139 



to advantage could be made, else the locality would have re- 

 ceived a more thorough study. The citrus plants there did 

 not look healthy and yet the principal cause of this condition 

 seems to have been the nature of the sub-soil which has been 

 ascertained to contain a compound of iron (Ferrous sulphate) 

 inimical to vegetation, as a result of which the roots instead of 

 penetrating it remain in the surface soil. This soil is very 

 porous and because of the great rainfall does not hold what- 

 ever plant nourishment becomes available either through na- 

 tural causes or artificial application. A caterpillar, the identity 

 of Avhicli has not been ascertained, seems to do more or less 

 injury to the citrus blossoms. Purple scale is quite thick, al- 

 though the fungus attacking it {SphaerostUbe coccophila, Tul.), 

 which has been imported from Florida, is also thriving. The 

 citrus plants seem also damaged some"\vhat by snails and not a 

 little perhaps by lichens. Here as in Kohala, every bit of 

 arboreal or bush vegetation, dead or alive, is thickly plastered 

 with lichens from top to bottom. Quite young plants look 

 hoary with age because of the lichen blanket. Lichens, while 

 not injurious directly, probably do more or less damage to 

 plants they cover by excluding sunlight and air. Siphanta 

 was plentiful with results similar to those given for other 

 places. 



Volcano House Avas the next stop. The management of the 

 hotel maintains quite an extensive vegetable garden, the pro- 

 ducts of which are relished by their visitors. Large celery 

 beds are a feature of this garden and much of this vegetable 

 raised there is sold to advantage in Honolulu. The gardener 

 complained most of cut worms and perhaps next in import- 

 ance is a combination of aphis and fungus that afflicts celery. 

 He was instructed to use poisoned bran mash against the cut 

 worms and strong soap suds against the aphis. What seemed 

 most remarkable at this place was the fact that ferns were ob- 

 served sprouting up in cracks of lava which, I was informed 

 by the guide, is of the 1896 flow. This would seem to indicate 

 a very remarkable fertility of the rock. 



By the courtesy of iMr. Julian Monsarrat, Kapapala Ranch 

 was the next eighteen hour stop. What seemed to me like 

 an oasis in the desert was the garden surrounding Mr. Mon- 



