The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-04-25
OUR FUTURE AGRICULTURE.

EDITOR BULLETIN FROM recent
rsmbles over several large tracks of
unimproved arabic land in the Ha-
waiian kingdom, am led to tho
conclusion that the possible re-
sources and undeveloped wealth of
the country is more than 80 per
cent. of the Whole area. The lands
suitable to the profitable growth of
sugar cane and rice, are probably
already half utilized; but these
areas are insignificant in comparison
to the vast territory over which
spreads, in luXuriant growth, u wild
vegetation. The days of the sugar
king on these islands are numbered,
so lar rs his Importance. his inhu-
ence, and his arrogance are con-
cerued and the eyes OF the people
are being opened to the fact that
there are other interests, other
wealth, and other resources that re-
ouire attention and that will find
profitable employment for twenty
persons where one finds employment
now. 1t is true that there are
rocky and inaccessible regions on
ali lite islands of the group; but
there are, al the same time, millions
of acres of frSt-cuss lands for agri-
cultural purposes ut all elevations
and in many climates on all the
islands. Many OF these lands are
favored 10y climatic conditions suit
able to the growth OF the most pro-
fiiable kinds Of tropical, semi-tropi-
cal, and alpine agricultural aud
horticultural productions and
that these products will yet be
raised in the Hawaiian Islands,
is only question of time
more or less dependent upon the de-
cline Of the present staple--sugar.
| may say here that have no aui-
mostly to sugar-growers farther than
that they are, as u class, hitter and
at present, powerful opponents of
Hawaiian progress in other direc-
tions; and | can never admit that
the prosperity of the islands de-
pends wholly, or for the most part,
upon that class of spectators.
In the alpine regions of the larger
islands SAY from 1900 to 5000
feet above sea ievel--sandal-w wood
once grew abundantly, and could still
be propagated from the plants that
have been left by the destroyers of
this profitable native tree. Many of
the higher mountain areas are suit
able for the growth of valuable ex-
ulic timber of the best and most
! useful kinds; and lower down on
the slopes there is not n vegetable
product OF the temperate zone but
could be grown with profit in select
ed places, provided facilities for
carriage were supplied. Lower
still, at from 800 TO 1000 feet eIe-
yation are the coffee lands, and the
areas suitable for spices, indigo,
and other valuable products of Afrl-
ca and Southern Asia. Stock
ranches of various kinds could also
be carried on in places; and suitable
animals, including many kinds OF
large birds. could he there cheaply
and proiitably raised.
These are the natural conditions
but the present difficulty is that tht
lands are locked up and owned by ;
few individuals, who will neither m
prove their properties nor ALLOW
others to do 90. The whole mas,
of the island population is interest
ed in the opening mp of those vain
able lands in the several islands
and, eventually, those areas must b'
thrown open to enterprising settlers
whether the owners accept the limo
vation willingly or not.
Cold PoTATo.