The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-05-17
TOBACCO
GROWING
PROFITABLE

Tobacco growing as a profitable in
dustry for the small farmer in Hawaii
is advocated by F. E. Confer of the
Agricultural Department, who is now
on an investigating tour of the Islands.
Confer has been in Waimea and Ha-
makua districts studying soil and con-
ditions for two weeks or more, getting
information also for the Land Depart
ment.
Here is what he tells the Hilo Trib-
une of the result of his tour:
81 have taken soil samples from
many places in Waimea and Hamakua
for analysis at the Station with special
reference to their suitability for the
growth of tobacco. 1 am satisfied that
the mechanical properties of the soil
examined are good for tobacco. 1t re-
mains to be seen what the chemical
properties indicate. If tobacco can be
grown successfully here a great field
will be opened up, and the districts of
Waimea and Hamakua will advance in
wealth and population. Tobacco yields
from 1000 to 1,500 pounds to the acre,
10 to so per cent of which may be first
quality, which sells at from $2.25 to
81. 90 per pound. The balance sells at
from Is cents to $500 per pound. To-
bacco should be planted in January or
February, but if our soil analysis is
satisfactory in results We will probably
experiment with one acre in Hamakua
this year. We already have the seed
and the experiment now depends only
upon the results shown by the soil
analysis.
"The coffee industry is in deplora-
BILE state Many of the homesteaders
who were formerly raising coffee have
left their farms to seek work on the
sugar plantations l have seen nearly
all the coffee estates in Hamakua, and
nothing is being done to speak of on
any of them except the Louisson
estate, where they are still planting
trees. Here l went through ten differ
ent fields and found coffee growing
luxuriantly. The future of coffee de-
ponds on the price. Yes, If a four
cent bounty were given to coffee, the
districts out Hamakua way would set
tie up and be very prosperous. As it is
now, homesteaderS cannot make a
living.
81 am not an advocate of small farm
ing which means the raising of cab
page anu IOu1dJOSS IOT CIG CuIWOI
and potatoes for fungi and fruit trees
to be ravaged by scale. But staple
export products, such as coffee, tobac-.
co, castor beans, etc, which grow
above the sugar belt, are what we
must depend upon to increase our
prosperity
Mr.. Confer is preparing bulletin on
vanilla which will soon be issued. He
said: Both vanilla and cocoa will
thrive in moist, hot, sheltered places.
Cocoa needs good soil and good drain
age, while vanilla will grow amongst
rocks where there is an accumulation
of decayed vegetable matter Vanilla
is generally raised in an open forest,
one-third or one-half shade, and bears
a full crop three years after planting.
If vines four and a half to FIVE feet are
planted yield may be secured within
eighteen months / recently visited
Edwards plantation in Kona, where l
saw vanilla vines growing splendidly.
Mr.. Edwards thoroughly understands
the planting and management of this,
crop"
Mr.. Confer, while in Hilo, visited
Mountain View and the surrounding
homesteads. He is here for the first
time and looks upon the Island Of
Hawaii as the most resourceful part Of
the group.