.
A number Of white grub parasites
were located in the Philippines and
much of the past year has been de-
voted to efforts TO successfully trans
port these TO Honolulu. Much ma
terial was lost before successful ways
of handling the insects We're found,
The length of the voyage, infrequency
of ships and irregular sailing sched-
ules have contributed to the disap-
pointments which are to be recognized
as a part of the routine of this Work.
A quantity of material was brought
in by Mr.. Muir when he returned
in March. Mr.. Osborn, who has assist
ed in the work In the Philippines from
November, 1915, brought more when
he returned in July of this year.
At the present writing Mr.. Muir Is on
his way to Japan with colonies oil
PARASITES. where he will be met BY
Mr.. Osborn, who will return to Homo
lulu with the material. There is great
in making consignments in
this manner under expert attention.
Corn Leafhopper Parasites
The production of corn in these
islands has been severely handicapped
through the damage Of the corn leaf
hopper. Effective egg parasites were
found at Los Banos by Mr.. Osborn
and introduced by him when he re
turned in July. These are being bred
at the station with the view OF cis-
colonies to plantations inter
ested in corn culture. The board OF
agriculture has been furnished a sup,
ply, and they are also breeding them
for distribution to corn growers. The
of these parasites should
prove of much value to the territory
at large.
introduction Of Inseetiyorous Birds
Barred
After negotiations toward the intro
duction of the Formosan crow (Buch-
anga atral, desirable insect eater
recommended by Mr.. Muir, we find
that this bird is barred. The federal
authorities decline to issue a. permit
TO the territorial authorities for its
owing to the fact that
surra, disease of livestock, has been
known to occur in Formosa. We are
now corresponding in an effort to
learn of some surra-free locality where
this bird occurs, but we do not con.
slider the prospects hopeful.
The So-Calied lahaina Disease
Soil studies by Mr.. Burgess con.
tinue to point to a certain correlation
between the occurrence of black alkali
and the failure of the Lahaina variety
Following this theory We have started
field tests, treating the soil with gyp-
sum, which is commonly recognized in
the West as a corrective on alkaline
soils. Green manuring tests are also
under way with the same end in view
Thus far these tests prove disappoint.
ing, but it is early to discuss them
any way but tentatively. The very
striking results reported year ago
with green manuring have not been
duplicated with the regularity for
which we had hoped. There are ia.
vorable indications from gypsum in
some instances, but no response in
other cases.
We are not prepared as yet TO aban-
don the alkali theory nor 10 adopt il
Meanwhile, where La