16/ 



matter to make the Asiatic understand why he should not "plough 

 in" his infested vegetables instead of burning them thoroughly. 



I am pleased to report that so far the mango has not shown as 

 bad infestation of the Mediterranean fruitfly as it did last season. 

 Many of the fruits are damaged by fungus and as a result of fer- 

 mentation are attacked by species of small vinegar flies. These 

 latter only attack fruit in a rotting or fermenting condition. 



Whilst the majority of householders show a marked willingness 

 to cooperate in the work of ''clean culture," there are very many 

 who appear irritated at the continual calls of inspectors. These 

 latter householders apparently do not appreciate the fact that if 

 they kept their premises free of ripe or infested fruits, there would 

 be little occasion for continued inspection. As a whole, however, 

 most of the residents are pleased to have their attention called to 

 any insanitar}- horticultural conditions on their premises. 



INSULAR COXDITIONS. 



The organization of special committees to superintend the cam- 

 paign in the districts of Hawaii and Maui is now complete. Com- 

 missions have been issued to the members of committees as spe- 

 cial agents of the Board, whilst the inspectors named by the com- 

 mittees have received their official appointments. 



The allotment by the "conservation fund committee" of $3500 

 to Hawaii and SIOGO to Maui to assist in their campaign to either 

 control or prevent the introduction of the ^lediterranean fruitfly 

 in their several districts, has been pro-rated in a manner appar- 

 ently satisfactory to all concerned. Letters of appreciation for 

 the financial assistance granted have been received from a num- 

 ber of the committees. The cost of inspection, over and above 

 the amount allotted, will be paid out of funds locall}^ contributed 

 in each district. 



I am sorry to say that the fruit material received from Kona, 

 about which I previously reported, has bred out the ^Mediterranean 

 fruitfly. That district and Kohala are the only two on Hawaii 

 where, so far as is at present known, infestation exists. It is to 

 be hoped that the system of inspection at points on the belt roads 

 leading out of Kohala and Kona will be efficient and thereby 

 perhaps postpone for an indefinite period the introduction of the 

 fly into the other districts. As the Inter-Island Steam Naviga- 

 tion Co. has given instructions to the officers on all its steamers 

 not to carry Hawaiian fruits from infested districts, it is hoped 

 that this cooperation, together with the vigilance of the inspectors 

 at way ports, will greatly assist in keeping the pest away from 

 districts so far not known to be infested. 



PARASITIC WORK. 



I am pleased to report that Prof. Silvestri, the well known ex- 

 pert at present employed by the Italian government in its eco- 

 nomic and other entomological work in Southern Italy, has at 



