The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-10
COFFEE ON Hawaii.
Meeting of the Planters
Association at HilO.
Needs of the Planters Discussed
Coffee Cleaning Plant May
Be Erected.

urday evening and there was a good
attendance, and the purposes of these
meetings were freely entered upon,
I says the Hilo Tribune of March 9th.
| President Grossman was in the chair
and a. NJ. Wilson secretary. After the
preliminaries, business and reports
were disposed of, lively exchange of
ideas as to pruning, topping and plant
ing followed, and so varied were the
recommendations, so many different
| conditions and effects resulting that
the Tribune scribe could not keep track
of them, which is very regrettable. A
number agreed that cultivation and
enriching the soil produced more Wig
orous trees, and vigorous trees were
not materially influenced by red spider
and kindred parasites that flourish up
on weaker stock. The planting of trees
| for windbreaks should be done with
care, for such greedy feeders as the
banana flourished at the expense of the
| neighboring coffee trees. 1t was evil
dent that cultivation of the soil is gain
ing in favor, for all who are doing it
see vast improvement in their trees.
The sweetening of the soil by turning
it up to the sun, free and friable, turn
ing under the sods, is taking the place
of the Uttered field wherever it is pos
sible to do so. Drainage of fields was
recommended wherever practical, as it
was another means by percolatiOn OF
sweetening the land, in preference TO
evaporation by the sun. FOrking the
soil around the trees where the cultiva-
tor had not reached was advocated.
and particularly is this desirable in
those fields where no cultivation was
carried on, owing to the surface being
covered by logs and limbs. 1t has been
observed in Olaa that the red spider
confined his operation to trees only
under two years and a half old, and
when that age was passed the trees
seemed TO enjoy immunity from this
pest.
One planter, whose opinions are held
in great esteem who holds that extern
sive cultivation is most essential TO
success, warned his listeners that dis
turbing or tearing the roots worked an
injury to the trees and did not seem
to be able to suggest how cultivation
of the land and avoidance of the roots
Il
same difficulty has been experienced
in California, where irrigation was in
vogue, and at first too much water was
used which resulted in the tree roots
combining themselves to the surface
soils. Deeper bitches were tried with
success. and a systematic pruning OF
roots of ell trees at time of planting
1t is recognized to be fact that the
shape of tree can be largely influ-
enced or controlled by the manner and
method Of root pruning, and in wet
districts where the tendency of trees
were toward surface roots the custom
is to prune off the laterals and give
care to the setting downward of the
tap root. Drainage is also of great
value, as it will lower the moisture and
the roots will inhabit lower levels.
and then cultivation of the land does
not threaten the life of the roots.l
discussion as to results in planting
out nursery followed. and a great va
riety of experiences were offered, and
every known seed had proven good and
bad which seemed to mean that the
condition of the seed must be carefully
looked after. There seems to be no
particular season best adapted for
planting seed, as it grows Immediately
and fiourishes continuously. 1t is rec
commended that holeing the land
should be done sometime in advance of
setting out the trees, that the proper
chemical changes in the soil be accom-
plished before tamping back the filling
soils.
What are we going to do with our
Coffee" was asked. who is going to
clean it and market it?" 1t was report
ed that the Hilo Electric Light Com
pany had changed their plans about
IL, r.1lo hut n
be pleased TO furnish power for the
same Il was evident that there has
been considerable debate on the out
side of this meeting on this question,
for the suggestion that the association
should build its own cleaning plant
was greeted with applause. and inquiry
brought out the fact that plant COM
plete in every respect could be erected
for $4,000 and one that could handle
the crop of all time to come would cost
sc. 600 This fact brought motion up
that committee of five members be APP
pointed to examine into the Feasibility
of forming $4,000 company from
among the members of the association,
and it was carried. Messrs. c. L.
Wight. lie Blond, Sisson, Judge Ly-
man and Ross were appointed on this
committee to report at the next meet
ing to be called by the chair.
Mr. G. l.. Wight. as president OF the
Wilder Steamship Company, requested
the coffee growers present TO furnish
him with two-pound samples of their
coffees for exhibition in Honolulu, and
also for the purpose of sending them
abroad for testing TO aid in establish
ing a demand and grade for Hawaiian
coffees which were freely promised.
and doubtless will be forthcoming. The
1
samples if they are sent in on the
stages, and attend to the shipping by
steamer of the same to their destina-
tion.
The following parties interested in
coffee growing We're offered as new
members and were duly elected: Rev.
Mr.. Hill Q. 7. Wight Judge Lyman.
w. \. Ray. George Williams. Mr. Ca
nielsOn. Mr. NcAulpin. Mr.. Borden.