Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-02-01
SAMOAN FARMS.
Interesting Statements Concerning
Their Managemenr.

Interesting Statements Concerning
Their management.
Herman Vawter, the proprietor of one
of the largest plantations in the Samoan
islands, is visiting this part of the State.
He says that the climate here during the
past two daysslresembles that of Samoa
80 much that he could hardly believe he
was away from home. He gives O very
interesting account of his home on the
islands, where he has resided for eight
years.. According to his statement, the
German plantations in Samoa comprise
the greater part of the cultivated land on
the north side of the island of Upolu.
Four OF them are in the immediate Win.
ity OF Apia, to the south and east, and
the remaining two are farther down the
coast toward Savii, the largest Null
fauaa) covering the entire western end
of the island, with an area of $3.50 acree
and a sea frontage of more than six
miles. Formerly there was q plantation
on Savii planted with cocoanuts,
but this has been given up, the trees
bearing poorly owing to the volcanic
origin of the soil, which is too strong for
vegetation, The total area of these
plantations is 1920 acres. Their natural
features are very diversified; from the
sea they extend far up the mountain
side, down which flow numerous large
streams. They have been laid out with
great care; broad avenues intersect
them and lead along the coast, and in
beauty of scenery and of rich fertility
the views among these cannot be sur.
passed. The plantations are highly
cultivated, and are capable of produc.
ing anything that will grow in the tropics
They are mainly planted with cocoanuts
for the production of copra, the dried
kernel of the nut. The annual produc.
ton of this is between 500 and 600 tons.
The clearing of the land for the planta.
tions is laborious operation, for the
land in Samoa is densely wooded with q
tough native growth. There are also
many rocks, which prevent plowing.
After clearing, cotton is planted, and
this is grown for three years then cocoa.
nuts are grown and grass is sown, and
until the trees are large enough to allow
cattle to be run among them some cot
ton is still gathered. After six years
cattle are admitted, for by this time the
trees have grown and cattle cannot reach
the heart, the only part which they can
hurt. The seventh year the trees begin
to bear, and at fifteen years after plant.
ing they attain their prime. The grass
grows luxuriantly, for drouth is unknown
to Samoa, and cattle find among the
cocoanut trees rich feeding aground. On
the largest two plantations there are
l 500 head OF cattle, many of them of
OOn6 broad ncrtod NJ 4
and Australian colonies. There are also
some fine horses upon them.
Next to cocoanuts and cotton, coffee
is the most important product of the
plantations, and it's cultivation is being
increased, for it is the best paying crop.
At the Utumapu plantation 800 acres are
under cultivation with coffee, and $50
acres are being prepared for it. Last
year the coffee crop of this plantation
was 10000 pounds. The coffee is cleaned
at a mill run by water-power, when,
after being rolled between two stones, it
is trodden in watts by labor boys; it is
then dried by hot air. The coffee is of
an excellent quality, rivsling the finest
Mocha, and commands a good price in
the Hamburg market, where it is chiefly
sent.
These plantations are worked by i'm
ported labor, for the Samoans will not
work. This labor is recruited chiefly
from the islands west of here, the New
Hebrides, Solomon. New Britain and
New Ireland islands; also from the Ell
lice and Gilbert islands, to the north.
This traffic, of which 80 many dark
stories have been told of cruelty, is not
yet robbed of all its horrors. Many la
borers are secured by questionable prac-
tices-enticed on board recruiting yes.
sells by fair promises that are never full
filled, or kidnapped by overturning can
oes of the more venturesome who have
come near the vessels, and thus captur-
ing the unfortunate natives while strug-
Cling in the water. German gun-boats
sometimes help the recruiters, by
delivering over to them prisoners
taken in chastising native viii
lagos. AS rule, however, the labor
trade is humanely conducted by the
German labor vessels. The vessels be-
long to the Deutschen Handels und
Plantagen Gesellschaft, known as the
German firm. The laborers are under
contract for three years. service, at the
expiration of which time they are to be
returned to their homes. This, however,
is sometimes not done, and the unfortu-
nate people are landed among hostile
tribe who speedily kill or enslave them.
Men, women and children are recruited
at wages of SO month, paid in trade.
In New Britain, before shipping for
Samoa, the laborers 20 before the
German commissioner there, who
has the functions of consul general. and
sign regular contract with the agent of
the firm. When there is no commits
sioDer the contract is made by the agent
and inquired into by the German consul
later.
On arrival at Samoa the laborers pass
an examination before the consul, and
great care is taken that none come on
shore against their will. They are we'll
cared for upon the plantation. A ply
sician visits each plantation at least once
month. They are we'll housed and fed
on rice, biscuits, and yams, bread-fruit,
taro, etc., native food, which they prefer.
Their hours of work are regular and
Sundays are given them as holidays.
There are about seven hundred and fifty
of them upon the different plantations.
Baseball.
Yesterday morning large force of