Polynesian., 1850-03-09
CLERICUS.
For the Polynes,an.

Mr.. EDIToR:-Before saying any more
about the means for promoting Hawaiian in
dustry, permit me to stop and notice the pro-
gress it has already made in our region
Should the energies Of the people here con-
tnue to develop for few years to come. as
they have for few months past, despair
not OF seeing, even in my day, great changes
for the better in their social condition
The call for the products of the earth Gre
ated by the California scarcity, have aroused
almost the whole population to action; and
already are the fields beginning to be verdant
and give promise Of a more abundant har-
vest than has been known here for many
years. | hazard nothing in saying that there
has throughout the whole of our district been
ten fold more planting done this year, thus
far, than for the same time during my ac-
quaintance with the people. There seems
TO have been a general waking up on the
subject, so much so as to destroy my mere
dulity as TO their incapacity for Industry, if
they could be pressed with proper motives.
Even the women are engaged in planting,
and are flushed with the high hopes of reap
ing a golden reward for their labors OF the
common Hawaiian vegetables such as Irish
and sweet potatoes, onions, squashes, mel
ons, cucumbers, tomatoes, bananas sc, we
shall, hope, soon have an abundance for
ourselves and to spare. 1t peases me to see
So great an Improvement in the industry of
the people with only the very partial stmn
lus by which il has been effected, and can
but look forward to the time when, encour-
aged by the experience that the fruits of ev-
cry mans labors are his oNA the Hawaiian
will stand forth high in the ranks Of enter
prise and thrift, and thus repel the common
but unjust imputation of Unborn laziness.
While | am on the subject it may not be
amiss to notice some of the discouragements
in the way of the cultivaiors Of the soil. that
part at least, Of their present low condition
may be imputed to those discouragements
and not wholly to the forpor of their ma
ture.
First, it should be kept in mind that with
regard to most of the productions which they
wish TO raise, they have to struggle with
drought, or irind or roIns, and IN MANY cases
all three together. Insomuch that when yoti
SEE tracts of first rate land lying unirr-
proved, the secret lies not in the indoIeace of
the owners, but in the almost certain pros
pect of the loss oftheir labor, should they at,
tempt to cultivate them. The present sea-
sou, for instance, has been very favorable so
far as abundance of rain is concerned; but
little has been planted on some of the best of
the lands because the natives have learned
from experience that the worms would con-
sumo it as soon as it should spring up, and
where they have thus planted. the havoc of
these destructive vermin is distressing to be-
hold. In some places at least one third of
the plantation Is swept away by the worms,
while the rest is scared by the strong trades
and destroyed. The violence of the trade
winds will ever be serious obstacle to cul-
tivation on the windwa side Of the islands,
and should by no means be forgotten when
estimating native industry. We are now
under the influence of the second blast Of
wind, which within month has blasted the
fruits Of many weeks labor. Nothing but
the onions can stand before it. 1t has a dis
couraging effect upon the people. But not
withstanding all, they are beginning to 60
ahead, and compensate for these losses by
the greater dimensions and variety Of their
plantations. HAWAII.