The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-10-26
MEETING OF
SUGAR MEN
Hawaiian Planters In
Session.
REPORTS HEARD ON LABOR
Forestry Preservation Discussed at
Some Length Irrigation
Problem.
(From Wednesdays Daily)

After sessions lasting over two days
the Planters Association completed it's
business ut noon yesterday and adj
journed. Reports on forestry and on
the labor problem were received ana
the following officers Were elected:
President, f. A. schaefsr; vice-presi-
dent c. Bolte; treasurer, ii. y. lsen-
berg; secretary, William Pfotenhauer;
auditor. J. b. Atherton.
DIR. Walter Maxwell gave report on
the water question in which he stated
that most of the plantations We're irri-
eating their cane too freely. His re-
port Is in part as follows:
Many plantations now see that they
have been using a great excess of wa
ter and Have reduced the amount by
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 tan 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 1t unneces-
sary for the management of our estates
to get down to the bedrock lines of
economy essentially practiced in other
countries.
I'm the case of rattoons, we inVari-
ably have found the crop to be too
thick. 1t becomes grassy, and more
canes come up than can ever find
standing room. We have found it adj
vsabIe to keep the water off for two or
three or more weeks from such dense
ration 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
Immediate consumption of soil food and
water.
THE analyses of the cane, as we'll
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
facts should sink into the mind, and
abide 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
Maui much wanton destruction of the
forests. He believed that forests had
much to do with the rainfall and that
IL the forests were 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
the forests. had much relation to the
rainfall and thought that the forests
ought not to be preserved at the eS-
pense of shutting out householders and
homesteaders who might otherwise
take up lands and make their homes
in the Islands.
Paul Isenberg also spoke on the for
estry question, saying that every piece
Of land that was not used for other
purposes should be put into forest. He
spoke of the allotment of the lands to
the people by Kamehameha III, saying
that all the natives had done with
their land was to cut the wood off it
and then sell 1t If they could. In the
past the homesteaders had not been
able to use their land to any extent for
they had not been able to get their
produce to the markets.
DIR. Maxwell announced that for
cstry expert was now on the way from
the Division of Forestry, Department
of Agriculture, for the purpose of ex-
aiming the forests of Hawaii. He Is
expected to arrive here next month.
The labor question was discussed at
some length, reports being received on
the relative value of labor from Italy, |
Porto Rico and the Mainland. No deci- |
sive action was taken on the labor
matter.
All the reports presented at the meet
ing were ordered published in the Plan
ters' Monthly.
IT.