126 



HA WA II A N VEGE TA TION. 



It is commonly supposed, particularly in the case 

 of fungi, that increased virulence of attack follows 

 increased development of plants. The better the 

 variety, the more highly it is bred, the more is it 

 liable to fungous injury. The proposition may be 

 true, but we need definite proof of it. It is true 

 that there are instances in which highly improved 

 varieties are more liable to attack than others, but 

 the susceptibility may have no definite relation to 

 amelioration. The tomato is an instance ; the rot 

 does not often, if ever, attack the cherry sorts. 



But if pests increase, what of it ? Such increase 

 once meant discouragement or despair. It now 

 means thought and labor. We know too much to 

 repine ; we are rapidly finding out that there is 



some way in which to combat everything. But 

 there are those who say that it will not pay to com- 

 bat ; the cost may be great, and margin of profit is 

 everywhere low. This proposition is not true. It 

 always pays, immediately or ultimately, to save 

 crops. And the man who saves his crops reaps a 

 double reward, for the chances are that his neigh- 

 bor has lost his, and production is lessened. The 

 curculio is a blessing to the thrifty man, inasmuch 

 as it prevents the multitude from growing plums 

 and peaches. Effort always pays, and it is the 

 enemy which incites it. " Flowery beds of ease" 

 are poets' dreams. They would make idlers. 

 Weeds have taught us to cultivate the soil. 



L. H. Bailey. 



HAWAIIAN VEGETATION. 



'HE stranger in the Hawaiian 

 Islands finds himself in a new 

 world — a land of eternal bloom 

 and verdure — over which, 

 like a benediction, rests an at- 

 mosphere of peace. With a 

 temperature that averages 80°, 

 a soil naturally rich, and fre- 

 quent, copious showers, plant life, in its most luxu- 

 riant varieties, attains the highest perfection. 



As none of the eight islands has exactly the same 

 climate as the others, different trees and shrubs are 

 peculiar to each. The island of Hawaii, upon which 

 is situated the famous active crater of Kilauea, is 

 considered the most tropical. Here are raised the 

 celebrated Kona coffee and delicious thin-skinned 

 oranges, and ten of the fourteen miles of the new 

 route to the volcano are through dense groves of 

 pandanus or lauhala trees and magnificent forests 

 of feathery fern-trees. Kauai is known as "The 

 Garden Island ; " and certain small plants, such as 

 the "silver sword," are indigenous to the colossal 

 crater of Haleakala, on the island of Maui. 



If one wishes to obtain a bird's-eye view of the 

 fair Hawaiian capital, on the island of Oahu, he has 

 but to climb the rambling slopes of the extinct old 

 crater. Punchbowl, in the rear of the town, and from 

 its summit look down upon the beautiful "summer 

 city by the sea," literally embowered in a wealth of 

 foliage, roofs and church-spires peeping out from a 

 maze of cool, green algarobas (members of the lo- 

 cust family) and various species of palms. It is 

 difficult to credit the assertion that this spot was 

 once entirely unshaded, and was first laid out in 

 trees by the early missionaries. The maneanea, or 



Bermuda-grass, carpets with emerald turf hillsides, 

 lanes and by-ways, and the lantana, a kind of wild 

 verbena, raised in hot-houses in America, is gradu- 

 ally covering the rocky sides of ancient volcanic 

 peaks. 



Guarding the sea-coasts, sentinel fashion, is that 

 exceedingly picturesque tree, the cocoanut, described 

 by Mark Twain, the irrepressible, as "a gigantic 

 feather-duster struck by lightning." Nevertheless 

 it is the prince of palms, and sometimes reaches the 

 height of 120 feet. No tourist should consider his 

 trip complete in detail until he has seen some agile 

 native perform the feat of scaling its long, slim stem 

 to obtain the cocoanuts. The uses of this tree are 

 many and varied. Its trunk supplies material for the 

 manufacture of boats, furniture, fishing-poles, etc.; 

 from the fiber are woven ropes, mats and fish-nets ; 

 the shells are used for cups or bowls, called cala- 

 bashes, which are often beautifully carved and pol- 

 ished ; the milk of the nut is a refreshing drink, and 

 the young meat may be eaten with a spoon, like cus- 

 tard, or used when riper in different ways in cook- 

 ing. The leaves are utilized in thatching grass-huts, 

 and are also burned for fuel or saved for fodder. 

 Cocoanut oil is also a well-known product of this 

 invaluable tree. Other palms are numerous. The 

 approach to the Queen's Hospital is through a noble 

 avenue of stately date palms, with tempting clusters 

 of luscious fruit. Majestic, indeed, is the Royal 

 palm, which grows abundantly, there being no less 

 than eighty of its representatives in the private 

 grounds of one of Honolulu's prominent citizens. 

 Fan palms are seen on every side, together with 

 dragon palms, yuccas, Spanish-bayonets and pal- 

 mettos. 



