The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-08-15
LAND FOR THE PEOPLE.
Visit to Mr.. JAS. Campbell's
honolulu Ranch.
A. Fine Agricultural and Pastoral
District.

1n6r6 are HOG Il lew TeSluo1IS Vi 14O1O
lulu whose knowledge of the agricultural
resources of this Island is confined to the
measure of their observation during an
occasional run to Waikiki. It may sur
prise these people to be told that there
is wide valley of fertile land, much OF 1t
fit for the pillow, lying between the Nuu-
anu range and the Waianae Mountains
and thence to the coast at Waialua. 1t
is quite true that this land as yet pro-
duces next to nothing. 1t feeds herds OF
cattle, but owing to the thriftless system
of stock raising generally in vogue there
is not one fat steer where there might be
ten Indeed, it is not too much to say
| that in some sections of this valley goats
contest successfully with cattle for the
supremacy. 1t is claimed for these de-
structive little animals that they are a
positive benefit to the land owners or
tenants, most of the soil being leasehold,
because they kill the mimosa scrub,
which otherwise would overrun the
country and destroy the pasturage. There
may be something in this, although one
would think that some other plan for
accomplishing that end might be adopted
than giving free run to immense focks of
goats.
A good deal of fencing has been done
along the line of the Waialua road for
considerable distance out of the city, but
there does not appear to be any attempt
made to increase the natural supply of
feed by cultivating sown or artificial
| grasses. AS the live stock appears to be
i in fair condition this fact speaks volumes
| for the nutritious qualities of the native
grasses and forage plants, as well as for
the genial climate, which tends SO ma
terially to the development of animal life
in this country.
In marked contrast to this general APP
pearance of unthrift is the progress made
| by Cinnamon in the reclamation of
swamp land and it's conversion into
rice fields. Anyone travelling along the
| be forcibly struck with the intelligent
| and persistent industry of the Chinese
| engaged in rice growing. A 1.-THE of the
same application and intelligent skill in
agricultural methods applied to the great
body of the land in question would con-
vert it into meadow and grain fields,
| yielding big returns and supporting a
much larger population that there is at
present in the country AS the land
now planted in rice was utterly worth
less a few years ago, and has been
wholly reclaimed by Chinese labor and
capital, one might be apt to think that it
is held upon very easy terms as to rental.
| The contrary is the fact, however. The
| Chinese pay very high rent on short
| leases, and have the outlook of paying
considerably more rent if they seek a
| renewal. There must be good deal of
| profit in the business, however, as rice
| land is everywhere in demand, and no
rent asked seems to frighten these I'M
firing and thrifty workers. Mr.. Mark
Robinson, it should be mentioned here,
| has spent a large sum in building an
| irrigating hume over the gorge of the
| Waipahu stream at Ulaleua. 1t is really
| a very creditable piece of work, and is
capable of supplying water in dry sea-
son for irrigating Mr.. Robinson's ex-
tensive banana plantation, in which
there are now some fifty acres in bear
ing.
| These remarks are suggested from
| observations made by representative of
the ADVERTISER, who accompanied Mr..
1 ID IL
representatives from the other local
newspapers, on a land exploring expe-
| dition last Monday. The destination of
| the party was Mr.. James Campbelrs
/ Honolulu ranch on the eastern slope of
| the Waianae mountains. The party was
well mounted, and made the hospitable
home place of Mr.. Campbell on the
western lagoon or arm Of Pearl harbor
! towards evening, where they were met
and Hospitality entertained by Mr.. Cecil
Brown in the old Coney place. This is the
favorite country residence of Mr..
| Campbell.
The honolulu ranch contains Il, 1000
acres, of which; speaking generally and
judging by the eye, about 10000 acres
adapted for agriculture are between the
foothills and the lower boundary line,
| There are also about 900 acres of level
bottom land lying at the southeast end
of the Waianae mountains, suitable for
either cane or rice, if water can be put
upon it in sufficient quantity, but which,
in its present condition, is well adapted
for mixed husbandry or grazing. The
balance of the ranch is mountainous, or
running out towards the harbor and coast
line in fiat coral plain, covered with
scant verdure, upon which, however, the
stock get uncommonly fat. Indeed, this
coral pasture, if it may be SO termed, is
the fattening paddock for the entire
ranch, as well as for Mr.. Campbell's
Kahuku stock breeding ranch of $4,000
acres.
The soil is deep reddish loan up to