The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-12-21
THE FODDER QUESTION.

Among the numerous eXnIDlCS relating
to agriculture in thes3 islands, pre-
scented at the last meeting of the Plan
ters' Labor and Supply Company and
published in the Planters Monthly for
November, the report of Mr.. B. F. Dill
bingham on live stock, fodder and pro-
ducts of live stock, is deserving OF close
attention, especially in the country dis
tricts. This much may be said, too,
without in any way failing to appreciate
the value of the reports by sundry
planters on other subjects. The facts
and figures brought forward by Mr.. Dill
Iingham cover ground to which public
attention has been directed quite fire.
quently of late years. But the lack of
practical results, SO far, from the ella
borate discussions and comments on our
home industries is surely anything but
creditable to those most directly respon-
sible therefor. Our home industries,
that is, those of a mixed agricultural
character, are becoming terribly conspi-
cuous for their absence over large areas
of country. The subject is one that has
been hammered at in the press and else
where very assiduously of late years,
and it seems as if the call to keep peg
ging away" at it is only becoming louder
and stronger az the years roll by. The
simple, naked fact that in this Kingdom
of fertile lands, indispensable climate
and tenantless expanses, the sum OF
$346, 1855 has been sent out Of the
country in one year for articles OF
fodder for the few cattle and horses
scattered over its surface, ought to be an
eye-opener to landowners and lease
holders. Land by the hundred thous-
and acres lies wild and valueless under
jungles of lantana, guava and other rank
encumbrances, while the people pay
taxes to the tune of about five dollars per
head to California farmers mostly for
possible products of every island in the
group. Is there not something radically
wrong in these conditions? We charge
John Chinaman with taking the bread
out of our mouths by ruinOus competi-
ton with our mechanics. Aside from
the consideration of the question whether
this be true or not, the ugly statistical
fact remains that unless something be
done to open up and utilize the resources
of the country more generally than has
been done hitherto, there will be very
few bites left for the white man or his
protege the native Hawaiian to defend
against the Monaghan or anybody else.
Outside of the sugar and rice plantations
there is really no agricultural population.
There can be no good reason why agri
cultural products that only require cult
walton on Hawaiian soil, should be car
ried over two thousand miles of ocean to
feed cattle, horses, and even fowls in
every district OF this Kingdom. In the
report referred to here, we are told that
millet, Panicum Specialize, is an
excellent substitute for imported
hay. A recognized authority is
cited as saying that the millet
is a rather succulent, very fattening
grass" The report further shows, by
reference to extensive and repeated trials
of this grass, that not only is it an excel
lent substitute for the staple articles of
foreign fodder, but also that it may be
raised on these islands in unlimited
quantities. Here is an example of
"home industry" that requires very
little outlay of capital to give it fair
start, and still less expense to carry on
after it is started. There being home
market for somewhere about 100000
worth of the article ought to be suffi-
cient inducement to landholders to wake
up to their own interests and those of
the country generally. And this is but
one of many industries to which the
great reaches of now undeveloped coun-
try may be found well adapted. The open
ing up of this or any kindred enterprise
would do more in one year to stop the
white mans exodus" of which we have
been hearing SO much during the past
two or three years than any political de-
vices whatever.