The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1882-11-24
PAL ANA RICE PLANTATION.

lands are being much more rapidly
occupied and cultivated than our
sugar lands for the reason that
sugar plantation requires more capi-
tai and longer time to wait for
returns than rice plantation.
During the last few years hundreds
of acres of swamps and bogs, within
a half dozen miles of Honolulu.
have been reclaimed and reduced to
cultivation. Where, in many places,
O short time ago, nothing but rank
bulrushcs grew, beautiful rice fields
now bcspeak the patient industry of
the Chinaman.
AT Knpalama, less than one mile
from the. city limits, may be seen an
instance of this pleasing tiansforma.
ton. The EVA road, Immediately
beyond what is known as the second
bridge, passes over a causeway.
Each side of this causeway, not long
since, was an untravcrsablc marsh,
overgrown with bulrushes and other
kinds of swamp vegetation. The
land was generally regarded rs
almost valueless, because of the
difficulty and expense of clearing
and draining. No one ever dreamt
that there was o fortune hidden in
its deep, rich vegetable soil; until
an energetic Chinomon, named Mac
Shee, came along and secured 4
long lease, at nominal rental.
Between four and five years ago
Mac Shee commenced the laborious
task of draining, clearing, and
planting; but, like many other good
men in similar undertakings, eX-
hausted his limited capital and his
credit, before realizing any returns.
The lease and improvements were
then transferred to joint stock COM
pany, Known as Wong Leong & Co.
This company, having command of
requisite funds, prosecuted opera
tions on larger scale than their
predecessor. In surprisingly
short time the entire leasehold was
intersectcd with dykes, cleared of
rubbish, and prepared for cropping.
The bed of bulrushcs now no longer
exists, but all the way from four or
five hundred yards above the cause
way, right to the sea beach, there is
one magnificent field of rice; and
this field of rice, in some stage of
growth, from the tender blade to the
full grain in the husk, may be seen
at almost any and every period of
the year; for one crop follows ano-
ther in quick succession.
This plantation comprises about
120 acres of extremely fertile land,
the soil being largely composed of
decomposed vegetation. The plow-
ing of the land, preparatory to
cropping, is done by oxen and Chi
nese buffaloes. The latter would be
used entirely were they procrrable
in sufficient numbers, and at a
moderate price; but Mr.. Wong
Leong says that in China they cost
$3.50 each, and cannot be readily
got even at that figure. Preference
is given to them because they are
capable of doing more work and
require less number of drivers than
oxen. One of these sturdy little
creatures, with one man to drive
and hold the plow, can easily plow
au acre of land in a day. 1t takes
four oxen with two men to do the
same amount.
The planting is all done by hand.
The seed rice is first sown very
thiclily in small beds, and when the
young blades are two or three weeks
old they are transplauted in rows
twelve or fifteen inches apart, each
row consisting of little clumps of
diminutive stalks, the clumps being
seven or eight inches from each
other; although to an ordinary
observer, field of rice, with two or
three months growth, has the
appearance of having been sown
broadcast, like field of wheat.
Water must be kept constantly
around the roots and bottom ends of
thg stalks, until the grain is matured
and commences to harden, when
the water is drained off and the soil
allowed to stiffen somewhat before
harvesting begins In " little less
than five months from the time of
planting, the crop is ready for
gathering, without regard to any
particular season of the year.
The entire harvesting operations
are performed by manual and animal