Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-08-21


lands. The well baked beef, roasted turkey.
or broiled chicken, with excellent Irish pota-
toes; the coffee with It's rich trimmings, the
golden butter, and the cheese fresh ard PAL
atable, if not the richest; and the rich wheat
en- loaf, together with various inexpressibles
all Hawaian and--good enough for any
man! Well may we be grateful 10 Him who
enables US TO spread such table Thousands
of such tables might be spread on these
charming islands, and call upon every mcm-
Der of the Royal Hawaiian agricultural So
ciety to encourage both by precepi and ex-
ample, a more systematic and thorough cult.
vation Of the soil till the best resources Of
the islands shall be fully developed. For ,hi.
purpose, let parents who profess to desire
the prosperity of the islands, five now and
then son to the ennobling work, the God
given employment Of lilling the earth. rather
thap as heretofore, deyoting so many of them
to the belitteng business OF measuring tape.
and weighing sugar and nails. / mean no
chant. Such an one, il seems to me, has
ground TO complain that so many whom God
designed for farmers, have with little or no
preparation engaged in mercantile business
EVERY one to his trade" the old adage
hoth II, uuu - SOc0 otuSC ih tiiS say
ing. Had there been more agriculiurists at
the islands for the last few years, and fewer
merchants, the depression Of the times would
have been less severe am astoundcd when
] look around for the young farmers among
the families devoted to the special work Of
elevaling and saving the Hawaiian race
Who can tell me where one even, can be
found: Not many months since, we on Maui.
welcomed such an one as we supposed, one
too who had taken lessons in New England
on agriculture. who had studied practical
farming. Some of US fondly hoped that our
sons would be benefited by his example and
instructions. Most earnestly did l beseech
him TO hold on to his purpose Of cultvating
the soil of his island home, though strongly
advised as he assured me he had been by
all his friends at the metropolis, to engage in
mercantile business. As this young farmer
is a member otnur Society, and may be pre-
sent at some Of our meetings, he can tell us
in wha, business he is now engaged. One
of two things is true in relation TO us as
foreign community. Either first, according
TO the old adage, Misery loves company"
so some of the elder children of foreign resi-
dents and missionaries having become mer-
chants or clerks, they encourage their juniors
10 initiate their example, and thus keep them
in coun,enance; or secondly. practical farm
ing is in low repute. The latter is fear.
the true cause that while merchants clerks,
and young traders can be counted by the
score, scarcely an individual Of this class
seems 10 think even of the plow. Need l
say that while things continue thus, while
public sentiment discourages youth from en-
gaging in husbandry, the father who would
rejoice to train his son to the honorable busi-
ness of an agriculturist will have his own
trials-will be likely to fail 'Tis easy, on
an occasion Of our anniversary, to talk end
say many fine things; It's easy also to write
of this sort Of labor, 10 praise
the giant Of the |" brawny arm," and "huge
fst," but It's quite another thing 10 consent
to hold the relation Of paier rel mater TO such
an ungainly, plainly clad, sun-burnt, roush-
handed offspring. Am | not right, gentle
men, in supposing that labor Of the agricul-
tural sort is held practically in low repute,
If so, pardon me while | solemnly pledge
myself to belay you soundly till you shall be
ashamed of cherisning any thing like secret
contempt for the primary, God appointed oc-
cupaiion Of man, even IN his state of inno-
cency and dignity; aud till you who have sons,
shall plant one of them, at least, OF tie Ha-
waiian soil as tiller Of mother earth. This
| shall do the more earnestly as there can be
little hope Of the perpetuity of good insrtu-
tions among the Hawaians unless they be-
come an industrious, agricultural people. In
as see evidence of the nations
impros ement in this respect, in the same pro-
portion is the strength of nv hope in regard
TO the future temporal, political, and moral
state of Hawaii. And need say tina, al
ounce of example, especially with this peo-
pie, is worth whole pound of precept--
There have been TONS of the latter bestowed
upon the Hawaiian race, to how little pnr-
posc the neglected fields around us too plain
" tell Now then for little increase Of
good example. If,his would not change the
whole country, am greatly mistaken. Is
not the experiment well worth trying'
Again call upon every member OF the r.
Fl. A. Society to aid in every possible way
in developing the best resources Of which the
country is capable With the blessing of God
which is never withheld from those who seek
il, we nigh, soon see ",he fruitful field
laugh with abundance. Let US see that
these fields be no, fertile in their own dis
grace. Let them eroan with the weight Of
he luscious sugar cant lie turned into viii
lerness of our unequalIed coffee let the
plains wave with the golden wheat with bar
lev, OATS and corn let the valleys he flled;
while clover, herd's-grass, and ether species
shall crown the mountains TO satisfy the low
ng herds, and the bleating sheep; while the
grape, fig, guava, orange, lemon, mango,
:hirimoya, tamarind and peach. filling onr
gardens, shall well nigh make us forget our
alher's house and the uxuIies .of our own
In a word let the experiment be
made of causing TO grow on these delectable
sles, so far as man can cause TO grow,
!. every tree, and every plant, and flower.
md grain, that is pleasant TO the sight. and