New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-04
HAWAIIAN RICE FIELDS.
HOW GRAIN rs GROWN.
Chinese MonopoLae the Industry
Use Water Buffalo.

The announcement that Hawaii is about to throw
open its half z million Of unoccupied public
lands settlers from the United States call at
rention TO the agricultural os the island
Almost anything will grow there Sugas is the
staple. Rice growing has only recently been made
profitable but the methods used OF the crudest
and this branch, in all others, except sugar,
perhaps. there is plenty of room for the introduc-
ton OF up 10 date scientific methods. which would
produce splendid results, it is thought
Two features OF rice growing practised in
the Hawaiian Islands most interesting to tour
lists One is the water buffalo, or carabao, which
drass rude ploughs through the soggy or half
flooded fields The other is the Chinese growers
themselves and the remarkable degree Of patience
industry and economy which they display in the
tedious work.
fields they back to the Land of the Dragon
for the water buffalo. An uger beast Of burden
could hardly be imagined. but when trained there
IS none more faithful The Chinese put yokes
across the buffaloes' necks and fasten them TO
rude homemade ploughs. Then they are set aoritt,
81 ouch a use Of the may be permitted, in the
haif-hooded field. The animal is belly deep in the
mud most of the time. and plods back and FORTH
keeping straight course across the field with mar
yellous accuracy
NJ n,b,.a man could work as the Chinese do.
Fourteen and fifteen hours q day, and the most
tires5rne sort of labor. is their portion They are
content to live three meagre meals OF rice, a
never changing diet. the very monotony of whicn
u a
harvested auc an idea of profit in the business
as practised by these thrifty yellow men can be
gathered when 1t is stated that they expect TO pay
All expenses for a year from the proceeds OF the
FIRST crop thus leaving the second crop for proht
The Chinese have made the rice crops second
,r,y 70 sugar in the islands, producing annually
about 100000 pounds, considerable part OF winch
&c consumed locally. The rice fields which are
mainly in regions easily accessible &c tourists form
never failing source of interest TO them from their
sO,- he q
15anapepe end HanaIei valleys. which are famed
she world over for their superb beauty. owe con-
siderable share of this 10 the many rice fields with
which they are dotted. Every available foot OF
,vro,nd on the islands is used in growing this
eresl and as TWO crops year are harvested. and
planting is being done at all times, nearly ali
stares OF growth of the crop can frequently be
60, in one region. The cultivation OF rice is
.o,ened principally 10 the islands Of Oahu ana
IZausi where the Chinese monopoiize It,
Previous TO 1855 several attempts had been made
"a Introduce the cultivation of rice. but without
s Tn fine latter year the Hawaiian Agrfcult-
-aI society succeeded in purchasing a tract OF
land IN Nuuanu Valley. and in March, lsos, APP
,,o,uted H Hoistein manager and curator OF inc
esS.atasshroent quantity of paddy-rice with the
III, on-.hat the society had procured from the
g9ast Indies. was planted in an old taro patch on
H., on September u the rice was harvested
e there was no rice mill on the Islands the paddy
v-ae taken TO -four mill In Honolulu ana prepared
here but the rice grains we're so small anu DARK
=, color that they unmarketable In 1889 the
= 20 =, ~ success was experienced. In 1860 four
a ~ rice from South Carolina was procured.
I~ov This forty-fouT pounds OF good seed rice was
,,.,ed AT the end of the first harvest This was
ss.rshu.ed 10 whoever wanted il. -Four pounds Of
- - nlsnte6 in an old patch of about one
~.., =. an acre and the yield was Lls3 pounds Of
sadv of large and fun grains This created great
steu,ent Everybody wanted TO 90 into rice
.,,,f,yation at once an easy and quick way OF