The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-10-04
R. E. BLOUIN ON
HAWAIi'S SUGAR

{ One of the most prominent and pronis-
ing young men ever sent out from Baton
Rouge and the State University is Mr..
R. E. Blouin, son of Hon. ]. E. Blouin
of this city. His recognized ability was
such that Immediately on graduating a
few years ago. DR.. Stubs installed him
as his first and confidential assistant at
Audubon Experimental Station. When
the government sent DR.. Stubs on a
tour of scientific investigation in the new
possession at Hawaii, after inspecting
the islands he was called upon to furn sh
scientific chemist and agriculturist to
take charge OF the station at Honolulu,
a most lucrative and highly important
post. Mr.. Blouin was named without
hesitation, and left for his new home in
October last.
The experimental station comprising |
only five acres of ground, is located near
Honolulu Here neat residence and |
laboratory were provided, under the tut |
ton of the Sugar Planters Association |
of the Islands. Mr. Blouin acted as direc- |
tor and chemist and general adviser for |
the ifty-two sugar plantations located
+ on the group.
These ifty-two plantations yield from
) 1000 to $1,000 tons of sugar a year, the |
total output for last year being $500.
tons and estimated for this year $4,000.
= Many curious, remarkable and interest,"
ing facts are given by Director BIouin.
a The Plantations are divided into rainfall.
and irrigation plantations
The annual rainfall varies from u to
q 300 inches a year. The soil is rather billy.
I rising abruptly from the sea to the In
terror. No lands are irrigated beyond
v $50 feet above the sea level, while sugar
n is raised on ordinary ralnfalI lands as
high up as $500 feet.
" Cultivation is of the simplest possible
Y character, and after planting consists
mainly in keeping the grass and weeds
l. down. After cane is five or six months
Is old, it is practically left untouched. The
l. planting season is usually from July to
October, but no cane is cut under from
a, is months to two years old. Nearly all
~ the irrigation plantations are cultivated
= with steam ploWs which frequently run
depth of 30 inches, and many places
l. are furnished with our late improved
m implements and machinery, eight of the
re largest plantations being supplied with
sugar houses as modern up to date and
Id The usual cutting of cane is for two
e. years, that is, first year plant cane
which, as before stated, must be from Is
X to "A months old, and the following year
D. ration cutting, but in places one plant
III ing has been known to furnish ration
cutting for sixteen consecutive years All
III except three of the rainfall plantations
es are the main island.
le The average yield of cane per acre on
the several islands is 40 tons against e
- tons in Louisiana. The average yield OF
ba sugar Is four and three-fourths tons as
lag against one and one-half tons here
Of The rainfall plantations yield about
l. 123OOO tons of sugar, while the irrigated
~ lands yield $4,000 tons, making the aver
age yield per acre of rainfall plantation
III, about two and three-fourths tons and OF
Mo the irrigated lands from seven to eigh
~, TONS
Mr.. Bfouin says that they have pro
of duced on irrigated lands as high as 14.S
re- tons per acre, or approximately 5000
" pounds of sugar.
,vt He saw lots of cane that would cut 3
feet long for the mill, a single stall
ise weighing BAN pounds, while the ayerag
elm for our stalk would be about two ant
asa one-half pounds.
m He believes that the area of cultiva
ton and improved methods will ultimate
ain iy raise the total production to 10000
ar tons.
ms Besides sugar, rice is extensively raise,
ng and coffee and other products Rice land
are the most valuable, being worth from
ro- $4,000 to 5000 an acre, and renting a
the from $40 to $50 yearly
ing Sugar lands are worth from 1920 t
are $500, but there are none for sale TIL
scenery of the country is picturesque an
has beautiful. The climate is ideal. No bet
ing ter Illustration could possibly be foun
csc of the sentiment of the old song, "sprin
to would be but gloomy weather If Their
were nothing else but spring." The ther
& mometer does not vary below 56 an
Iay above IS, and the seasons come and g
18th with a bare reminder in the way of stag
'n- nation In vegetable growth. But perpet
ual springtime is enervating. Ros
It'll checked girls lose the bloom from thei
ay, faces and the brightness from their eyes
ms and stout, stalwart men grow langui
loH and trifling under the strain of perpetus
Us summer.
The native population is gradually dis
OF appearing.
tea Honolulu is a bright, modern, cosmopo
Ine itan city with 5000 foreigners and 80, OK
$50 mixed and natives. Electricity in a
m forms Is common and the electric car
and automobiles are In regular use
Fruits are scarce, being limited prac
tically to the mango, alligator pear an
bread fruit, all of which are fine.
~ Mr.. Blouin's health broke down. H
K LETT the states with touch of malari
az and 1t grew steadily worse With a de
lghtful home, pleasant surroundings
r. congenial work, large salary and every
N0- thing his own way, and NOTWITHSTANDING
avs the cordial and urgent solicitation of tn
nee pleasant gentlemen with whom ne labor
ed. it Is doubtful If he will return.-Ba
ton Rouge Advocate
-~<A~
Msriposa to be Repaired.