418 
valuable  as  rotation  crops  and  as  green  manure.  A careful  study 
of  the  various  cultural  methods  in  the  leading  rice  country  of  the 
world  has  given  much  valuable  information  which  will  be  of 
practical  utility.  One  especially  pleasing  feature  of  the  visit 
was  the  generosity  and  kindness  with  which  the  Hawaii  Experi- 
ment Station's  representative  was  received  by  the  Japanese  offi- 
cials. Every  assistance  was  rendered  to  make  the  mission  suc- 
cessful, and  not  only  were  seeds  and  official  publications  given, 
but  the  members  of  the  staffs  of  the  various  agricultural  stations 
readily  gave  whatever  information  was  desired  and  devoted  much 
pains  to  be  of  use. 
FOREST  FIRES  AND  THEIR  CONTROL. 
The  following  tabulated  methods  by  which  the  Federal  govern- 
ment checks  fire  losses  of  the  National  forests  should  be  closely 
studied  and  as  far  as  practical  put  into  operation  by  all  owners  of 
timber  land : 
1.  Constant  and  systematic  patrol  by  picked  forces  of  ranger j 
and  guards ; 
2.  The  construction  of  roads,  trails,  and  telephone  lines,  which 
facilitate  the  massing  of  large  fire-fighting  forces ; 
3.  The  construction  of  fire  lines  which,  in  some  instances, 
check  the  spread  of  fire  without  human  help ; 
4.  The  equipment  of  the  forests  with  fire-fighting  tools  and 
other  supplies  necessary  in  fighting  fires ; 
5.  Cooperation  with  railroads  and  adjoining  timber  land  own- 
ers, and  settlers  to  protect  both  the  lands  of  the  companies  and 
the  Forest  Service  at  a much  smaller  cost  to  the  individual  own- 
ers than  would  be  the  case  were  the  National  Forest  lands  alone 
protected  by  the  local  officers. 
INSECT  PEST  REMEDIES. 
The  Forester  is  in  receipt  of  a pamphlet  from  a local  drug 
house  which  urges  the  necessity  of  controling  plant  crops  by 
spraying  and  contains  a list  of  standard  sprays  with  practical 
directions  for  their  use.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  enterprise  of 
the  firm  will  meet  with  sufficient  response  to  justify  continued  ad- 
vertising on  these  lines,  as  the  more  publicity  given  to  the  value 
of  such  remedies  the  better  for  the  appearance  of  the  Honolulu 
gardens.  It  would  no  doubt  repay  a business  house  to  instruct  a 
special  employee  to  devote  himself  to  the  educational  side  of  this 
question  and  to  make  owners  of  house  lots  alert  to  the  import- 
ance of  keeping  fruit  and  other  trees  free  from  pests.  By  ad- 
vertising that  such  an  employee  was  ready  to  visit  persons  desir- 
ing instructions  in  spraying  and  to  give  demonstrations  and  ad- 
vice as  to  best  methods  of  insect  destruction  there  is  no  doubt 
a large  clientele  could  be  procured. 
