Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-04

tnese lSlanuS during the last ten
years. An intelligent investigation of
all phases OF the coffee industry will
well repay. Coffee is a white mans
crop. It is grown at elevations I'M
suited to cane and where the climate
is admirably adapted to a comfortable
and healthful existence.
The coffee lands of Hawaii can be
made as productive as any in the
world. Experiments in the selection
and crossing of varieties to produce
more prolific or harder trees. and es.
pecially an investigation of the meth
DDS of curing coffee, should be made
in an effort to save this industry. Ha.
waiian coffee nas already made for it.
self an enviable reputation for quality
and flavor of berry. If 1t could be
sold ON its merits instead of in compe.
tition with the low-grade coffees OF
Brazil and Central America, It would
in time prove an immensely profitable
crop. An effort should be made to
save this industry from total eXtinc.
tion. 1t Is crop especially suited to
the small investor-the man who can
build up a home and care for his crop
himself The establishment Of tho
coffee industry on a successful basis
would make the hawaiian Islands
land of small farmers more quickly
than the transformation could be &C.
complished In any other way or
through the medium of any other crop
or industry. Besides coffee. various
spices and drugs could be grown, such
as pepper, allspice, ginger. cardamom,
cloves, various tannins, NOS, and oils.
But with OF these the experiment
station must lead Inc way and show
the possibility of profitable culture be.
fore the farmers are advised to under.
take ,ne cultivation.
Fertilizers and Drainage.
Investigations on methods of cult.
walton and the use of fertilizers and
drainage and irrigation are also much
needed. On this point Mr.. Smith
states:
Very little has been done to demon.
strate the value of thorough cultiva.
ton and the use of commercial fer
tilizers except in connection with su.
gar cane. There is wide field for
work in these two lines II is a recog.
niZed principle I'D, a cane field must
be well prepared and a cane crop well
cultivated and fortified to secure the
| best and largest yieI~s. but with al.
most all other crops II IS taken for
granted that the tropical climate will
bring the plants to full lrution alone,
without adequate cultivation or the
use of fertilizers. Water is poured on
lavlshly and the sunshine and normal
high temperatures are expected to do
the rest. Problems OF soil cultivation,
fertilization, drainage and irrigation
must be investigated in lneIr relation
to other crops tman sugar.
Forest Reserves Recommended.
| Investigations in forestry are much
to be desired, but these can not be un.
dertaken by the station without con.
siderable Increase in its resources;
and in any case, whatever investiga.
lions the station might undertake in
this direction should Oe done in coop.
Grafton with the Bureau OF Forestry.
Regarding this subject, Mr.. Smith
makes the following statements:
Many OF the native woods of this
group are extremely valuable from
commercial standpoint and consider.
able trade in these woods. notably koa
and sandal, at one time flourished /
would recommend that the entire back.
bone of each main mountain chain OF
each OF the islands be set apart in for.
est reserves under the Federal Gov.
eminent, in order that the native for.
ests may be protected and preserved
and that a modern and legal system
of forest conservation may be carried
out. The sugar plantations all depend
directly on indirectly on the wooded
mountain slopes for their water sup.
ply and 1t Is due to their owners that
something be done to check the furth.
er destruction of the native forests,
and also to replant large areas with
trees NATIVE and foreign which shall
In the future become commercially
valuable.
Larger Appropriation Needed.
| Considering the variety of subjects
for investigation, the annual appropri.
alton for the maintenance of the Ha.
wall experiment station should be not
less than $4,000. 10 properly euuiu
1t with buildings, apparatus. nipple.
ments, live stock, etc, a special an,
preparation of $4,000 Is very much
needed. 1t was hoped that the Legls.
lature of the Territory would follow
the example of the other States and
| Territories in experimenting the ma
tional funds for the maintenance and
equipment of the station, but though
measures looking to this end were in.
troduced they failed to pass.
Irrigation Laws.
Later on in the report the subject
OF the irrigation laws and customs
now prevailing here is mentioned, as
| follows
In response to numerous requests
from those engaged in irrigation in the
Hawaiian Islands, plans are being
made for a bulletin dealing with the
irrigation laws and customs which now
control the ownership and distribution
OF streams in those islands. The i'm.
mense sums of money already invest.
ed in pumping plants and irrigation
works required for the irrigation of
sugar cane gives to this subject an i'm.
portance commensurate with the mag.
nitude OF these investments and with
the value and scarcity of the water
supply on which success depends. II
| Is manifest that the same problems
which have arisen in California ana
other arid States where streams have
been fully utilized will have to be
dealt with in these islands, and II ia
the belief Of those most directly con.
cerned that this investigation can
greatly promote the enactment OF
needed and salutary laws by an early
study of the subject ana publication
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