transit, we must at once realize that the danger of introduction 

 of some insect pest or plant disease is more liable at this port 

 than anywhere else in these islands. This being the case, and to 

 avoid the possible spread of such insects which might gain a 

 foothold on Oahu, to any of the other islands. Rule XX was 

 approved on June 1, 1919. 



There need not be any anxiety for loss or destruction on the 

 part of the shipper of any commodity in this rule if he complies 

 with the regulations noted therein. Any infested fruit, plant, 

 vegetable or other material of a vegetable nature will not be 

 allowed shipment to the other islands. No sugar cane, even 

 when desired as food on the trip to the other islands, will be 

 permit- ed shipment, unless it has been first examined and properly 

 tagged by the plant inspector. All taro, lily root and tubers can- 

 not be shipped unless they have first been cleaned from clinging 

 soil and properly tagged by the plant inspector. 



All plants from the roots of which the soil has been washed 

 off, when free from scale insects and diseases, can be shipped 

 when properly tagged by the plant inspector. Any plant not 

 so treated and found in the possession of a passenger will be 

 seized and forbidden shipment. 



Soil is the greatest carrier of disease germs and insect pests, 

 especially in their immature stages. The Japanese rose beetle, 

 anomala beetle, ants and many other pests were brought to these 

 islands in soil many years ago and, since the inspection laws have 

 been enforced, the grubs of the above pests have been found 

 on several occasions in the soil of plant shipments from foreign 

 countries. Not very long ago, in the soil of a medium-sized pot 

 plant from Japan, 122 grubs of a beetle similar to the Japanese 

 rose beetle were found. Had this plant not been stopped by the 

 plant inspector, we would without doubt have had another serious 

 pest to contend with. 



Many people have an idea that shipping plants without soil 

 means the death of the plants. As in all things, there is a right 

 way and a wrong way to pack and ship plants. Even some of 

 the nurserymen and florists do not seem to know how to ship 

 plants by mail from the mainland to Hawaii. Frequently we 

 tind young rose plants in cardboard boxes or wrappers crushed 

 flat by the weight of the mail bags, and the plants dead and as dry 

 as a bone. These same persons send such plants to nearby towns 

 in their state, and yet do not realize that from the far eastern 

 states to Hawaii it takes two weeks with two or three handlings 

 before the plants arrive here. Their attention has been called to 

 this matter, but very few seem to improve the conditions. The 

 Division of Plant Inspection will gladly verify the arrival of 

 poorly packed plants and individuals need not lose their money. 

 If a plant is carefully handled, the soil carefully removed, prefer- 

 ably by washing it off so as not to injure the tender rootlets, and 

 is then packed in well-moistened moss and each plant carefully 

 wrapped by itself, there should be no loss in such shipments. 



