435 
Among  the  more  important  (because  frought  with  graver 
possibilities)  pests  intercepted  may  be  mentioned:  Fungus  dis- 
ease on  bamboo  and  yam ; saw-fly  larvae  on  rose ; two  species  of 
unknown  ants  from  Australia ; lepidopterous  and  dermested 
larvae  on  mango  seeds  from  Manila ; a large  variety  of  pests  in 
rice  from  Japan.  All  old  rice  coming  here  from  Japan  during 
the  past  two  years  was  fumigated  before  shipment  and  was  there- 
fore uniformly  free  from  pests.  This  month,  however,  one  lot 
of  1,000  sacks  arrived  without  apparently  having  undergone  the 
preliminary  treatment.  As  it  was  the  first  infested  lot  in  a long 
while  and  the  facilities  for  treatment  were  at  hand,  the  shipment 
was  treated  here  rather  than  returned  as  would  have  to  be  done 
in  strict  compliance  with  the  regulations.  The  pests,  too,  were 
obnoxious  because  of  their  numbers  rather  than  newness  of  kinds. 
The  “Aorangi”  on  the  15th  brought  seven  cases  of  sugar  cane 
from  Mr.  Muir,  presumably  stocked  with  beneficial  insects.  Im- 
mediately after  landing  they  were  hurried  over  to  the  Sugar 
Planters’  Experiment  Station’s  quarantine  room,  where  Mr. 
Swezey  took  charge  of  them.  No  further  action  was  taken  on 
our  part,  since  Mr.  Swezey  was  aware  of  the  precaution  necessary 
to  prevent  the  escape  of  any  pest,  and  perfectly  competent  to 
do  so. 
The  same  boat  also  brought  a small  wardian  case  of  a variety 
of  plants  in  soil  from  an  unascertainable  point  in  Australia.  For 
fear  the  soil  or  plants  might  be  pest  laden,  vigorous  inquiry  for 
the  consignee  was  instituted,  but  to  no  avail.  With  the  kind  con- 
sent of  the  customs  collector  the  case  was  placed  in  quarantine, 
and  later  burned. 
LOCAL  PROBLEMS. 
The  Japanese  beetle  is  apparently  in  full  sway  now  judging 
by  the  number  of  requests  for  inoculated  beetles.  These  requests 
are  being  satisfied  as  fast  as  possible.  Arrangements  are  in 
progress  with  the  honorary  plant  pathologist  to  prepare  a number 
of  pure  cultures  of  the  fungus  in  tubes  which  will  be  available 
for  distribution  at  short  notice. 
The  manager  of  a stock  ranch  on  Hawaii  has  made  repeated 
calls  for  assistance  in  the  work  of  subduing  the  troublesome 
thimble  berry.  Like  lantana  it  is  fast  overrunning  valuable  land 
by  aid  of  the  minah  bird  which  eats  the  berry  and  scatters  the 
seed.  It  imposes  a great  burden  on  the  ranch  to  keep  the  pest 
within  bounds.  In  the  absence  of  accurate  knowledge  of  con- 
ditions in  the  field  no  expert  advice  could  be  offered,  nor  could 
time  be  spared  from  inspection  duties  here  to  pay  the  necessary 
visit.  Probably  in  the  presence  of  the  new  superintendent  such 
a visit  will  be  made  possible  in  the  near  future. 
The  melon  fly  problem  is  still  pressing  hard  for  solution.  Our 
