The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-20
GOVERNMENT NURSERIES
HAVE FORTY THOUSAND TREES
TO SPARE.
A Large Variety Of Beautiful Trees,
Palms, ETC., to Be Had for the
Trouble Of Going After Them.

a representative of the STAR paid
visit to the Government nursery on
King street yesterday afternoon and
gathered much information in relation
to the nursery the methods pursued in
raising trees and plants, and the guam
tity of trees now ready for distribution
which cannot fail to be of interest to
the general public. Since the new
gardener, Fl. J. Rhodes, took charge
some very radical changes have taken
place, more attention being paid to the
propagation of trees and plants and
less to the care and ornamentation Of
the grounds, which are only three
acres in extent and entirely inadequate
to the purpose.
The reporter was first shown the
process Of making baskets, these being
used in place of pots and are much
more preferable. These are made from
the leaves of the Lauhala, brought
from Hawaii for the purpose. They
are bound round the thick end of a
champagne bottle and formed into a
receptacle for small trees. In planting
after leaving the nursery, the tree and
its receptacle are buried together, the
latter soon rotting away in the ground.
BY this process the loss by transplant
ing is absolutely nothing. All the
seeds collected by Commissioner Mars.
den are planted in boxes, then into
these leaf pots and in few months
are ready for distribution. Three
months ago there were scarcely 5000
plants fit for distribution to-day there
are about 40, 5000 and the number is
still increasing.
Among the most important trees in
the nursery is the camphor. This tree
was imported from Japan and is doing
well. While there are quite a number
of them there will be none for distribu
tion for some time yet, as those now
in the nursery will be used for propa-
eating purposes. The tree is beauti.
full evergreen, and no insect will 60
near it. There are rows of thrifty
young orange and lemon trees, which
ha itt he, h,I oh
tainable and set out in the Makiki
forest; alligator pears for experimental
grating, any amount of different varie.
ties of shade trees and all sorts Of i'm
ported trees with queer foreign names,
the uses of which Mr.. Marsden has at
his fingers ends
In visiting the nursery one should
not fail TO look at Mr.. Marsden's to
bacco plantation. There are about
800 hourishing plants of the Sumatra
variety, grown from imported seed. II
anyone doubts whether tobacco can be
successfully raised here, visit to the
Government nursery should settle the
matter. Adjoining the tobacco are a
number of sisal plants which are doing
well. Among other plants and trees tc
be found here are the Cassava or West
Indian mandioc. This is large tubel
and is prepared for eating by simply
grating and boiling. This tuber forms
the bulk of the food used by the lowe
classes in Brazil. There are number
of plants of Sea Island cotton, speci
mems of which, from this nursery, have
been set out both at Pearl City ano
Punahou college, where they arr
doing well. Another valuable tree il
the pmento or common allspice. Their,
is but one specimen of this in tn,
nursery, but it is now in full bearing
and every ripe seed is being saved ano
planted. In the greenhouse are ;
number of kola, vanilla, cacao or choco
late, pimento and other varieties o
trees requiring more than ordinary car,
in starting. The nursery is kept fire,
from blight by means of the application
of the blight wash, made under the di
rections of the Bureau, the efficacy o
which has been proven. A large tam
arind tree was shown the reporter which
was literally covered with blight tire,
months ago, but to-day there is not
sign of it. This result is due to fou
sprayings with the extermnator.
There are now in the neighbor
hood of 10000 trees ready for distribu
ton to the general public, and tn
Commissioner wants to get rid of then
in order to utilize the space they nov
occupy for raising more. Persons de
string trees or plants must pre- cure al
order from him during the week AM
present it at the nursery on Saturda
only, where it will be honored by H. ]
Rhodes, the gardener. Applicant
may have half a dozen or a doze
varieties at the same time, but nc
more than two or three varieties of th
same tree will be given to any on
person.
Following is list of some of tn
N