The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-12-17
WILL STUDY
IRRIGATION
Jared Smiths New
Mission in
Hawaii.
FINE COFFEE
ON OTHER ISLAND
Attempt Will Be Made to Grow
French Pistachi Nut at Ex-
pertinent Station.

| The irrigation of Hawaii is the next
study which is to occupy the attention
/ Of the Department of Agriculture.
Jared Smith, on his return from HilO,
found a letter awaiting him from Ell
wpod Mead, in charge of the irrigation
bureau Of the Agricultural Department
at Washington, transferring him to
that service His new duties begin on
the first day of January. and he will
work under the direction of the irriga-
ton bureau for the first two months
Of the new year.
| Exactly what the scope of the study
of irrigation in this Territory is to be
is not disclosed in the letter from Mr..
Mead. Detailed instructions are coming
later, probably by tomorrows mail
The investigation win be scientific,
and will take in the methods of pump
ing water on the small farms, and for
| homes, though no doubt the methods
used by the big sugar plantations in
the development of their water supply,
will receive some attention.
In the course of his investigations,
Mr.. Smith Will make tour of the
other Islands, though his plan of cam
paign has not been entirely mapped
out, as yet.
His investigation will take in the best
methods of irrigation, the use of fuel
/ and machinery for the purpose. and
how the system in Hawaii may be i'm
proved. Mr.. Smith will continue in
charge of the work of the experiment
station, even though nominally under
the direction of the irrigation bureau.
This plan is adopted by the depart
ment, no doubt, in order to save the
expense of sending a man to Hawaii
with special instructions to study irri-
CATION, as Jared Smith is already on
the ground and can secure the same
information, as might be obtained from
sending an expert, and at considerably
less cost to the government.
WILL REPORT TO WASHINGTON.
On the steamer America Maru,
which leaves for the Coast on the goth
of this month Will go forward to
Washington very complete report of
various agricultural industries in these
Islands. This report was asked for
by Director True, who is in charge OF
the experiment stations in all parts of
the United States, and is probably
compiled for the benefit of Congress,
now in session Separate reports are
to be made on coffee growing, the rice
industry, fruit raising, taro cultivation
and vegetable farming. The report
was asked for by telegraph, so. evi-
IDENTIFY the Washington department is
in hurry to get it.
FAvoRs COFFEE CULTIVATION.
Mr.. Smith VIII report favorably up
on the coffee industry in these Islands.
as the result of his investigations in
Hawaii He made a thorough invssti-
CATION OF the Hamakua district, visit
ing the Barnard, Horner and Lewison
plantations. In Olaa, Mr.. Smith re-
ports that he found most of the coffee
plantations had been abandoned.
There is a good deal of fine coffee
land on Hawaii" said Mr.. Smith yes
terday, and there can be no doubt CT
the success of the cultivation of coffee
The only question is the financial one.
for coffee can be raised there, and the
finest in the world, too \ friend of
mine who has been all through South
America, was along. and said ne had
never seen finer coffee anywhere. on
all these plantations the coffee was the
best 1 had ever seen, and the trees
were loaded down with the bean. The
coffee grown in the Hamakua district
is the finest in the world. The price
of coffee is so low now that it doesn't
pay, and the people on that Island be-
Iieye that the United States should put
a protective tariff on coffee, in order
TO protect the industry here.
Mr.. Smith spoke very enthusiastic
ally both Of the coffee and sugar plan
tations, and the general vegetation on
Hawaii. Particularly was he Impress
ed with the growing cane on the Coast.
and spoke Of one solid field over sixty
miles long. which could be seen from
the Kinau's deck.
WILL GROW PISTACHE NUTS.
About eighty pounds of pistache
nuts have been received at the Tanta-
Ius experiment station and Will Be
nIanted Immediately The nuts were
imported directly from France. and
| Mr. Smith will attempt to grow the
fruit on prepared soil at the station.
Tn. nut is bright green in color. and
Is extensively used by confect!oners for
havorinE candies. ice cream. etc IN
the United States it sells for from
81 80 to s.. 90 per pound, and II 1t can
be successfully grown here will prove
8 very profitable industry for the Isl
ands
Nv the last steamer slips OF Georgia