The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-12-15
SOMETHING PRACTICAL.

The raising of vegetables upon these
Islands has been advocated over and
over again in these columns. There is
no earthly reason why we should get
our cabbages, cauliflowers, and other
fancy vegetables from California when
it has been amply demonstrated that
such vegetables can be grown here. Mr..
Nredenburg of Waimea, upon his home
stead lot, used to raise the very finest
of vegetables. There was not thing
that could be raised in the temperate
zone which he could not also raise on
his farm. But his effort was on a small
scale, and the local market in Kohala
and Hamakua used to absorb all that
he had to sell. 1t is satisfactory to
know that Mr.. Long an experienced
truck farmer of California is going into
the business on an extensive scale.
In years gone by, that is in the mid
die of the century, before truck farm
ing became a business in California,
the Hawaiian Islands supplied the
market of the mainland with vegeta-
bles. All the slopes of Haleakala were
cultivated in potatoes which used to
be shipped in schooners from Kalepo-
lepo. Men used to start out on horse
back, in those primitive days, with
bag of any where from $500 TO $1,000
Mexican dollars, and paid for the crop
to be delivered on the beach. Thou
sands of acres above Kawaihae in Ha-
wall used at the same time to be cul-
tivated in sweet potatoes, and higher
up in Irish potatoes. OF these, part
went to California, and part supplied
the whale ships, which at that period
were a fertile source of wealth to the
early business men of this community.
The potato trade has revived on Maui,
or rather that slope of Haleakala which
lies above Spreckelsville and Kihei A
very large part of the potatoes used
throughout the Islands come from
there. But it has not revived above
Kawaihae, where the land still remains
uncultiVated. There are many places
on the Islands where vegetables can be
grown with success, besides those men
toned. But Waimea is certainly an
ideal place for the industry, and Mr..
sive scale recently, will doubtless show
our people what can be done when
energy and capital join together
The question of transportation has
always been a difficulty in this matter,
but unless there is much stuff to carry
transportation companies are not going
to put themselves out of the way.
When the trade grows to important
proportions it is in the position of die
tating terms. Moreover when trans
portation companies see the advantage
that a vigorous growing trade will
be to them, they will do their best
to foster that trade, and if those at
present do not, others will
The main trouble at Waimea is this
question of transportation. From
where the vegetables are grown to the
beach where they are shipped is prob
ably over twenty miles. The exact To-
cation of Mr.. Longs market garden
estate is not known to the writer, but
it is not likely that suitable land for
Mr.. Longs purposes would be found
nearer than that. The goods would
have to be taken in wagons to Hawai-
hae, and if the steamer were late, there
would be great chance of this deteri-
Grating in the heat of that spot For
Kawaihae has not only a blazing sun,
upon blistering beach all day, but it
has a GREATNESS night, which fairly
stiles one, all through the lonely
watches.
But this can all be overcome. With
proper management difficulties of this
kind will fade away. There will be
railway round Hawaii in time, and
that would sweep away everything that
now bars the path of advancement.
But even if there is no railway, the
produce could be brought down at
night. 1t is all a down grade and good
time can be made even with heavily
loaded wagons. If a steamer is ready
in the bay it can load and be off be-
fore the sun is up. In very few hours
the produce would be in the Honolulu
market. The whole matter depends
upon the volume of the trade. If it is
big enough the transportation facilities
will be found to be sufficient.
Some people always deride efforts in
this direction. 1t is the nature of some
sections of men to block progress. With
the population We have, and with it's
prospects of immense increase, those
who go into the business of food sup
ply are going into what will be almost
a certainty, and should meet with all
the encouragement possible.