The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-08-29
the SNAIL ECONOMIES.

While hard times IN Hawaii are not
likely Ia outlasi the sugar crop Of 1904.
the situation In the meantime Is one
which impresses the public with the
reed OF stricter household economy.
IL is obvious from market reports that
people are eating much less meat than
they were and that the use OF the lux
uries OF food Is diminishing In ratio
with the decrease of incomes. Many
people however, who want TO econo-
mise. do not know precisely how. They
have been SO long accustomed to buy
ing that they do not know how TO pro-
6uce for themselves. and so II comes
about that a dooryard which could
easily keep a cow ia grass is used to
support a Jap yardboy instead and
back yard which would run kitchen
garden or give shelter 10 a dozen egg
laying hens. IL left TO decorative but
wholly Improbable function. Mean
while milk is bought at l21s cents
quart eggs at fifty cents a dozen and
vegetables at a price nearly three hun
dred per cent greater than II charged
IN misunderstanding an outlay OF
enough In a year to support family
In a country village on the mainland.
A cow is one OF the most profitable
Investments a small family with a fair
sized grassplat can make for the $15
IL Will cost one was reported yester-
day when notted its owner $40 per
month. From eight 10 fourteen quarts
of milk day gives everybody enough
20 drink. leaves some for cream, butter
and cottage cheese some for hot cakes
and. in the sourest form. residue for
hens. store food for the animal VIII
cost about what three pints Of milk
per day costs at retail. by growing a
n N
milk Of exceeding richness can be had.
Many people do not keep hens for
fear that they viii not do well In this
climate. But experience shows that,
~ hens are cared for properly given
plenty Of green stun and fresh water,
sand and n clean roosting and nesting
place, they VIII thrive and pay. The
mortality among hens IL chiefly in
large hocks where they are subject TO
some neglect and a good deal Of con-
tagion. a dozen or fifteen hens, which
consume the contents Of the garbage
Pail and pick up bugs and insects
around the premises, save their owner
a deal OF money every month and add
to the freshness OF his table fare.
The vegetable garden ought to -four
ish in Honolulu In other hands than
those OF Chinese. All II needs IL care,
and where the garden II small, fam
lily can look after IL as well as the ORR
entails look after their large tracts.
Anybody who will take the trouble and
has a plot OF rich ground. twenty b"
forty, which the sun reaches. can raise
his own radishes, beets, cabbages
onions, cucumbers. tomatoes, lettuce,
string beans and okra-enough to sup
ply the wants OF a good-siZed family
and save from three to seven dollars "A
week. About the only crop he Will
have trouble with Is the cucumber. but
the insect which attacks the leaves
can be cleared off by using an emul-
sion Of soap and kerosene. the formula
for which can be got of the u. s. Ex-
pertinent Station. TO have absolutely
fresh vegetables IL worth while Of it.
self; TO have them and save the money
now paid Cinnamon for half stale veg
etables. Is "A triumph of economy.
There are hundreds Of city places
where all these thrifty lodges" can be
advantageously tried; though of course
the suburbs open the wider field
These are now being reached and open
ed up by the rapid transit and the
number who are seeking them as a
means Of living off the soil is crafty
ingly large.