The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-08-23
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Apbtrtiser
AUGUST %.
Sea Island Cotton.

that are interested in the cultivation Of Sea Isl
and cotton.
l. Is tcind injurious 10 SEA Island c0ttoR2
.. HOtC do you ~cuitiUGte your SG Island cotton
,. UhGf are The expenses and profits per acre.
In answering the first question as respects the
effects of wind on Sea Island cotton, | dare say,
that the generally conceived idea, that wind is
injurious to the cultivation Of cotton is altogether
erroneous. There are few plants with the excep-
ton perhaps of the weeping willow, that are
gifted by the provident hand of nature with more
elastic strength 10 withstand the fresh seabreeze
or the fercer blast, than the Sea Island cotton
plant. The slender limbs, bearing a heavy load
Of from 10 10 Is bOlls, are so securely knit by
strong Joints 10 the stem, that the wind may
sway them about in all directions without injury.
The seashore with It's gentle breezes or its sweep
ing winds is the habitat of the Sea Island cotton
plant. and nature knows sufficiently well how TO
protect her children. As a place of residence
this place of Palauea is perhaps the most health
giving and salubrious, that could be found on
these islands. but at the same time | doubt Of any
one ever would make choice of it for the purpose Of
Sea Island cotton cultivation. Those who ever ex-
perienced the delights ~ of the fierce trade winds
that sweep over the plain of Waikapu and Kale-
polepO, may form some idea of the strength OF
the cotton plant, when q tolerably good sized
slice of the tail end of the Kalepoiepo winds
sweeps over my field quite harmless. Another
cause besides the strength of the plant itself, that
Sea Island cotton is not injured in windy loca-
tions, NAV be found in the fact, that the trade
winds never blow with any force before noon.
The flowers of the Sea Island cotton plant open
with the sun the process of qualification is
finished before noon and by night the corolIas are
most all fallen to the ground. The thousands of
brilliant golden flowers that show so beautiful
upon the dark green of the leaves in the forenoon
are extinguisbed in a few hours like the bright
lights of some gorgeous banquet hall, to be re-
placed by others as bright and as numerous by
the next days rising sun.
Before answering the question of " how l cul-
tivate my Sea Island cotton, | would remark,
that the wisdom, which advocates a liberal allow
ance for the expenses that may be incurred in
estimating any undertaking, holds also good
when experimenting for general benefit in the
introduction OF a new or comparatively new
branch of agricultural resources. In this view l
consider my experiments in Sea Island cotton
culture of efficient benefit TO those who are will
ing to devote their time and means to the devel-
opment of the magnificent resources of our islands.
AS already observed this place of Palauca TO
all appearance is as unfavorable for Sea Island
cotton culture, as can be imagined. Not only
strong trade winds prevail during part of the
year, but from March till November heat and
drought are in the absence of all rain an annual
occurrence, and therefore for experimental pur-
poses no better location could be selected for q
conclusive evidence, that the hundreds of more
favored locations upon the several islands will be
eminently fit for the cultivation of Sea Island
cotton. The above argument, l think, should
also hold true, when / explain the mode of my
cultivation of cotton. If with slender means,
without help, in ar uniavorable location, |, at
the age of more than three-score years, am able
to cultivate Sea Island cotton with success. it
certainly holds out bright prospects TO those that
are amply prepared, to enter upon the culture of
Sea Island cotton, and no slight in%ducement to
those that are although limited in means yet
strong in health and young in years and having
no doubt that there are many of the latter class,
to whom a home of their own and an independent
position would be desirable, | shall be happy,
when the recital of my mode OF culture of Sea
Island cotton will be the means to animate them
with hope and induce them to undertake the cul-
tivation of Sea Island cotton for the desirable end
of home, health and independence.
The soil on this place, like the soil contiguous
to the sea upon all these islands, is enriched by
the w~ashings from the mountains and contains a
admixture of sand to keep it well
drained and is just the soil well adapted to Sea
Island cotton. Near the public highway a three
wire fence and on the sides in the lava bed a
slight stonewall of only one stones thickness
keeps animals, to whom the cotton plant gives
no inducement to trespass (neither horses nor
cattle eat cotton plants) from my field. L plough
and break up new ground before the fall
rains set in, during August or September and
October, when the drought has killed all weeds
and when the soil is perfectly dry, because at
such times the soil near the seashore is easiest
Having no work-oxen | broke n
horse to the plough, one of Mr.. E. 0. Halls
excellent light one horse steel plOughs cost ten
dollars. After having broken up the ground in
with the strength of the horse to a
iepth of from three to four inches, l proceed to
-un at distances of Il to 5 feet burrows as deep as
possible for the future cotton rows. Having
inished laying off my ground L follow in the same
urrow with Miners gold medal subsoil plough
or one horse, least in New York, E. ii. Allen &
u - m \ - Al Io-AI ~C g.. I - 4 -
Afterwards In breaking out the middle ground L
proceed in the same way following the plough
With the subsoil plough, and in this manner my
ground becomes cultivated to the depth of from
20 to 81 inches. 1t may be said that this mode
If proceeding is working under great difficulties.
Perhaps so. 1t requires perseverance,, but the
esult Is that my land is deeper and better Guilt
Iated, than any planter or farmer ever cultivated
round on these islands. And what are the
The first substantial fall-rain drains
apidly through the mellow soil and sinks deep
nto the unstirred soil, and with only one good
hover of rain | may laugh at Il six or seven
months drought, being sure of Il crop ut all events;
nd a good rain as late as March or April prom
ses me a second crop ready to pick, as l am
now, in July. The cotton plants send
heir strong main roots with speed through the
oose soil towards a depth even heat and drought
an but slowly follow, giving strength and moisture
o the growing plant. In September or October.
months or two before the expected rain, | open
he previous marked off but again filled up seed
urrows five to six inches deep, strew the seed
long the furrow and cover lightly about one
nch deep with the hoe. y light three cornered
ARROW and horse does the work much faster.
he seed will lie in the dry ground u%ninjured for
month or two, and after the first rain it will be
p and unfold it's first leaves from the seed on the
ourth day after planting, if the seed is fresh.
v hen the young plants have attained sufficient
trength, thin the superfluous plants out with a
harp hoe, leaving the remaining plants about
ne foot distant in the row, and throw with the
Tough one furrow on each side of the plant.
or working out the middle the cotton sweep is
he best implement, (cast in New York at B. II.
Hen d Co, $3.50 for 20 inch, and $3.50 for 2S
1ch sweep
The sweep can be held within an inch of the
otton plants and destroys by cutting all weeds,
nd its use is much superior to ploughing out the s
fiddle with a one horse plough, as it not only