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A CIRCULAR OF INFORMATION. 



BY JACOB KOTINSKY. 



Assistant Entomologist. 



INTEODUCTION. 



One of the features of the Hawaiian Islands is that nearly 

 every one, whether he lives in the city or country, is in one 

 way or another interested in plant growth. Scarcely a door 

 yard but has its ornamental plants, shrubs and trees. Very 

 many of the inhabitants devote much time and attention to 

 the cultivation of various fruit trees, some for private use 

 only, others on a commercial scale. But the days when plant- 

 ing and irrigation was the only attention plants required, if 

 they were ever here, are now past and gone. Vegetation upon 

 these Islands is now beset with many ills, not the least among 

 which is injury by insects. Numerous species of scale insects, 

 cut worms, the Japanese beetle, the Olinda beetle, and many 

 other insect pests, too numerous to mention in a circular, have 

 come to stay with us. If there is consolation in numbers we 

 may find it in the fact that our fate is not worse than that of 

 the rest of the world engaged in the cultivation of plants. 

 Man, however, acknowledges no insurmountable obstacles in 

 his way of promoting desirable plant growth. With all means 

 available to science he gives no quarter to his enemies. He 

 fights until the battle is won. 



WORK OF HAWAII AGAINST INJURIOUS INSECTS. 



About twelve years ago the advance of the insect army upon 

 our vegetation became so serious that the government was 

 compelled to appeal to a scientist for assistance. The services 

 of Prof. Albert Koebele were fortunately secured, and the 

 war of insect extermination was earnestly begun. Relentless- 

 ly has the conflict been waged since that year, and the com- 

 parative scarcity of what were formerly pernicious pests is 

 ample evidence of the success of the undertaking. More re- 

 cently the Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and For- 

 estry has organized a Division of Entomology to carry on the 



