The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-24
MEETING Of
SUGAR MEN
Hawaiian Planters In
Session.
REPORTS HEARD ON LABOR
Forestry Preservation Discussed at
Some Length--Irrigation
Problem.

the Planters Association completed its
business at noon yesterday and ad-
| journed. Reports on forestry and on
the labor problem were received and
the following officers were elected:
President, F. A. Schaefer; vice-presi-
dent, c. Bolte; treasurer, H. A. Isen-
berg; secretary William Pfotenhauer;
auditor, j. B. Atherton
Dr. Walter Maxwell gave a report on
the water question in which he stated
that most of the plantations were irri-
eating their cane too freely His re-
port is in part as follows:
Many plantations now see that thew
have been using a great excess of wa
ter, and have reduced the amount nv
one-half, and one plantation by more
than one-half. At this place it may be
said that probably no other existing
sugar-producing country could indulge
IN such extravagances and keep above
water. The fact is that the increasing
producing power of our soils Can in
crease of from tons to tons per
acre., and the happy fiscal relations of
THESE islands with the United States
all these have made the situation lux
urious, and have also made it unneces-
sary for the management of our estates
10 get down to the bedrock lines of
economy essentially practiced in other
countries.
In the case of rattoons, we invari-
ably have found the crop to be too
tnick. 1t becomes grassy, and more
canes come up than can ever find
standing room. We have found it ad-
vlsable to keep the water off for two or
three or more weeks from such dense
rattoon growths in order to dry out the
weakest suckers. After this is done.
the remaining, and strongest canes
make more rapid growth, with a less
consumption of soil food and
water.
The analyses of the cane, as well
as OF the leaves and waste matters. put
before US statement of the enormous
amount of soil material that is re-
moved by the growing crop. These
1acts should sink into the mind, and
aplde IN the daily consciousness of ev-
cry one engaged in growing cane"
NJ NJ. O'Shaugnessy in report on |
forest preservation stated that he had
observed on the Islands of Hawaii and |
Maui much wanton destruction of the |
forests. He believed that forests had |
much to do with the rainfall and that |
IL the forests We're destroyed it would
result in greatly decreased rainfall all |
over the group. He urged the coopera-
ton of the plantation managers to pre-
serve the forests.
John M. Horner did not believe that
hn
IdlnIal ana thought that the forests
'usht not to be preserved at the ex-
pense of shutting out househoIders and
lomesteaders who might otherwise
axe up lands and make their homes
n the Islands
faul lsenberg also spoke on the for
,stry question, saying that every piece
u land that was not used for other
purposes should be put into forest. He
poke of the allotment of the lands TO
ne people by Kamehameha III. saving
nat all the natives had done with
heir land was to cut the wood off If
ma then sell it if they could. In the il
'ast the homesteaders had not been :
Die TO use their land to any extent for
hey mad not been able to get their
reduce to the markets.
Dr. Maxwell announced that a for :
stry expert was now on the way from
ne DIVISION of Forestry, Department
Agriculture, for the purpose of ex-
mining the forests of Hawaii. He 10
xpected to arrive. here next month
ne lapor question was discussed at
oihe length, reports being received on
ne relative value of labor from Italy.
orto Rico and the Mainland. No deci-
I'VE action was taken on the labor
latter
All the reports presented at the meet
ig We're ordered published in the Plan
ers' Monthly.