The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1860-07-12
Correspondence of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.
Fourth Of July i'm the Country.


The morning of the fourth of July, 1860, dawned
on few pleasanter spots than "Rose Ranch,'' the
~hospitable mansion and plantation of Capt. James
Makee, on East Maui. There were few merrier-
hearted companies gathered to do honor to sc The
Day we celebrate" than were there assembled around
the festive boards on that morning. The reputation
Of the floral beauty of Rose Ranch is not excelled by
that of its open-handed hospitality. Beneath its
roof, good cheer, cordial greeting, and liberal bounty
are unstinted, and the frank cordiality extended to
all who pass its threshold makes all, even those who
came as strangers, soon feel at home. The unrivaled
beauty of the garden deserves more than a mere men,
ton ; but it would require an artists brush ON can
vas to appropriately portray it. Surely 'the
desert has been made to bud and blossom like the
rose" Those who remember the place before it came
in possession of its present proprietor, would scarcely
recognize it now. 1t is aptly named Rose Ranch,
for they bloom on hundreds of bushes, and of every
variety, from the " tiny DWARF that Fairies might
sport under, to the majestic and gaudy sLuxem-
bourg'' that stands over fifteen feet high-the beauty
and pride of the garden from the modest, ever-to-
b~e-admired Is moss rose'' to the bright crimson 81 giant
of battles" while dahlias of every variety OF shade,
delicate ~fuschias, with our home pinks, and an almost
endless variety of other flowers, gathered from the
four quarters of the globe, combine to make it one of
ehS hHoS Soutiiu cpONS VI me iSiduuS
Not for its floral beauty only is this spot admired,
but with an eye to a variety Of taste, we End here the
apple-tree, the fig, the grape, the strawberry-guava
the strawberry, the banana, and the papaia-thus
joining the useful with the ornamental. No one
whose eyes have feasted on the scene will think it
strange We linger in such lovely places, which the
hands of the proprietor and his lady, more than any
others, have served to beautify and adorn.
But, interesting as the garden is, the pride of the
proprietor is now very justly turning to his cane
field. of which he may we'll feel satisfied, as giving
ample promise for a rich harvest. Noticing a certain
air of busy hustle and preparation among the ladies,
a pinning up of skirts and q pinning up of aprons,
while a variety Of fragrant smells give intimation of
coming good things, let us mount for a ride over
the fields, and enjoy the splendid prospect from the
hills. 1t is now only about eighteen months since
the first fields were planted with cane by the present
proprietor ; the former owner had a sugar plantation
here. but it had been suffered to run out, and now
we see before us about a hundred and seventy-fve
acres, in all stages of growth, from the delicate
sprout just shooting up through the brown earth, to
the well filled out standing cane, nearly ripened for
the mill. We notice the different varieties-from the
white cane, that does not thrive well. to the dark red
green, whose very rind tells of rich juice that it
encases.
Here is the ,ceaLth of Rose Ranch"--and may it
never fail to yield a rich return to its liberal owner.
May the drought not dry up, nor the cut-worm des-
these evidences of its material prosperity. But.
may its cane-feld wave. The Landscape view
hat lies before us is one Of exquisite beauty. The
lower and hrub-embowered cottage nestles at our
while quite a little village has sprung up around
{ to accommodate the wants that gather round a
plantation. The land slopes rapidly to the sea, dis
ant two or three miles, whose shore is outlined with
milk white edging of surf, more beautiful than the
delicate lace work. A gentle breeze ripples the
waters that glisten in the morning sun, while far out
t sea we can see the white caps chasing one another
Town the channel that separates US from Hawaii.
1onder are the islands of Kahoolawe and Lanai.
whose barren sides give but little encouragement to
he agriculturist, but which add much to the beauty
{ the view. To our right, the Handicapped peaks of
Vest Maui, six thousand feet above the sea, fill up
he strong outlines of the landscape, and present a
well worth the visit to see. 1t was among such
cenery that a goodly party were assembled on We'd
esday last, July 4th, to celebrate American indie
And while the company was enjoying
here and there, active preparations were mani
st on every side. The "hands'' of the plantation
to have a grand feast, and were ger mitted to
,vite their friends. Judging from the hundreds
s%sembled, there must have been some very extensive
,mily connexions, and many friendships among
hem. However, there was no niggar1ly dispensing. -
judge from the slaughtered beef and pork, that
aited but to be served up-and there was enough
nd to spare.
At noon, the reports of a national salute went
among the hills, waking the echoes, and