The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-03-28
A POTATO
VENTURE
Sedswick Is Home
From Trip to
Maui.

\ potato tAlei ImtNl ON the iAiEfFl
scale ever attempted In the Territory
vas inaugurated last week by Prof r.
+. SedgWIck. OF the United states Ex-
pertinent station, at Kula, Island OF
Maui Mr. SedgwiCk returned Sunday
from Maui. well satisfied with the in
ital results Of his experiment. In years
gone by Maui was the great potato
producing island Of the group, and eX-
ported large quantities of the tuber to
California. Though there is still a con-
siderable amount of potatoes produced
there, cultivation is on a far smaller
scale than before. Hawaiians were
formerly the largest potato farmers,
but according to Prof. Sedgwick. the
industry is now given over chiefly to
japanese and Portuguese, the natives
having moved away from the farming
district
The Maui potato growers gave a
warm welcome to the representative Of
the Agricultural Station, and assisted
him in every way possible in his ex-
periments. They donated the required
ground, and many Of them are conduct
ing tests on their own account, the seed
potatoes being furnished for the pur-
pose by Mr.. Sedgwick.
The chief obstacle to the successful
cultivation of the potato on Maui is the
blight, "A fungus disease, which materi-
ally shortens the crop. Another fault
is the desire of the farmers to raise
three crops year. though in the opin-
ion of Mr.. Sedgwick 1t requires six
months for the tuber to fully mature.
The picking OF the crop before it Is
ready Injuries the availability of the
potato for market, as the four months
oil 1aat
which has been allowed the full six
months to mature.
The experiments started will proba-
bly, result in the discovery of a remedy
for the blight. and in ascertaining the
potato best adapted TO the Hawaiian
climate. FOrty-fiVe different varieties
were planted, and in every conceivable
way. Half potatoes third potatoes and
whole potatoes were planted OF each
variety; they were put in shallow earth
and far under ground; in rows close to
each other and in rows far apart in
good land and just the average sort Of
earth. Besides this different varieties
We're distributed and separate expert
ments will be made by the farmers on
their own account The following is
a list Of varieties Of potatoes being
used ia the experiment: The Northern
Beauty, Gem of Aroostock, Early Har-
vest. Early Northcr, New Queen, The
Minister. Carman No !, Green Noun
tain, Beauty of Hebron, Pearl of Sa-
voy, Black Chrsty White Elephant,
Dakota Red, Early Rose, Early For
tune. Early Six Weeks, I. y. l.. Potato,
Pride of the South, the June, Acme,
Bovee, Brecks Chance, Burpee's Extra
EARLY, Cambridge Russell, Early Ohio,
81 igl.f -
Rose, Hammond's Wonderful, Irish
Cobbler Long Keeper, Carman No 3,
Mills Banner, Mills Prize, Maule's
Thoroughbred, Manuns Enormous,
Motifs Peach, Prolific Rose, Rural New
Yorker No. >, Sir Walter Raleigh, Won
derful Clay Rose, Stevens, Steuben,
Twentieth Century and Uncle Sam.
Part of the plants were sprayed with
the Bordeaux mixture, which is thought
to be a remedy for the blight, and the
result of the experiment will be care
fully watched, to see if it wards off
the fungus.
From these experiments it is expect
ed to learn what potato will best stand
the blight, what the best method of
planting is, the soils best adapted to
the culture, and the best methods of
planting.
Mr.. Sedgwick will probably return
to Maui within a short time to watch
the results of the experiment. He re-
ported yesterday that the small far
mers on Maui are doing WELL and their
vegetables and fruits are in fine shape.
Violets are blooming in profusion and
though none of the vegetables are
raised for marketing except on Maui,
the farmers are well satisfied with the
results they are obtaining.