The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-04-26
BETTER FREIGHT RATES,
FOR H|LO BANANA GROWERS
Matson Navigation Company Promises Increased
transportation Facilities Honolulu Bananas
Best for Shipment

HILO. April 22.-The adjourned quar-
terly meeting of the Hilo Agricultural
Society met Saturday afternoon at r
m. in the rooms of it's President. MI
Charles Furneaux. After electing VIII
liam Ragsdale secretary of the societ.
and the transaction of regular business
Mr.. w. S. Terry read an instructive ar
ticle on The Milling and Marketing o
Coffee" DR.. Hayes also presented som,
figures on the increase in coffee i'm
portations from the islands since 1900
| President Furneaux read an exhaus
tive paper on Banana Culture" which
contained much interesting and valu.
| able information regarding various
methods of cultivation and correspond
ing success, which had come to his at
| tention.
| Growing out of the reading of Mr.
| F'urneauX's s paper, general discussion
| of the subject ensued, which brought
| forth many valuable suggestions as to
| the most successful method of plant
| ing.
DR.. Holland gave his experience of
planting in Puma. He stated that he
had found that suckers planted six to
eight inches deep developed the best
results, while those shoots planted in
shallow soil We're still unmatured
plants.
Mr.. Kuhns reported opposite results
in kaiwiki, where he was extensively
engaged in banapa and fruit culture.
Two fields of bananas planted at the
same time. one at considerable depth
and the other by turning up sufficient
surface soil to cover the roots, showed
a wide difference in results. The latter
developed a fine growth and "A much
better quality of fruit than those deep
er planted.
He had also experimental by digging
holes three or four feet deep, which he
filled up with a mulch of grass. weeds.
etc. After giving this time to decom-
pose, he planted his banana suckers in
the holes, but in every instance the
plant died. Mr.. Kuhns also advocated
shade, and believed the best results
were to be obtained in planting bananas
on virgin forsest land with the least
cultivation possible, which is the bana-
mas natural habitat.
Mr.. Andrews said he believed there
was much to be learned in the planting
and cultivation of bananas, drawing
as an analogy the disparity in methods
of cane planting in various districts.
Like cane, he believed the method of
planting bananas was peculiar to the
districts in which they were
to be grown, and suggested that the
peculiar conditions of each district as to
soil, climate and moisture be sought out ,
and considered in banana cultivation.
w. s. Terry suggested the season
most suitable to banana planting should
be also considered. He related his ex-
perience in planting taro at the Hilo
Boarding School without reference to
the time of the year and showed that
the best results We're obtained from
plants set out in certain seasons. He
thought the same held good with refer
ence to bananas.
Commission Agent r. l. Lille, who
vas present, was called upon to make
'ew remarks regarding the San Fran
cisco market. He stated that at pres
mt the San Francisco market was glut-
ed with fruit, but that Hilo bananas
were always in demand. Dealers pre-
erred the Hilo product to the Homo
ulu or the Bluefields variety
There is a marked difference between
he Hilo banana and the Honolulu ba-
lana. The skin of the latter is much
ougher and consequently bears trans
)ortation easier. The Hilo banana If