Pacific Planters’

Digest

Macadamia Nuts

Have Possibilities

SOME South Pacific territories are showing an interest in the pro duction of macadamia nuts, a crop which Hawaii is producing on a substantial scale.

Hawaii is exploiting the lucrative California market which it cannot possibly fully supply; and at this stage there is little hope of any area filling the world demand for these highly edible nuts.

Following Hawaii’s lead and with advice from that country on suitable type clones, etc., Samoa already has established seed beds, and is in vestigating the possibility of further production. Fiji also is looking into the possibility of producing the nuts.

The macadamia nut is highly nutritious, being the richest oil-yield ing nut known. It produces about 76 per cent, of oil equal in quality to the best olive oil.

The nut, however, is too valuable to be used for the extraction of oil.

The shell of the nut contains about 2.8 per cent, of oil and the hull, that is, the green covering of the nut, contains about 14 per cent, of sub stances suitable for tanning leather.

It is interesting to note that in Australia, where the tree is indi genous, large-scale plantings are few so far. It could well be that with macadamia nuts the Pacific Islands will find for themselves another export outlet.

It Pays To Be

Careful With Pesticides

THE importance of observing cer tain elementary safety rules when using chemical pesticides cannot be emphasised too strongly or too often.

Most chemical manufacturing com panies regularly issue general pro cedures which should be followed so that chemicals can be put to their proper use and not abused.

When handling pesticides always read the entire label before using the product and observe all precautions listed on the label each time a material is used.

Store pesticides under lock and key out of reach of children and pets and away from food and feed.

Keep pesticides in their original containers.

Dispose of unused chemicals and empty containers in such a way that they are no longer hazardous. If bags are burned, do not inhale the smoke.

Follow directions pertaining to resi dual tolerances on edible plants; always allow the specified time inter val between last application and har vest.

Use pesticides only on crops speci fied and at correct rate and schedule.

Do not eat or smoke while hand ling pesticides.

Wear protective clothing and masks when directed on the label.

Bathe and change to clean clothing right after spraying or dusting. Wash clothing before re-use.

If chemicals are spilled on skin or clothing, change the clothing imme diately and wash thoroughly with soap.

If illness develops during or after a spraying or dusting operation, call a doctor or take the patient to hospi tal immediately.

Rates of application have been carefully computed; do not use more than recommended.

Finally, do not spray or dust on a windy day; avoid drift that would injure plants on adjacent property.

Peanut Advice

Agricultural shows held during the past months in many Islands territories reflect the increas ing interest in agriculture now wide spread throughout the South Pacific.

Following on Fiji’s highly successful effort, Tonga also staged a best-ever show, Tonga’s exhibits would indicate this industrious little kingdom has now the highest standard in the Islands for vegetables and bananas.

It has demonstrated it can grow with success onions, peas, beans and toma toes equal to any produced in tem perate zones.

Now Tonga is directing its atten tion to peanut production. Peanuts hitherto have been grown in many of Tonga’s mission schools. Now agri culturists are interesting themselves in the crop which almost always finds a ready export market. One grower alone is putting 40 acres under pro duction.

Although peanuts will grow well in Tonga, there are certain cultural practices the peanut farmer should adopt to minimise the effects of pea nut diseases. 1. Seed beds should be prepared early and thoroughly. 2. Seed used should be treated with an organo mercurial/captan seed dressing. 3. Planting should not be made any deeper than necessary. Planting too deeply results in weak plants. 4. Consideration should be given to the use of pre-emergence weed killers such as Amine Salt of 24D or MCPB. 5. Give particular attention to early weed control measures, being careful not to forget the headland and contour banks. 6. Give particular attention to crop rotation. This will prevent a build-up of organisms responsible for disease.

Powdery Mildew

MOST cucurbits, including cucum bers and rockmelons, grown in tropical climates show a marked sus ceptibility to powdery mildew.

As the name implies, powdery mildew causes the leaves of plants to become spotted and eventually covered with a white mould-like growth.

Attacked plants produce poor fruit and unless the fungus is controlled the vines eventually die.

Control is best achieved with Kara thane, a wettable powder which will also control the fungus when it at tacks dahlias, delphiniums, etc.

For best results the chemical should be applied at first sign of disease and repeated at intervals of seven to 10 days if weather condi tions favour development of disease.

One oz to eight gallons of water, or one level dessertspoonful to one

gallon of water are rates advised. To improve the contact of spray with plant surface, it is suggested that a wetting agent be added to the Kara thane spray at the rate of 4 to 6 fluid ounces per 100 gallons or 2-4 tea spoonsful to eight gallons of spray solution.

All foliage should be thoroughly wet with the Karathane spray, in cluding the undersides of the leaves.

Usually three or four applications are all that are necessary.

Granular Insecticides

THERE is a definite swing in several parts of the Islands to wards the use of granular insecticides, particularly for use in the control of leaf hoppers in rice.

At this stage there appears marked advantages to favour the preference for the use of granulars, particularly in those cases where employed labour lacks the know-how for mixing emul sion type sprays and wettable pow ders.

Evaluation work is currently in progress in the Solomons and Fiji to assess the true value of granulars, compared with other types of insecti cides.

Leaf hoppers are a major problem in rice in the BSIP and, to a slightly lesser degree in Fiji also. Since Tonga is becoming interested in the possi bility of large scale rice cultivation, the results of trials under way will also be carefully noted there, too.

Suddenly Ius Summer!

EVERYONE has his own pre ferences in thirst quenchers, that’s for sure. But there are few who don’t list orange juice somewhere in their preferences. For this reason most planters in the tropics like to tend at least a few orange trees.

Biggest problem of orange tree growers whether commercially minded or not—is brown scale.

Caused by an insect light to dark brown in colour, brown scale attacks young citrus, although older trees are not immune to attack.

The insect secretes large quantities of honey dew which attracts ants. In fested trees develop a sooty appear ance because of a fungus growing on the honey dew.

The presence of ants is your clue to begin spraying to control the brown scale, and best results are achieved with an oil emulsion using i pint of white spray oil to four gal lons of water.

Control of the ants is also essential.

This is best achieved by spraying trunks and surrounding ground with chlordane, using 2 fl. ozs to one gallon of water.