441 



per cent, were found to be free of the disease. The bovine tuber- 

 culosis compensation act passed by the 1917 Legislature has 

 greatly assisted in the suppression of this disease which it is 

 hoped will in time be entirely eradicated from this Territory. 



During September, October and November, the Division of 

 Entomology reared and distributed for liberation a total of 92,- 

 294 beneficial insects as follows: 16,150 parasites on the melon 

 fly, 11,794 parasites on the fruit fly, 8350 parasites on the horn 

 fly, and 56,000 parasites on the corn leaf hopper. Any of these 

 parasites will be sent on application to those who are troubled 

 with the insect pests enumerated above. 



The article, "History of Botanical Exploration in Hawaii," 

 the first two instalments of which appeared in the September 

 and October numbers, is by Professor Vaughan MacCaughey, 

 of the College of Hawaii. The third instalment is crowded out 

 of this number. 



The Haw^aiian Sumach 



By C. S. JuDD, Superintendent of Forestry. 



The Hawaiian sumach or Neneleau, Rhus seuiialata Murr. var 

 sandwicensis Engl., belongs to a genus which has over 100 species 

 widely distributed over the world, but which is most abundant 

 in subtropical and temperate regions, chiefly in South Africa. 

 In the United States the sumach is represented by 16 species 

 widely scattered of which four attain the habit of small trees. 

 These are most conspicuous in the fall of the year when their 

 turning foliage brightens the landscape with colors of fire. 



The resin-canals in the bark of the sumach are in general 

 filled with a milky juice and the bark and leaves abound in tannin 

 which is used in dressing leather. Some of the sumachs are 

 poisonous, even to the touch, and the acrid poisonous juice of 

 Rhus vernieifera D. C. of China furnishes the black varnish 

 used in China and Japan in the manufacture of the much prized 

 lacquer ware. 



The species of which our sumach is a variety is a small tree 

 which is found in the Himalaya Mountains of India up to 7000 

 feet and in China and Japan. In India the fruit is eaten by 

 Nepalese and Pepchas who also make a vegetable wax of it called 

 Omlii. 



The Hawaiian sumach, which reaches a height of at least 25 

 feet, occurs in isolated clusters at the lower elevations and is 

 found at Makaweli, Kauai, at Nuuanu and Hakipuu on Oahu, 

 at Kailua, Auahi, Waiehu and lao on Maui, and in the Kohala 

 mountains, Hamakua, North Kona, and Hilo Districts on Ha- 

 waii. Ordinarily it is not a very gainly tree but when in blossom 



