The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-05
READY FOR
THE SEEDS
Continued from Page II

development of a fruit orchard on the
tract, with berries and grapes inter
SperSed where the soil seems pest
adapted. There will be little new in the
orchard. There have been experiments
in the past which have shown that
practically every variety of fruit of
the sub-tropical and temperate zones
may be grown at some elevation on
the sides of the mountains. The exper-
iments which will be made by the
| United States station will be directed
to the selection of those varieties which
/ will best flourish. which will stand the
pests and produce most seasonably and
fully
For instance when coffee is taken up
it will be the plan of the agent IN
charge of the work to develop not only
a tree which will produce high-class
fruit, but as well will bear abundant
ly and will blossom in regular season,
instead of, as is the rule on some parts
of the Islands, producing the cherry In
all stages at the same time, thus max
ing it necessary to have a force picking
the coffee practically the whole year
round, adding to the cost of the produc-
ton. The same will be true of teas and
the various fruits which have been in
improved by selection and cross-breed-
ing. This branch of the work is the
most fascinating to the horticulturist,
and the department expects to have
stationed here an expert in that partic-
ular line, to assist the agent in charge
According to the plans of Mr.. Smith,
the hillsides will in time bear hundreds
of varieties of fruits, the orders which
he has out for various species compris-
ing the very best of the kind and the
best kinds. Prof. Hilgard, who is in
charge of the California station at
Berkeley, is now arranging to send here
at the season for transplanting, a full
line of all the fruits which have been
so successful in that State In addition
there will be trees from other States
where the sub-tropical range is found,
and the best things of the West Indies
are now being gathered for this station.
Already there are some of the seeds Of
the most profitable trees coming to
hand, among these being the kola, of
which a consignment of nuts was re-
ceived in the last mail. This is but
sample of the way in which the depart
ment at Washington feels toward this
station, and that all the possible assist
ance that can be given will come Is
assured.
One of the new things in so far as q
crop is concerned, which is on the way.
is the grapefruit, and to this mach
space will be given. In the United
States the demand for this fruit has
grown with rapidity in the past few
years. Where a few years ago it was
looked upon as novelty now it has be-
come a necessity almost in many house
holds. While there is no doubt that the
fruit may be produced here, full test
of the varieties will be given and there
may BE- found a level at which this tree
will grow with such freedom that it
will be a great addition to the crops Of
the group Another feature of the pro
posed planting will be a seedless grape,
of the SuItana group. which is growing
with success in California. This grape
is a native of Italy and the hillsides
here should furnish the conditions
which bring it to such full bearing
! there
This is the principal plan for the i'm
provement of the uplands, the replac-
ing there of the trees removed by
fruits The men who have investigat-
ed the soil think if there is care in the
planting. if there is a sufficiently large
hole made and the young tree given
good amount of rich soil in which to
start its life there will be no difficulty
in making the experiments with the
fruit a success. The sub-soil will be
broken up so that the young and ten
der roots will have a chance to get
down to the rich earth below. 1t is
hardly likely that the course which is
followed in some parts of California
and Dakota will be necessary-the
planting of trees with dynamite There
| the hardpan, which is about like the
red mud is broken up by the use of
stick of dynamite, which is put into the
hole made in the mud with crowbar
or hand drill. This will be done if
! there Is as much mud on the higher lev
! els as is found in the bed of the valley
The seedbeds and nursery are placed
! at a level of 1 900 feet and the limit Of
the reservation is at 1850 feet. This
range of elevation gives an opportunity
| for the testing of all kinds Of trees
which may be grown here. and is espa-
/ cially suited for the station. since at
tie land which is below that level is EFT
outside the plantations, when it is CO.
pable of cultivation.
| The lower levels Of the Kewalo-uka
tract, those which lie behind Punch
bowl will be used for the purpose of
the dafrying tests and the growing of
grains There will be tested the va
rious grains, the beans, millets and sim
liar green foods which would be Of
great service to the small farmer. if
the genus ever succeeds in getting an
orening The Secretary Of Agriculture
says he wants experiments in milk and
butter made, and the Investigations will
he thorough. There on commanding
knoll is situated the house End offices
of the station and the agent, 50 that
tie official may be in the midst of his
work. Mr. Smith said in discussing the
work of the station:
"Our plan is not to introduce new
things, but to improve the agriculture
and horticulture of the country. We
will give our time to the investigation
of the various fruits and vegetables,
study plant diseases. character of soils
land what may be done to change them
to make them fruitful The idea of
such a station here should be the dem
oo.+,a+top that there ia 81 field for