The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-03-14
elsTIll0l Ells1cl
luDlEl TREE UNFIT
AN EXPERIENCED cuLTivAToa
QUESTIONS ITS BEING
ADAPTABLE HERE.
= Hawaiian Climate Is Not Hos Nor
Moist Enough for This Species
Labor Another DifheuIp-A Bet
ter Kind Available

your article in your Sundays Issue.
I relative to the Central American rub
/ Der tree (Sastilloa elastical stating
also that your Commissioner OF Ag-
/. rieaitGre had sent Tor 500 plants. with
view Of its cultivation for CONNER
cial purposes, should its growth
prove successful on the Hawaiian Isl
ands In view OF the fact that many
newspaper and magazine articles
have been written, especially since
! the recent acquisition of the tropical
I territory BY the United states, ad-
rocating immediate steps toward the
cultivation of rubber, as an agricul-
tural crop. ask the Indulgence OF
my friend. Com Taylor. 10 allow me
TO present such conditions as are de-
cessary, to M view, for the success
/ full growth of the rubber plant as
mentioned.
The conditions necessary for the
successful growing of the Castiiloa
/ elastica in my opinion do not exist
/ ON the Hawaiian Islands. Again.
from a financial view, | do not think
I American capitalists who consider
agricultural investments would be
I willing to invest when statistics
show that the quality OF rubber from
/ the Castilloa elastica is a very infe-
/ rior product. and at the same time
continue adding large sums OF mo-
| ney. for ar least 10. years, 10 years
perhaps. before crop can be obtain
ed. and that crop that at its utmost
yield would be two pounds TO each
tree. at a commercial value OF sixty
seven cents per pound. The largest
planting to an acre would be 500
trees. gross product al the end or 10
years would amount to si02 per acre,
making no deductions for losses. in
terest on investment, nor running ex-
penses.
] Such lands on the Hawaiian Isl
ands. likely to prove at all suitable.
would perhaps be the best sugar
lands. and these learn are valued
from sle9 to $500 per acre, so OF
course such productive lands. would
be out of the question for rubber
culture. For the successful cultiva-
ton of the Central American rubber
tree (Castilioa elastica) requires a
climate more thoroughly tropical, hot,
humid and insalubrious conditions,
/ than any part of the Hawaiian ISL
ands can lay claim tor and an an
nual rainfall of at least 200 TO $50
inches. and an average temperature
/ of 100 degrees. Unless certain parts
of these Islands have the above eN-
listing requirements, the planting as
crop is no longer considered adj
visable. This view being the result
of careful study on the part of agri-
cultural specialists. in different parts
of the world | realized this myself
few years ago in Florida, when
planted an acre in camphor trees,
and at the same time planted 100 OF
the rubber trees. for a shade for the
camphor. Instead of acting as a
shade for the camphor, it was vice
versa. and under these most favored
conditions the rubber growing was
| not a success
These essential climatic conditions
exist in the Philippine Islands. and
also in Southern Mexico, and both
have plenty of lands for its cultlva-
| ton. Lands that can be purchased
at from 81 to So per acre, and are
! covered with dense Jungle, which
on proper clearing will leave plenty of
shade for the rubber trees. Where
there has been proper amount OF
shade on plantations. rubber trees of
! this variety have produced two pounds
each in ten years time There is no
question hut what il is a profitable
crop in Mexico. as lands can be had
tcheap. and under such conditions il
will always prove profitable invest
ment. NY residence in the CITY of Ho-
nolulu has only been of thirty days. du-
ration. vet | have observed that no in
dustry could be made profitable on
! these Islands where the native ele-
meat was to be depended upon for
the harvesting of any crop. as the
greSt characteristic of the kanaka. as
noticed by the stranger, is laZiness,
more so than is presented IN Florida
by the Florida cracker. 1t seems the
J Hawaiian at every stage of life is able
I and perfectly willing TO put in ten
tenths of his time resting. II given
the three wishes of the Bayarian peas
ant, instead OF wishing for good deal
of beer. all the beer he could drink.
and a little more beer. We can imagine
the Hawaiian asking for great deal
of rest. the whole time rest. and lit
tile more rest Such conditions would
neeessitate the importation of Asiatic
labor at much expense. and for rub
\ her cultivation IL would not he adyis-
able. that is for the Castilloa elastica.
as Won would be Obliged. to compete
with the Philippines. where labor can
be had at any tine without importa-
ton for 80 cents. Mexican. dav. or
IS cents American. and in Africa.
where the largest gathering of this
species of rubber is annually gathered,
the expense is really nothing. as IL Is
gathered bv the natives of unciyilized
regions. who barter the product for
|. manufactured articles which are to
them merely Injuries. such as one
ward of calico will be given for SO
worth of rubber
| shall. however, be much interested
in the outcome of Commissioner Tay
: lor's experiment and none wishes him
more success in his undertaking than
| do would suggest that an experi
-iment be made with the Willougheeis
: Firma. a native of the Malay
peninsula. which is the most interest
: ing and profitable one for ae Hawaii
L an Islands. II is creeper of large
dimensions and has a tendency II
grow upward II could be planted Al
the bottom Of volcanic cone. utiiiz
I, ing such land that perhaps is worth
! less for cultivation. or any purpos'
whatever. The conditions here arr
|. favorable for its growth. as much so
: at least as the Island OF Luxon, Phil
: ippine Islands. where its growta !,
: Wild Plants could be had from thu
o l Forestry Department OF the Philip