The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-12-15
CAN GROW
POTATOES
haWaii's Part in
Agricultural
Work.

In the annual report OF the secretary
of Agriculture James f. Wilson, to
Congress, copies of which have been
received in the city, considerable at
tention is paid to the work of the
experiment station here The report
refers to the success which the De-
partment has had in dealing with po-
tato, rot md diseases of corn, saying
that all the pests can be successfully
combated. The secretary says also
that collection is being made of for
age grasses and that the tobacco ex-
periments promise to be successful.
The following is the extract from Sec
rotary Wilson's report:
The work of the Hawaiian Agricul-
tural Experiment Station has been
continued along the various lines of
investigation previously described.
Additional portions of the station land
have been brought under cultivation,
and additions have been made to build
ings, fences, irrigation plant, etc, as
occasion required and funds permit
ted. a special effort is being made
to build up working library, and the
special agent in charge has contrib
uted his private collection as a nucle-
us for a station library. The necessi-
ty for well-equipped economic libra
ry is peculiarly felt in a region as
isolated from library facilities as is
this station.
During the past year a number of
bulletins have been issued giving the
results of Investigations which have
thus far been carried on. The expert
ments begun in the previous year on
taro rot and potato rot have been con-
! tinued on an enlarged scale, and the
results already obtained suggest the
practicability of combating these dis
eases. One of the most destructive
diseases of the taro may be prevented
by proper attention to the irrigatio
water and TO the application of suit
able fertilizers. The potato expert
ments have been continued, and it is
found that one form of rot may &c
successfully combated by the thorough
use of Bordeaux mixture, and prelim-
mary experiments seem to indicate
that second disease, which is due
to soil fungus, may be prevented tc
very great extent by soaking the
seed tubers in solution of formalir
and planting them in uninfested soils
These experiments are to be contn.
ued for number of years in the hop+
that the results obtained in the pre-.
lminary investigations will be con.
firmed.
Formerly, the growing of corn wa.
an important industry in Hawaii, blu
through careless methods OF cultiva
ton and the attacks of insects tn,
growing of this crop has become al
uncertain industry. Investigations
have been begun by the station il
which the effect of deeper blowing
/. the use of fertilizers, thorough cultiva
ton, and the Introduction of new vari
cites are tested. The preliminary re
suits thus far obtained have given ex
cellent results and two varieties whicl
have been in oduced-Ieaming an,
Boone County White-seem to indicate
that these varieties are particular,
adapted to cultivation in Hawaii an,
are apparently more satisfactory thai
the so-called native varieties.
y collection is being made of til
grasses and forage plants of the isl
ands, and it is hoped that bulletin
may soon be issued concerning them
which may contain notes on the nat
i've and introduced species, togethe
with suggestions relative TO their val
lie for different purposes.
The Investigations on injurious in
sects have been continued, and a Sc
rious outbreak of a mealy bug on ALI
gator pears was prevented by promp
action.
The station Is devoting considerable,
attention to the subject of fiber plants
and a bulletin has been issued on tn,
sisal hemp in Hawaii and investiga
tions are being carried on with Mani
la hemp and other fiber-producine
plants.
Experiments with tobacco, especial,
with Sumatra leaf tobacco, grown IL
partial shade furnished by light cloth
have been apparently very successful
and will be continued upon n larger
scale. II is believed that there are 6
number OF localities where Sumatra
tobacco can be grown under shade al
decided profit.
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