The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-07-24
AROUND PEARL CITY.
THROUGH THE PINEAPPLE
PLANTATIONS.
Half a Million Plants Will Be Growing
Before the End Of the Year
General Notes.

iol tuC pdot CiSutCCi lnOutio WOulb
scarcely recognize it under present con
dtions. Acres and acres of land
which were then covered with brush,
rocks and heavy growth Of algaroba
have been cleared off and planted
either to pineapples, bananas, fruit trees
or vegetables, and preparations are now
being made for clearing several large
tracts to be planted this fall, mostly
with pineapples.
Accepting an invitation from Mr..
lanes Torbert Of the Pacific Hardware
Company, a STAR representative
boarded the 8:45 train yesterday morn.
ing and was soon at Pearl City, where
he found Mr.. Torbert awaiting him
with carriage, in which he was driver
first to Mr., Torbert's hospitable home
and afterwards around the peninsula
and other portions of the city.
The strangers attention is naturally
attracted at the outset to the residence
and grounds of Mr.. Torbert, not only
because the residence is the largest
and most imposing in Pearl City, but
because of its commanding position
and the fact that the trees, shrubbery
ETC., are further advanced than on
other places. And yet it is only
eighteen months since Mr.. Torbert
set out his first lot Of trees He now
has blue gums twenty-five feet high
mangoes fifteen feet, and variety o.
other trees in proportion, such as ALI
gator pears, figs, peaches and oranges
During the coming fall Messrs. Torbert
and Simms-the latter being interested
with him in the plantation-will sci
out about 1900 fruit trees of differ.
ent imported varieties. At present
these gentlemen have about ten acre;
under cultivation, which are now
planted with all kinds of fruit and veg
etables. About 1000 new pineapple
plants have been set out this seas IN
and 5000 more are yet to be planted
At this place the plants are set out at {
much greater distance apart than a
any of the other places visited, anC
more water is used, which probabl,
accounts for the enormous average sizt
of the fruit shipped this season. Where
other plantations pack from thirty tc
forty pines in a crate, Messrs. Torber
and Simms average about eleven tc
thirteen, and in one instance only eigh
could be squeezed in, but these aver
aged eleven pounds in weight withou
the crowns. The shipment made t.
Vancouver by the last steamer arrived
in splendid condition and realizec
handsome prices
Adjoining this plantation is that o
the Pearl City Fruit Company, unde
the management of Mr.. McLaln
Here there are about 10000 pineapple
plants in splendid condition, larg
number of which will mature in abou
six weeks. Ground has already BEEF
cleared for setting out about 1900,
plants this fall A prominent teatur
on this plantation is the number G
lime trees set out, at least 10000 on
would say, and all doing we'll In tn
course ofthree or four years the entlr
premises will be enclosed by an ln
penetrable hedge of lime trees, Will
an avenue Of the same trees will ex
tend from the gate to the house
Around the house is the vegetabl
garden in which quantities of all kind
are grown, about half an acre being i
tomatoes alone, which have paid yer
well this season, There are also
number of fruit trees around the hous
which are doing finely although on'
set out year ago.
The Woodlawn Fruit Company
the same vicinity, under the manage
ment of C J. Mccarthy, has about t.
thousand plants of imported varletie
set out, besides a large number {
orange and lemon trees. A large trao
of land will be cleared off this year b
the owners of this place ready fC
planting next season. Mr.. McCarth
is a firm believer in the future possibi
tiles OF northern market for oil
citrus fruit and intends to experimer
with imported oranges, such as tn
navel and best Sicilian and Florid
varieties.
The water necessary to irrigate thes
plantations is supplied by the railroa
company at reasonable rates, and
pumped from the main reservoir on tt
peninsula through six-inch main to
smaller one above Pearl City, an
thence distributed to the houses an
plantations, When the wind is bio,
ing a thirty-foot geared cyclone win
mill does the pumping instead
steam. The lower reservoir holds &c
900, 900 gallons of water
In addition to the above plantation
the Hawaiian Fruit and Packing Con
pany at Eva have set out this seasC
about 40, 900 plants, and some 6o,o
more will be planted in the next thr'
months This place is under the ma
oo,,oao. &c NJ. Iohn L ilmall hut Ia,