The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-07-07

kalau Plantation there are two mills erected which
will manufacture this year 1000 tons of sugar the
area under cultivation is at present 1900 acres,
but this is being augmented. The soil here, and
in fact, throughout the Hilo district. is composed
Of volcanic matter mixed with vegetable mould.
The component parts Of the soil and the sugar
manufactured are ascertained by analysis on the
plantation. From Hakalau to HilO, about sixteen
miles. there are seven plantations the land appear
ing TO be specially adapted for the growth Of the
sugar cane, being less hilly and less covered with
the natural shrubs. conse Iuenrly not requiring 80
much expense for clearing the water supply -
| also abundant throughout the year, 50 much 80 that
some mills are driven By water power, and the
roads are infinitely superior. Cane - TUNED 10 all
these mills by water supply thus effeetins a
considerable saving in their annual expenditure.
The Honomea Plantation comes first with
500 acres under cultivation, and produc-
ing this year 500 tons Of sugar; then
Pepekio Mr.. Afong's property with 1000 acres
and a 800 ton crop; Onomea Plantation 600 acres
and 600 tons Of sugar; P%apaikOu, 700 acres and 900
tons; Paukau, 600 acres and 800 tons; Wainaku
was not ascertained, through the absence Of the
proprietor; the Spencer Plantation with $50 acres
and 9s tons. The total area, in the Hilo district,
producing cane Is about 5000 acres and its total pro-
duce for 1888. about 5000 tons of sugar. 1t must
of course lie understood that a large proportion,
about two-thirds, of the acreage in every district Is
either growing cane for next years manufacture,
being plowed or planted. In the town Of Hilo is
the only tanuery on Hawaii, the leather manu-
featured appears to be of 4 very superior quality.
The HiIo district, "a a whole, is in my opinion the
best adapted for cultivation owing TO the richness
of the soil, the excellent water supply, and its nat
ural advantages in being comparatively free from
any dense forest growth for a considerable dis
lance inland. The fishing industry is carried on
To a cOnSidera bile extent in HilO which would
probably be the best place 10 obtain specimens of
deep water fishes for the museum collections. |
was fortunate IN seeing a specimen OF the Oolu.
about two feet in'lenSth and of most exquisite
tints, including all shades of blue, salmon, and
green. Another good method Of obtaining scien-
tifc collections would be through the agency Of
the schooners trading to the various islands, as
many of them have and embrace the opportunity
of fishing while at their respective anchorages.
Throughout Hilo, fertilization of the soil has been
commenced, bone meal being chiefly used in the
proportion Of half a ton to the acre and generally
with noticeable effect, especially ON the rattoon
crops; in KOhala, on the other hand, bone meal
does not appear 10 suit the requirements of the
soil, where the experiment has been made. Be
yond Hilo is the Waiakea Plantation from which
no information was obtained, owing to the alb
sence Of the manager. Two miles beyond is u
dense forest of indigenous trees, the underground
being particularly dense, reaching almost to
ones head when riding. The land beyond is poor
and rocky, showing almost an entire lack of vege-
tatiOn. 1 have heard, throughout the island, that
the cane crops this year average from two TO six
tons per acre, in a few instances even mo re; the
former quantity for plant cane is unusually low,
and generally accounted for by the very dry sum
mer experienced last year-yet it may be partly
owing to want of manure, in places where the vir-
gin soil has been used for years uninterruptedly
without such assistance, or to occasional scarcity
Of labor, rendering it difficult to strip the cane AZ
frequently as is desirable; for it seems only reason
able to suppose that cane will suffer by allowing
the dead rind to remain on it, just as much as
lowering plants and shrubs do when the dead
leaves and blossoms are not removed; but it is a
question for experience To prove, whether the extra
expense so incurred will or will not be repaid by a
corresponding increase in the crop.
KAU.
The greater part Of the country, on the way
to kilauea, is formed of volcanic rocks, on which,
with very little soil, ferns and shrubs appear TO
flourish. Here l noticed many wild ducks and
Strawberries. The thermometer at Kilauea rarely
exceeds 70o in the hottest part of the day, and 1
should think this locality we'll adapted for stock
raising aud breeding. In the woods may be found
III prOfusion the wild strawberry and raspberry
also the native ohelo berry which is very good eat
-2' N '",N SHO'' W SA A'AHhN HA[-
and is used for feeding pigs, and about seven
varieties of woods, all of which were obtained for
the exhibition in addition to ferns. specimens of
lava, sulphur and the red clay SO valuable TO
painters. 1t appeared strange to see ferns growing
around and close to the cracks in the earth which
serve as a means Of escape for the pent-up gases.
When starting in the early morning a good view
was obtained of Mauna Loa, 13, 600 feet high the
first part Of the road to Pahala lies close to the
.I-. s IL. L. -..- -. II.
miles over the lava and deep sand known as the
desert after passing through the desert one
comes to IL large tract of grazing country until
reaching the Hawaiian Agricultural Company's
ranch. which possesses some s, 1000 head of cattle, and
200 horses besides mules and ~jackasses. From here
10 Pahala. seven miles, the land seems we'll adapted
not only for grazing purposes but also for the
growth of cane, coffee. cocoa, etc. The Pahala
Plantation. which also belongs 10 TIE Ha-
waiian Agricultural Company possesses a twenty
five ton mill, the largest on Hawaii. There are
1900 acres under cultivation, 500 of these being
planted by the company and 1000 by Cinnamon
on shares with the mill the crop for this year will
be 5000 tons of sugar. Here may be seen q curl
ous'mixture of labor comprising, a. it does, natives
of European countries, CHM, Manila, Chilli,
India, the Azores and the American negro. The
location is very pretty, the hills in the background
gradually sloping down to the sea.
On the way to Hilea, distant about eight miles,
the lava may be seen cropping up to the surface
rendering the track rather rough for trtveling-
about half way across is a kuleana where the
orange, sweet potato, banana pineapple, and mi
kama grow lavishly without care or culture. The
first thing attracting attention at the Hilea Planta-
ton is the stone foundation ON which the mill is
built this stone comes from a quarry, on the
plantation land, about one-third of a mile long
and 800 TO 700 feet wide, the depth mas not been
ascertained, the stone appears to. be of a very su-
periOr quality, is easily worked and is thickly i'm
pregnated with Divine. The plantation cultivates
1850 acres, and the crop for this year will amount
to l 200 tons of sugar the mill seems fitted with
every conceivable labor-saving kind of ma
chiHery; several thousand goats are reared here for
food. The manager. Mr.. C. N. Spencer, very