04 



The Rosolla {Jlibisci/N sahdarltf'a) has been little cultivated in Hawaii, 

 though it is quite common in Australia, and was long ago introduced 

 to these islands from that source. It makes a good growth on the 

 station grounds, and it is hoped that it will fruit freely. The large 

 flesh}" cah'x of the flower is both useful and ornamental. It is this 

 part of the plant which is used in the making of a jam which closely 

 resembles in color and flavor that made from cranberries. 



At the upper lands, where the rainfall is the only water supply, 

 have been planted cofl'ee, bananas, carnations, violets, and garden 

 vegetables. Some of the land has been cleared of under])rush and 

 terraced, and is now ready for further planting. The mango and 

 avocado trees, which were planted there in the forest before the estab- 

 lishment of the station, have received care and attention so far as avail- 

 able funds would allow. The other trees surrounding them and which 

 threatened their life having been removed several years ago, they 

 are now in promising condition and form quite an orchard of these 

 two tropical fruits. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Several plant diseases have received attention during the 5^ear. Two 

 diseases of the banana have caused considerable loss, the one being the 

 " ripe rot" and the other the " banana scab." 



RIPE ROT. 



The ripe rot, or banana anthracnose, is due to the attack of the fun- 

 gus Glicoxporium mumrutn. The disease makes its flrst appearance on 

 the fruit in the form of small black spots which may increase in area until 

 the whole banana is blackened. This not only destroys its appearance 

 but results in the decay of the fruit before ripening. The fruiting 

 stage of the fungus is marked b}" roseate tints in which areas spores 

 are readilj^ found in large numbers. 



The methods for the control of this disease must consist in precau- 

 tionary measures and possibh' in the use of the copper solutions. Too 

 much stress can not l)e laid upon the importance of packing the fruit 

 Avy. Wet packing and stowing in the hold of the vessel furnish ideal 

 conditions for the growth of the fungus. Decaying fruit should not 

 be left about the fields or packing sheds, as this would furnish millions 

 of spores for the further spread of the disease. Bordeaux mixture 

 and the ammoniacal solution of copj^er carbonate have not been tested, 

 but from the general character of the disease it is believed that their 

 use is to be recommended at least experimentally. 



