IS6 



information relative to the care of silk worms. The industry 

 is not suited for women and children as has often been stated, 

 but it requires a man's full time during" the whole period from 

 the hatching of the eggs until the transformation to the cocoon 

 takes place. The industry is suggested to those whose estab- 

 lished occupation is in progress only a portion of the year. 



Dairying, poultry, vegetables, fruits, bees, stock raising and 

 rubber all come in for generous treatment. 



The pamphlet in question is well written and presents a 

 mass of valuable material in a thoroughly interesting way. 

 It should be widely read by residents of this Territory and 

 be sent to all who are interested in the development of Ha- 

 waii. 



NON-FRUITING OF MELON VINES. 



Many practical gardners hold the opinion that some plants, 

 like the cabbage, and also pumpkins and melons, head and 

 fruit better when eld seeds (two to three years of age) are 

 sown. This is an exception to the general rule, which shows 

 that fresh seeds possess a higher germinating power and pro- 

 duce more vigorous plants. A French experimenter, Caz- 

 ziola, found that melon and squashes raised from fresh seeds 

 bore a larger proportion of male istaiuinatc) than female •(pistil- 

 late) flowers, while older seeds bore more female than male 

 flowers. This may be the reason of the scarcity of female 

 flowers in certain cases. It is well known, however, that male 

 flowers of plants of the melon and squash tribe usually appear 

 five to six days before the female flowers, and also that they 

 are much more numerous than female flowers. In this way 

 while plenty of pollen is provided, self fertlisation of the 

 female flowers by the male flowers of the same plant is check- 

 ed, and cross fertilisation, aided by the agency of insects and 

 wind, is made easier. As a genleral rule, a practical result of 

 cross fertilisations, is that more vigorous and hardier subjects 

 issue. Some gardeners affirm that Avhen groAving pumpkins 

 or melons it is advisable to mix a small proportion of new 

 seed with the older seed, to provide vigorous and leafy vines 

 with an abundance of pollen. — lourna! of Agriculture, W. A. 



