The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-12


coffee lands give room for 10000 fam
lilies, or a population of 10000. It
seems probable that in 20 years after
the annexation of these islands there
would be a population of over 100, 900
thus supported. Added TO this would
be a town population of storekeepers,
mechanics, etc, TO meet the wants of
the rural people. Altogether, with
commercial interestes, sugar and cof-
fee, as means of support, aside from
many minor resources, we easily fig
ure out employment for over $50, 900
of American population TO settle here
within 20 years after annexation. This
estimate seems a very conservative
one, and could easily be stretched to 80
or even 100 per cent more. Altogether,
il is not unreasonable TO anticipate
that by 1920 there would be a prosper
Gus white population of 100000, in ad-
dition to what remained of the present
50 900 native and A. 900 Asiatics.
FRUIT RAISING.
Much will be done in producing ruff
here for expectation. We are now eX-
porting bananas and pineapples. The
latter fruit has been taken up only
within five years. A considerable
quantity of pines have been shipped
green 20 California at small profit, on
account Of duties. This year can
merry makes an output of 5000 cases of
sliced, as well as of grated, pineapples
for expectation. This fruit thrfves
here wonderfully. 1t needs a very
moderate amount of moisture, and
fiourishes on drier lands where other
nf srrd hTa II NiTaQ
will be raised on one acre, year after
year, with comparatively little labor
and not much fertilization. They vary
from to 10 pounds in weight; $4,000
pounds of fruit per acre is a conserva-
tive estimate. They are easily worth 1
cent a pound in the field, and much
more. The market promises to be
good on the Pacific Coast.
Bananas have long been established
as a regular export to California, most
Iy since the monthly steamers began
to run, 20 years ago. The average
passage of Is days by sailing vessels
is too long, and the fruit perishes.
Present shipments are about 10000
punches a month. Prices have de-
cIined from 81 a bunch to now an av-
erage of 80 cents, delivered at the yes
sci. New Orleans importations of ba.
nanas heavily compete with ours in
San Francisco. We shall have more
advantage whenever special steamers
are put on for fruit, properly equipped
with refrigerated holds. This will en-
able the Transport of Differentiated
punches, and therefore choicer fruit.
Bananas are now picked when only
three-quarters grown. They reach the
coast in such poor condition that in
Honolulu they would be unstable.
An acre of average good banana
land may be relied on for an average
yield of 400 so cent punches per an
mum, allowing for season of rest and
1t must be superior soil
with excess of moisture, and will need
much fertilizing The banana is both
a. hungry and thirsty plant, and will
do nothing in soil that is either poor
or dry. The labor of cultivation is
moderate. Banana culture is a fairly
business, within moder-
ate distance of the point of shipment.
There are now perhaps 1000 acres of
available banana land near Honolulu.
A proposed extension of the Oahu Rail-
way will bring nearly as much more,
altogether enough to make profitable
farming for several hundred families.
In the vicinity of Hilo seaport, 5000
acres could be found, favored by CO.
pious rains. The whole would supply
600. 900 punches a year. 1t would be
a long time before the Pacific Coast
could absorb that quantity.
ORANGES AND LINES.
Presumably much can be done in the
future in producing oranges and lines
for export. They have not hitherto
been commercially successful. While
at the present time very good oranges
sell in bulk on the wharf at 81 per 100,
in the fall season, when abundant, dur
ing much of the year California or
anges take their places at $3.50 per 100.
Instead of this we ought to undersell
the California oranges, at least in Ore
gon and Puget Sound. Had we the
moist tropic heats of Jamaica, Tahiti
or Samoa, oranges would grow spon-
taneously and fruit in profusion. We
have too much dry windiness for this.
As with coffee, insect blights have
been deadly foes to orange culture.
Prof. Koebele's lady birds are equally
the salvation of the orange, and here
after the orange farmer may be COM
pIete victor over blight. Hitherto 1t
has been quite impossible TO secure
healthy bearing trees except in sites
we'll protected from wind, and favored
by much rain. Now, such trees are Of
ten seen in good bearing in dry and
exposed situations. Next to no hor-
ticuItural skill has been applied to or
anges. The trees are all seedlings l
have known a few such with superb
fruit. such as California can never
show 1t only needs proper grating
and skill TO make most Of our oranges
of equal quality.
The foregoing statistics as to our
of affording profitable oc-
cupation for white American immi-
grants have been intended to be given
in a very conservative spirit. with es-
Inmates much below the truth. There
seems to be a most reasonable prospect
hat within a quarter century annexa-
ton would be followed by steady
1rOIufb of white DODulatiOn DrOSDer-