Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-07-17


understandings, it seems to me there are
many reasons that may be apparent to US all,
why garden should have our first attention
As an utiltarian as well as a lover of pleas
ure, hesitate not to declare, that upon these
islands horticulture should command the first
consideration of all who desire their agri-
cultural prosperity.
1t is known that the soil Of this kingdom,
by the generous liberality of our Sovereign
and the Chiefs has been apportioned betu EN-
them and the people, and that much The
largest proportion of our population are now
the owners of only small tracts, without the
pecuniary ability to increase their posses
sions. And it has also been assumed by
those more familiar than myself with the
cultivation of the present staples Of the
country, with how much truth is yet to be
proved, that large estates can alone be made
profitable to the farmer. Conceding this
assumption to be true, much the largest class
of our agricuturists are necessarily com
PEELED to become Horticulturists, or labor
without gain.
Besides, large estates, without the ne
cessary capital to improve them, in whatever
hands they may be, must remain waste land
1t will be conceded that there are but few
foreigners among US who have the pecuniary
ability to make sugar or coffee plantations,
and that the natives are without the capital
or credit to erect sugar-milIs, or wait the
return of their labor if bestowed upon grow
ing coffee. Planters, therefore, they cannot
became. and the only field open to them is
the garden. They can only be interested in
the horticultural products of our soil. and
constituting a majority of the community in
which we live, their interests should receive
the prominent attention of this society
But there are yet other considerations
commenting Horticulture to our especial
consideration
All political economists, and especially
those of the free trade school, recommend
the fostering care of people to be bestowed
upon such articles as are seen to find ready
and continued market The products Of our
planters are seen to come into competition
with similar staples of other countries, not
only in domestic consumption but when they
seek foreign market Sugar and Coffee
are safely transported abroad, and Manila,
China and Central America are all now
competitors for the trade Of the Pacific in
those articles, and however great may be
he consumption in districts where they can
not be produced, the supply is likely 10 be
equal to the demand and furnished by
cheaper labor and from countries where cap
iiaI is more abundant than on these islands.
A ready and continued market for the present
staples of the islands is not, therefore, surely
within the reach of our planters.
Now, how is it with regard to the Hortcul-
tural products of our soil Are they as yet
in abundance for home consumption, and are
the markets in California, to which they can
safely be transported, supplied
Whoever has paid his quarter for less
than halfpound bunch of grapes, and real
for two small, sour oranges and like sum
for small and half-ripe pineapple in the
Honolulu market, can answer as to the do
mestic supply and the prices current Of the
same articles, from San Francisco, afford
abundant proof that they are in demand in
California.
| mention only these varieties of fruits that
can and should be produced in our gardens,
but there are many others, that could be cul-
tivated al profit that cannot be had at any
price, here or in San Francisco, except in
packages that have doubled Cape Horn or
Cape of Good Hope. Almonds, Tamarinds,
Prunes, Olives, Lemons, Pomegranates,
Dates, Figs, and many other nuts and fruits
can be profitably cultivated in our tropical
climate. And as yet California and our
own people are dependent for the supply of
most. if not all of them from ports beyond
the Capes. Articles of like kinds, could
they be had fresh plucked, or within forty
days from their gathering, even at an ad-
vanced price over those that are brought from
abroad, would command the market and
were the utmost energy and consumate skill
OF our entire population, (were they prof.
clients in the art of producing them, to be
entirely devoted to their production, the
market here, and in California, is, and is
likely TO continue wide open for all the re-
suits of their labors. A successful competi-
ton is not to be anticipated from any quar-
ter, and the demand is likely to increase be-
yond any possibility of supply from the limit
ed area of arabic land On these islands |
Such being the fact, political economy would
direct that the growing of fruits and nuts
should receive the first considerations fihis |
Society, if its object is TO increase the agri-
cultural wealth of the people at large.
Thus far | have endeavored to commend
the subject of my report to the consideration
of all, thinking myself without the ability to
furnish any thing from experience or know
ledge of the art of gardening of value to the
Horticulturists, if any, of the Society.
Practical gardening is a science without
its votaries among US. Beyond the culti-
vation of a few beans and tomatoes, and
few other common culinary vegetables, |
know but few who have progressed in the ap-
plication Of the principles of the science, and
those are gentlemen without the leisure TO
give personal attention to the subject, who
have been dependent for their labor upon men
entirely ignorant of the duties they were ex-
pected to perform. The necessary conse-
quence has been, as yet, but little advance
has been made in testing the capabilities of
our soil to produce culinary vegetables and