Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-09-24
AGRICULTURE IN THE HAWAIIAN
ISLANDS.


A country whose climate and soil is such |
that its agricultural products may be varied
and abundant can be made wealthy country
wealthy because independent. Such u country,
inhabited by an Industrious agricultural peo-
pie, will have manufactures in its towns fur
nishing employment for numbers Of mechanics.
1t has the elements Of prosperity within itself.
A country that is not agricultural or one whose
agricultural capabilities remain undeveloped,
must be largely dependent upon its neighbors.
Hawaii nei is an agricultural country, but
as yet has passed but little beyond its inita-
tory steps. The native TIawaiians W ere to a
certain extent an agricultural iace. and since
the advent of the white man grazing and the
cultivation of the soil have engaged more or
less attention. As early as 1850 il had grown
to such proportions that an agricultural society
was formed, aud fairs were held annually.
The whaling fleet was largely supplied by the
productions of these islands, and many arti-
cles were then shipped to California in large
quantities which, for years past, have not
figured among our exports and some of these
are now supplied to MS from our former market.
OF late years the growing of sugar-cane has
been the leading agricultural industry. Rice
is also largely raised, but the supply of every
other article grows less year by year. Even
coffee planting is neglected, much land where
1t was formerly cultivated now being allowed
to lilo idle. From July LIST, 1850, to June 3Oth,
1851, one year, the exports Of coffee amounted
to l50,5s3 lbe. in 1880, the amount had fallen
to 90,50s lbs. 1t has been estimated that Of
the total area of 1000, 900 acres of land in
these islands, 900 are fit for plowing,
100000 are adapted for pastnrage, and the re-
rnainder is timber land, barren lava or unavail-
able mountain land. This cultivable area,
since the above estimate was made, has been
increased by the introduction of u system of
irrigation, and there is much fertile but rocky
soil that can be cultivated without the use Of
the plow.
Among the exports from this group in the
year ending June 3Oh, 1851, were II 1885 bbls.
Irish potatoes, 1887 bbls. sweet potatoes,
$3.50 bbls onions, l0A tons hay, l43,60O or
anges and 50 bbls. yams, besides other pre-
ducts. A considerable quantity of fruit was
then shipped also, and ip the list was the item
of cured figs. In 1850, 2o4 lbs. of figs were
imported into Honolulu. Hay, instead of be-
ing an export, was imported to the amount Of
li,iil bales; sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes
and onions no longer find foreign market,
but ,il6,l65 lbs. of Irish potatoes and l2l,-
4o6 lbs. of onions were brought here in foreign
vessels last year. Grains of different kinds
and many other articles that once were largely
grown for the foreign trade, a,kl for which
there is still good market, are not grown
now in sufficient quantity to supply home con
sumption. Why has this branch of agrcul-
ture degenerated so? The demand is con-
stant. the San Francisco markets are conven-
lent for surplus production, and the business
is remunerative 1t is said that the United
States receive annually from foreign countries
six hundred million oranges. As we have
stated, l43,60O oranges were shipped from
these islands in 1851 aud in period of thirty
years, our export of that fruit has dwinded to
twenty -four hundred miles further away from
San Francisco, has increased.
| This is anything but crcditable showing
for us. We have allowed golden opportunity
to slip through our fingers by neglecting every
thing for one or two staples. That country
stands on tho frmest financial foundation which
has the largest variety of products, and every
effort should be used to bring this country
back to the position it once occupied. The
future is full of hope, and we believe that Ha-
wall nei will eventually reach degree of ag-
ricultural prosperity commensurate with its
capabilities. We believe that the Portuguese
and other laborers recently arrived here, will
in the capacity Of "smal farmers" be i'm
portant factors in restoring to our agricultural
interests their lost prestige. This is question
of vital importance, aud We shall recdr to il