The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-03-12
COFFEE ON HAWAII
Meeting of the Planters
Association at Hi1o.
Needs of the Planters Discussed
Coffee Cleaning Plant May
Be Erected.


Be Erected.
The Hawaiian Coffee Planters Asso-
citation met in Firemen's Hall last Sat
urday evening and there was a good
attendance, and the purposes of these
meetings were freely entered upon,
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 fiourished 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. FoFking 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 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
/ Uurbing or tearing the roots worked an
] in m tho
/ to be able to suggest how cultivation
of the land and avoidance of the roots
was to be accomplished. Mote: This
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
! confning themselves to the surface
| soils. Deeper bitches were tried with
success, and a systematic pruning OF
roots of all trees at time of planting
1t is recognized to be a fact that the
shape of tree can be largely inflrl-
enced or controlled by the manner and
method of root pruning, and in wei
districts where the tendency of tree:
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 ant
he roots will inhabit lower levels
md then cultivation of the land doe
not threaten the life of the roots
A discussion as to results in planting
nut nursery followed, and a great va
'iety of experiences were offered. anC
every known seed had proven good ant
bad, which seemed to mean that tn,
condition of the seed must be CAREFUL,
looked after. There seems to be nj
particular season best adapted TO
planting seed, as it grows immediatel.
and flourishes continuously. 1t is rec
commended that holeing the Ian,
should be done sometime in advance o
setting out the trees, that the prope
chemical changes in the soil be accom-
plished before tamping back the film
Soils
What are We going to do with on
! coffee?" was asked. ''Who is going t
clean it and market it?" 1t was report
ed that the Hilo Electric Light Com
pany had changed their plans abou
S putting up cleaning plant, but woul
4 be pleased to furnish power for til
, same. 1t was evident that there ha
been considerable debate on the ou
side of this meeting on this question
! for the suggestion that the associatio
should build its own cleaning pla1
: was greeted with applause, and inquiI
i brought out the fact that plant con
plete in every respect could be erecte
e for $500, and one that could hand
!. the crop of all time to come would co
u $4,000. This fact brought a motion l
t. that committee of five members be a
( pointed to examine into the feasibili
L of forming a $4,000 company fro
g. among the members of-the associatio
and it was carried. Messrs. c.
ID Wight, LIE Blond, Sisson, Judge L
lie man and Ross were appointed on tn