The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-11-20

POINTS FROM THE PLANTERS
MONTHLY"

MONTHLY"
The Planters Monthly for Novem-
Der is one of the best numbers of this
publication we have seen, despite the
political editorial which is not an accu-
rate presentation of the situation. That
objection apart, the articles are well Sc
lected and convey valuable information
to planters. There is one original paper,
however, which merits special mention
We refer to .'Observations on jamaica, -
by Mr.. J. Marsden. We have rarely
read so much practical information
packed into SO small "A space. Mr.. Mars
den went through jamaica with his eyes
open, although his business was toprocure
mongoose for the Hamakua planters;
and the results of his observations are
published in the planters Monthly for
general information
1t appears that the Jamaica sugar
planters are behind the times in the
conduct of their business, contenting
themselves with the methods and appl
ances of half a century sago. Conse-.
quently the sugar industry is not -four
ishing, and would be abandoned were it
not for the rum, which nearly yields as
big return as sugar. Mr.. Marsden is
under the impression that rum might
also be added to the products of our
sugar plantations, and thus create an ar
ticle of commercial export as well as sup
plying the home demand for ardent spir-
its, which is now met by imported gin
and whisky adulterated with poisonous
drugs This is a moot question, how
ever, upon which We offer no opinion
beyond the remark that it is not good
business to allow any OF the products of
the cane field to run to'waste as is now
done in the matter of molasses.
The jamaica Government has ex-
pended large sums Of money very judi
ciously in establishing experimental
agricultural and botanical stations, where
economic plants and trees are raised and
distributed for the public good. In this
way the cultivation of cinchOna has
become an established industry, al
though it was twelve years before private
individuals laid hold of it after it
had been established at the Government
plantation. About 10000 worth of
cinchona bark is exported annually from
the Government plantation, and in a
few years doubtless this product will
figure largely among Jamaican exports,
more especially as the sinchona planta-
tions in Ceylon have given out, and the
supply from South America is falling off
through wasteful manipulation.
Mr.. Marsden writes g The growing OF
cinchona is an industry worth the earnest
attention of the Government and people
OF the Hawaiian Islands. Cinchona
fiourishes at an elevation of $500 to
1000 feet, with mean temperature OF
IS degrees A great deal of the high
lands of the Hawaiian Islands-particu
larry Hawaii and Maui-are eminently
suitable for the growing of cinchona,
although quinine is lower at present than
it has been for some years; yet the pros
poets of cinchona growers are most en-
ccuraging, owing to the excessive NOR
tally in the cinchona plantations of
Ceylon, which has about two-thirds of
the planted cinchona of the world.
Cinchona growing in Ceylon soon prom
ises to be a thing of the past, but at
present they are sending large Quantities
of bark to market, procured by uprooting
whole plantations and shipping all of the
bark. 1t is also evident that theexport
of bark from the native forests of South
America is decreasing, largely owing to
the wasteful plan adopted by the ma
tives, who cut the trees down TO procure
the bark. It is to be hoped that Before
many years cinchona bark may figure in
the exports of the Hawaiian Islands.
Much credit is due to Mr. w II. Purvis,
who has started cinchona plantation in
the Hamakua district of Hawaii, with
the most encouraging prospects as re- !
CARDS the adaptability OF the climate and
soil to the growing of cinchona. The f.
enterprise OF Mr.. Purvis is being viewed /.
with much interest by the planters Of .
Ha1nakua, and his example is likely to
be soon followed, and cinchona planted
ia different parts of Hamakua. The
Hawaiian Government could do a great
deal to encourage the planting of cinch-
ona by establishing a nursery for propa-
eating and distributing cinchona plants