The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-10-23
SUGAR LANDS.

! The land owned by the company suit
able for the cultivation of sugar cane
comprises an area of over 1000 acres in
fee simple and over 1900 on forty years
| lease.
| The land lies upon the Puma slope south
| of the District of Hilo, and extends for
more than thirteen miles from the mill
site, near the lower edge of the land, at
an elevation of $50 feet from the sea TO
| an elevation in the forest belt of about
| 1000 feet.
| The lower portion of the land Is made
| up largely of land covered by an ancient
aga lava flow which in ages past had be-
come decomposed and is covered with a
growth of ferns and vegetation. The up
per part of the land is covered by a
heavy growth of forest trees.
Since the beginning of the operations
upon the plantation, in the spring of '9G,
sugar cane has been planted in various
places over this great area, at various
elevations, at different seasons and with
a number of varieties of seed.
The cane grown from these paintings
has been used largely for seed, and the
ratcons of the cane so cut are now grow
ing.
There is now growing upon the planta-
ton cane upon all of these several places
In various stages of growth which, by the
v!gor of its growth and quality, demon
strates beyond question that the soil is
10 lne CROWN OF sugar cane OF 1lne
quality and richness. The cane now
gre wing promises a yield of not less than
five or six tons per acre.
This section Of the country has such
"a large annual rainfall that irrigation is
not needed. The District of Hilo. on the
north, with smaller rainfall has for
many years produced sugar in large and
paying quantities, without irrigation.
The great area of the territory of the
company's plantation, with fields at va
rious elevation, with different varieties of
sugar cane and varieties of temperature
and climate, and fertility of soil, COM
bne to make the plantation one of very
great promise.
Among the advantages is the healthful-
ness of the climate. The benefit of the
climate upon those engaged in construct
ing the Volcano road, a number of years
ago, was the subject of remark. and its
healthfulness has been verified by those
who have lived in that locality since that
time.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
The plantation has already under cult
walton for the first crop, to be ground in
the winter of 1902, an area of 2,400 acres
and in a few weeks the area planted will
reach 5000 acres. Besides this, parties
who are cultivating under contract have
ahCut 500 acres under cultivation. and the
Puma Sugar Company has arranged with
the Olaa Plantation Company to grind
50l acres of cane of their first crop.
The equipment of the plantation in the
matter of building of houses. quarters,
stables and reservoirs, and providing nee
essary tools, implements and appliances,
is well advanced. Not less than fifteen
miles of macadamized roads have been
built through the plantation: thirteen
miles of permanent and portable railroad
track have been procured and plans for
complete equipment are all made.
The site for the sugar works has been
selected, and preparations for laying the
foundations for the buildings and ma
chinery are now being made. The ma
chinery is being landed at Hilo Facli-
ties for transportation to the plantation
are completed and there seems to he ev-
cry prospect that the works will be ready
for operation in ample time before the
harvesting of the first crop.
CONCLUSION.