Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-02-04
SMITHS REPORT ON
AGRICULTURAL NECESSITIES OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS STATION

About fifty acres OF land have been
cleared. and half of this area has been
plowed and narrowed. This includes
81 1-2 acres of forest land on the up.
per portion of the reservation, where
there is sufficient rainfall to make 1t
possible to carry on experiments.with.
out irrigation. This will be devoted to
horticultural plantations, and in this
way will be covered with trees again.
A water system has been provided by
the erection OF Several large tanks.
which are connected with the city wa.
ter system and operated VITA the aid
OF gasoline engine and pump. The
following buildings are in process of
erection: Residence for the special
agent in charge, office and laboratory,
one frame cottage and two grass huts
for laUorers, one stable, and one GOV
cred manure pit.
Importance Of Taro.
Paintings of taro have already been
begun, with the special object of study.
ing a disease which plays havoc with
that crop. This is a very important
matter. since the taro Is a principal
food plant Of the Islands. Every part
of the plant Is eaten at some stage of
its growth. The root is large, fleshy
and full of starch, and is exceedingly
wholesome and palatable. 1t grows in
marshy lands in the valleys. but there
are also varieties suited to upland cul.
tIvation. Probably 80 per cent of the
working population in these islands
depend on taro for their daily food.
The fungous disease above referred to
cuts down the yield to one.fourth or
one.third of the normal average. and
is all to prevalent. Within the last
decade the price OF taro has increased
500 per cent because of the losses by
this disease and the attendant deteri
Grafton in quality and yield. There
are many other fungous diseases OF
fruits and vegetables prevalent on the
islands in Hawaii which should be
studied.
Poultries and Pigs.
Some poultry experiments have also
been inaugurated. These could be
undertaken Immediately without great
expense. and 1t is hoped that they may
lead to results OF immediate practical
usefulness. Largely because of the
great number of diseases with which
barnyard fowls are afflicted in the Ha
waiian Islands the supply OF poultry
does not meet the demand. Live
I chickens sell in Honolulu markets fol
! Sl5 a dozen and eggs at from 40 to 81
cents dozen. II the station can de
| mOnstrate practical way for the eco
nomical production OF chickens ant
eggs II will add largely to the re
sources of the small farmers on the
islands.
Owing largely to the insufficient, sup
ply OF forage. pork production is yer,
expensive, the ruling price for hogs II
the Honolulu markets Jeing from /,
to II cents per pound on the noof. Tt
remedy this difficulty experiments will
various tubers and roots and with tn,
common papaia as feed for swine will
be undertaken at an early day.
As soon as possible investigation
In dairy husbandry will be undertaken
On this subject Mr.. Smith reports a!
follows:
Smith on Dairying.
Dairying and cattle feeding Is nov
being carried on on a small scale Will
some measure of success. but the sun
ply of milk and butter is insufficien
70 meet the demands OF the homr
trade. Island butter retails for G.
cents per pound, milk for IL cents
quart. and Hawaian-made cheese Il
almost unknown in the hawaiian mar
Ikets. A few of the .airies are manag
cd on a scientific bash.
There Is. however, widespread lgnor
ance OF the best combinations OF feed
and too great dependence on one.sid
ed rations both in feeding Dairy Cattl,
and in fattening animals for the sham
bles. The use and necessity of legu
minous forage plants Is not recognized
Enough by.products OF the sugar plan
tations are burned every year to feet
all the beef. pork and mutton consum
ed in the Islands.
Experiments should be conducted II
the utilization OF the waste cane ton,
in the form OF silage for feeding dair,
cattle and beef s,eers. and with tn,
whtse molasses for fattening sheen
Icattie and hogs. On some plantation!
the work horses and mules are fee
cane tops and mOlasses to good advan
taSe. The practice can with profit b,
extended to other branches of ANNA
husbandry, But it is of even create
importance that extensive eXperi
ments be carried on with forage plants
rich in protein, the clovers and beans
to supplement and fully utilize all o
the heat and fat.making energy OF the
cane.top and sorghum rations gener
ally used. The Hawaiian Islands car
J grow and fatten more than enough
/ animals to supply the home demand
| Al present considerable importations
OF cattle. beef, mutton, hogs, and porl
are made from the Mainland, Austria
liza and New Zealand. On the contrary
because OF the location of the group
Hawaii ought to be able to commant
superior market for all her surplus
dairy and meat products in the Orient
Coffee Investigations.
Plans are being made for expert
ments In horticulture, including botl
fruits and vegetables, and coffee rcul
ture. THESE will include experiments
with reference to the methods anC
times OF pruning methods of cultiva
tion. picking and marketing. as well a.
tests of varieties. To show the impor
lance of such Investigations, Mr.. Smitl
makes the following statements:
| The Hawaiian Islands market de
Ponds largely on supplies of fruit!
from the Mainland at all seasons o.
the year. Not only can enough fruit
IN sufficient variety be grown to sup
ply the local markets. but both fruit
and vegetables might be grown for ex
port. The Honolulu market Is usually
well supplied with fruits and vege