352 



ever, offers greater promise, and the systematic cultivation of this 

 fruit both for the manufacture of preserves, and also for the 

 development of a dessert fruit, are worthy of trial. 



The prickly-pear in these islands has not generally proved a 

 very bad pest, although the experience of other countries has not 

 been so fortunate. In Europe and northern Africa several delici- 

 ous edible varieties of prickly-pear are grown, and would with- 

 out doubt succeed well in Hawaii, 



One of the most objectionable weeds near Honolulu is that 

 apropriately designated the "stink-vine" {maile pilau). This un- 

 welcome intruder has taken almost complete possession of some 

 spots favorable to its growth, where it fills the air with its un- 

 pleasant odor and is eft'ectually choking out both native and intro- 

 duced plants. The sight of a graceful pandanus struggling be- 

 neath masses of this repulsive vine is one of the most regrettable 

 of the silent tragedies of plant life. It is to be hoped that some 

 way will soon be found to exterminate this undesirable weed. 



There are also in the Hawaiian Islands many obnoxious intro- 

 duced plants of less notoriety than those named, but whose con- 

 trol is none the less desirable. In many cases if the danger of 

 allowing such weeds to spread were made known by the publica- 

 tion of suitable information, the pest could be often controlled 

 and prevented from being spread wide cast through the islands. 

 Among such useless, and often actively harmful plants, may be 

 included several persistent grasses and other smaller weeds, which 

 unless kept in check are likely to prove a menace to pastures and 

 cultivated land. Many such useless weeds infest the house lot 

 and' are even ready to take possession of lawns and flower beds 

 whenever, through lack of knowledge or other reason, they are 

 not continually checked. 



The unwelcome species are not confined to introduced offend- 

 ers, but some native plants should be placed under the ban or at 

 least looked upon with suspicion. Alany a plant which in its na- 

 tive habitat finds a proper place in the economy of the flora, 

 may possess inherent qualities, which when allowed to develop 

 under artificial surroundings may develop extraordinary powers 

 of inflicting harm upon cultivated crops. In this respect it is per- 

 haps well to call attention to a native plant which has till now 

 remained unheeded, except by the few who have assisted its 

 spread from an appreciation of its fancied ornamental appearance. 

 .We refer to the kaiiuaoa, an aerial vine made use of by the na- 

 tives for yellow leis. The propensity of this creeper to grow 

 on many hosts has assisted its distribution and colonies of it are 

 often established by the natives in convenient localities. The 

 kaunaoa is evidently closely related to the European pest "Dodder" 

 which has played havoc with many cultivated crops in Germany 

 and England. The latter plant is a true parasite, apparently a 

 degenerate convolulous, devoid of leaves. It has the faculty 

 of penetrating the bark of manv plants upon which it derives nour- 



