3 



REPORTS OF DUISIOXS. 



Reports of the various divisions of the agricultural department 

 for the month of December show eilective work all round. In 

 that of animal industry Doctor Norgaard explains as fully as pos- 

 sible the mortality in the dog quarantine, fixing the responsibility 

 largely on the importers of delicate — in some cases invalid — 

 pets on account of their having brought in the animals at an in- 

 clement season. At the same time he renews in unmistakable 

 tones the solemn caution against the introduction of rabies, hint- 

 ing the possible necessity of prohibiting the importation of canine 

 stock altogether. Particulars are given of a new problem in 

 bovine tuberculosis control, arising from the absence of law to 

 compel the inspection of milch cows whose product is not for sale. 

 This he is handling in judicious manner. Hog cholera has re- 

 crudesced on the island of Oahu, the matter being complicated 

 by reports of disease in various quarters which are doubted to be 

 cholera. Great care is being exercised to save owners of hogs 

 the expense of serum treatment where it may not be necessary. 



Superintendent Ehrhorn shows the exclusion of several dan- 

 gerous pests by the division of entomology, also the introduction 

 of more beneficial insects to combat pests that are present. He 

 gives interesting information on the white ant, whose discovery 

 in the Capitol grounds arboriculture has lent fresh importance 

 to its existence here. The prohibition of plant introduction here 

 without a federal permit, mentioned by him, should be made as 

 widely known as possible by residents in their correspondence 

 and by the press. 



In the absence of the superintendent of forestry the forest 

 nurseryman, ^^Ir. Haughs, tells of the work of that division, which 

 shows a large distribution of young trees, considering the heavy 

 drafts made upon the stock for some months previously. Nearly 

 3000 plants taken by corporations is pleasingly indicative of the 

 continued interest shown in forestry on the part of big capital. 



Superintendent Larrison reports steady progress by the division 

 of hydrography on the different islands in the various means of 

 determining the water resources of the Territory for irrigation, 

 light and power. There is a suggestion that the service might be 

 accelerated with additional funds. 



To secure a merit bads'e in forestrv, boy scouts are required, 

 amonsT other thinsfs, to identifv 25 kinds of trees. 



The largest tree in the United States is said to be the "^Mother 

 of the Forest," a giant redwood in the Calaveras bigtree grove 

 in California. It is supposed to contain 140,619 board feet of 

 lumber. There are. however, many claimants for the honor of 

 being the "largest tree" and the "oldest tree," and these claims, 

 according- to foresters, can not alwavs be verified. 



