The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-10-02
MAY CHARGE
FOR PLANTS
Free Distribution
Will Begin
Today.

lrSt VI tHe year. At tne meeting OF the
Board of Agriculture yesterday IL was
decided to renew the free distribution
of plants at the government nursery
but, If the result for the next three
months is the same as II has been. dur
ing the past year and more. the gov
eminent will very likely make a charge
for everything which has previously
been given away at the nursery, or else
stop the practice entirely. The decision
is due to a report that palms in some
instances are taken away by the hun
dred and a few months later, when
they have attained u little growth. are
sold for fifty cents apiece
Secretary Cooper reported to the
board that he was ready to resume the
free distribution of plants at the nur-
sery, the fumigation house having been
made ready for use. He said that he
had prepared blanks requiring each APP
plicant for plants, to promise to make
are put, and to furnish other data for
the use of the Board
Mr.. Dole inquired why the plants
should be given away without charge,
and questioned the wisdom of doing
this. j. +. Brown stated that 1t was
his opinion that things obtained gratis
which something had been paid. Mr..
Carter said that the distribution seem
ed to be doing some good and he ques-
toned the wisdom of making a change.
Mr.. Dole said that the government was
at considerable expense in propagating
the plants, and he saw no reason why
ly.
President Thurston said he also had
doubts as to the wisdom of giving
away plants. AS Minister of the In
terror, he had to contend with the
grievances of nursery men, who said
that they had been driven out of bust
free of charge, the plants from which
they made their living. He had been
told also that it was an injustice to
the nurserymen to give away palms
and ferns. He told of the efforts of
Senator Baldwin on Maui In assisting
in the reforestation of that island. Mr.
Baldwin annually planted thousands Of
trees, started in his nursery. Recently
he had found out how much 1t cost to
propagate the young trees, and now
charged any one who wanted the
young plants three cents apiece, the
actual cost price. Mr.. Thurston sug-
gested the adoption of such a course IN
the government nursery. Mr.. Cooper
said he believed that the free distrbu-
ton should be continued. 1t was UNI
dertaken more with the idea of beauti-
flying the islands than anything else.
Besides it was impossible to obtain
from the nurserymen, different varl-
cites of plants such as could be had at
the government nursery. Mr. Carter
suggested, that it was a question as to
1t was business in which pri-
vate individuals should be, in Hawaii.
d. l.. Van Dine of the United States
Station said he knew of no
other state that gave plants away as |
Is done here. The United States used |
all the trees and plants it raised. in I
government parks.
Mr. Thurston said that he had talk
ID with Mr.. Glffard in regard to the
practice in England, and had been told I
hat the British government bought all
he plants 1t used from private nursery
men. He rather favored Mr.. Dole's
dea of charging sufficient for the
plants to pay the actual expense OF
propagation. The general taxpayer
hould not be called upon to pay for
he beautifying of one mans grounds.
Ir. Austin, who is in charge of the
iursery. had told him of some people
shO got young palms, kept them
while, and then sold them for fifty
ents apiece. The discussion became
eneral, the opinion being that the free
lstributlon of plants had not been al
ogether success in the past. 1t was
ecided finally to begin the free dis {
ribution again, and by the end of a
ear report upon the workings of the
ystem would show whether IL was best l
, continue. Mr.. Cooper was instructed
, keep a close watch upon the applica-
ons, Mr., Austin being left with dis e
retion as to the distribution, G
Mr. Cooper presented sample re-
Iest from Walter McBryde for six
oxen eucalyptus trees and other r
ants, Mr., Carter was rather opposed a