The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-01-28
THE FIRST
FARMERS
INSTITUTE
WahiaWaColonists
Prepare for
Future.

given a decided impetus at an en-
~ thusiastic meeting o. Wahiawa
coionists Saturday evecihg at which
the Farmers Institute of Hawall
was formally launched. Jared IL smith,
director of the Agricultural Experiment
station was unanimously elected Pres-
ident and he is empowered to appoint
committees who will arrange further
Institutes to be held In all parts oil lhe
Territory. An interesting feature OF
the mAeting was the reading of letter
from, Governor Sanford b. Dole, warm
lv commenting the efforts of the small
farmer and saying that the future OF
the islands depended upon the growth
of farming class in these islands,
though predicting that this growth
must Of necessity be slow.
VISIT TO THE COLONY.
The following Honolulu people drove
out to the Wahiawa colony Friday ana
Saturday: Mr. T. f. Sedgwick, assist
ant director of agriculture, and Mrs
Sedgwick, d. J.. Van Dine, Professor
Higgins. Mr.. Krauss and Mr.. Austin.
Saturday the members Of the party
were shown over the district by Byron
o. Clark and others Of the farmers of
prised and pleased at the success which
has already been attending the efforts
of the California colonists. Up to the
present time the Wahiawa farmers
have been laborlng under n great dis
ADVANTAGE, namely, the lack of water,
and have been entirely dependent
upon rainfall. there being no irrigation.
Now, however, very satisfactory ar
rangements have been made with the
Waialua Agricultural CO., by which the
farmers OF Wahiawa will secure all the
water needed, and the greatest diff
Guilty will then be done away with. In
two weeks time they expect to have
water In abundance for every purpose.
and at less expense than any farming
community in the Territory
The colonsts have also had to con-
tend with the acidity or rawness of the
SOIL and 1t has cost In the neighbor-
hood OF fifteen dollars per acre to put
1t into condition for successful cult
walton. The great distance from their
market with accompanying bad roads
is also a serious drawback, but If grad
ing was done, particularly In two OF
the worst Eulches between Wahiawa
and Honolulu. It would be a great help
towards marketing their produce in
this city. The ravages Of insects Is
also a great problem; the methods
which prove effective in other countries
being OF little practical use in Hawaii
owing to climatic conditions. Years
.go the tract now occupied by the Wa
hiawa colony was great sandal wood
forest. and as late as 1874 1t was still
covered with these trees. Up to the
time the colony took possession 1t had
II,
CURED a great deal of time and labor
to clear the land for planting. II the
farmers receive the proper encourage
ment In Honolulu they will attempt to
supply the entire market with fresh
vegetables. The one trouble in the
past has been that their supply of prod
uce could not be continuous because
of the lack of water, but the irrigation
problem Is now solved, and there will
be no further difficulty on that score
Because of the limited market each
man will be forced into special farm
Ing. and this is already being done to
some extent.
The alligator pear is doing well and
the peach trees are also In fine condi-
ton. From experiments made by the
colonists it has been found that toma-
toes. egg plants and peppers could be
made staple articles Tor shipment to the
coast. The stock there appears to be
doing well, and there il also thought
10 be fine field for dairying.
SUCCESS WITH PINEAPPLES.
The principal crop of the colony is the
pineapple, and a large acreage is given
over to the Industry, which is being
constantly extended. The present con
ditlons there do not permit of the ship
ment OF green fruit, and arrangements
have been made for canning on an eX-
tensiye scale. The Hawaiian Fruit and
Plant Co. has $4,000 plants in one
block, and harvested last year 5000
pines OF very superior quality. Their
output this year will be between 10000
and 10000 pineapples. The Hawaiian
Pineapple Canning Co, which was re-
Gently organized, has already planted
10000 pineapples and will continue ON
an even larger sclae. a third company
is now being organized there. which Is
known as the Tropic Fruit CO.. and
which has over 300 acres and viii set
out 100000 plants.
The visitors We're all very much
pleased with the appearance Of the
farms and the hearty invitations ex-
tended by the colonists will no doubt
DE dccepteu many times IN the tuture.
Mr.. Sedgwick was given samples Of the
soils for analysis. part of which are to
be forwarded to Washington and part
OF which will be added to the collec-
ton at the experiment station.
THE INSTITUTE.
The Institute, which was held at the
home of Mr.. Clark. was attended by
nearly every member of the colony. 1t
was intended 20 have the meeting at
the schoolhouse, but the lack of light
ing facilities made this impossible, and
the hospitality of Mr.. Clark was gladly
accepted.
The meeting was opened with prayer