The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-11-02
PINEAPPLES
FOR HAWAII
AN OFFER OF A CANNERY IL 300
ACRES ARE PLANTED IN PINE
APPLES ABOUT HILO.

APPLES ABOUT HILO.
HILO, October 3O.-"If we can be
assured that the Hllo growers will
plant 200 or 300 acres in pineapples
within the next two or three years we
will go ahead and establish pineapple
cannery," said c. II. Bentley last Sat
drday at a meeting of the Hilo Agri-
cultural Society. Mr.. Bentley is re-
presenting the California Frui5 Can
ners' Association in the Islands and
came 20 Hilo particularly at the sug-
gestion Of r. l. Lille to Investigate the
pineapple industry with a view TO cs-
tablisning a cannery Mr.. Bentley
came to Hilo after canvassing the sit
uation IN various parts of thu Islands
for ter days. His judgment was posi-
tive that the pineapple is a crop which
will yield splendid returns 10 Hawaiian
aEricuiturists. He was present at p
meeting of the Hilo Agricultural So
ciety last Saturday, and in a talk gave
his opinion of what should he done. He
said his firm had been considering the
the pineapple question for three years,
but until Mr. Lille game to them with
details they had nothing definite to
work on. In considering the estab-
fishing of a cannery two questions
arose: What will the pineapples cost?
and how manv can we get He said
/ the larger the scale of the enterprise
the larger would be the profit; that a
ten ton daily capacity would run at
about the same expense as a thirty ton
daily output. He said that he finds
lands differ in productive capacity and
the fruit varies in quality. One thou
sand tons of pineapples must be avail
able for the first years operations.
That would mean that we must draw
from Maui, Kona and the surplus pro-
duct of Oahu which is larger than all
the other islands put together He
believed it wise to locate a main plant
centrally and then establish branch
canneries as the enterprise grew. The
cost of the plant is a small item COM
pared to expense of operation. A plant
to turn out $4,000 to $4,000 cases would
cost 10000 The chief outlay would
be for labor pines, cans and sugar.
The outlay on such a plant would be
perhaps $4,000 for the first year.
Mr.. Bentley said he hoped TO interest
the plantation people, as he did not
believe the required amount of fruit
could be btained from the small grow
ers. If the plantations would plant
pineapples in small areas not suitable
for cane they would become the chief
sources of supply.
He expressed his thanks for cour-
tesies extended to him by the Hilo
Railroad, Wilder S. S. Co. and the
gentlemen present.
c. c. Kennedy of Waiakea said there
is no doubt that "a lands ripen cane
better than other lands, and believed
they contain from one to two per cent
more saccharine than is shown in
lands beyond the Waikiki. He had no
doubt pineapples would make the same
showing as cane. Cane takes what
water it needs in "a ground and pine
apples would do likewise.
c. H. Bentley: Would the plantations
take an interest in pineapple growing?
c. c. Kennedy: No; they have their
hands full from the years end to end.
Bentley: Have you no slack time?
c. C. Kennedy: l have been here
twenty-five years and have found no
slack time on our plantation. We
have no spare time to devote to pine
apples. We will give lands at a rea-
sonable figure and will do what we can
to help the pineapple enterprise
President Furneaux said there is no
lack of land suitable for pineapple
growing. The members of the So
ciety represent 1000 acres. The land
is not the question.
George Patty said that the capital to
handle the land was the question.
In reply to a question from H. f.
Kelsey, Kaiwili grower, Mr.. Bentley
explained at length the care necessary
to be taken in handling the fruit be-
fore delivery at the cannery. The
pines should not be less than three
pounds in size.
The discussion ranged over the en-
tire subject Mr.. Bentley concluded
with the suggestion that the only way
to get started is to make ten year con-
tracts for the planting of ten, twenty
or thirty acres, delivery to begin at a
specified date. If enough would sign
to guarantee delivery of fruit his peO-
pie could have the cannery ready to re-
ceive the fruit.
From figures offered by members it
was estimated that pineapples at $40
a ton would yield from $3.50 to 1920 per
acre.-Hilo Tribune.