The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-11-02
FRANK ATHERTON ON
KULh SMALL FARMING
Wailuku. Maui, Oct. IS, 1904.


Editor Advertiser: I wrote you a
few weeks ago suggesting that in your
campaign favoring the small farmer it
might be wise to look into the condition
of things in Kula where small farming
has been carried on for some years, |
did not expect that you would publish
that letter 1t was written simply to
call your attention to what has been
attempted in that line for the past ten
or fifteen years in that district and to
suggest that some of the results and
present conditions be examined.
Since you request further information
on the subject | take this opportunity
to point out few things which | have
observed during the last FIVE months
that | have spent III the district.
Commenting on the crops raised you
state that you were not recommending
the raising of temperate zone products
but only tropical. Since the climate
of Kula resembles in many ways that
of sefni-temperate one, why should it
not offer a good opportunity to raise
those products which grow we'll in such
places, find ready sale here, and so
save importing such products?
Corn, potatoes, and beans certainly
grow we'll in Kula and are always in
great demand. Corn is used very large
ly as cattle feed all over the Island and
potatoes and beans find ready sale.
Such vegetables as peas and cauliflower,
which are difficult to raise on the Is
lands, thrive well in Kula and are as
fine as grown in many parts of the
States. In the fruit line the peaches
are excellent also the figs. Pigs, turkeys,
and chickens thrive well so that one
would naturally conclude that Kula
would be an ideal place for the small
farmer. Sucn il would be if the
obstacles were not so great, and it IS
the various obstacles that have to be
overcome, that it seems to me should
be plainly shown up, and not only the
most favorable conditions.
The difficulties in the way of success
are many but | will simply enumerate
few of them in order that one may
see both sides of this subject which you
seem to be promoting in such glowing
terms.
First. Distance from source of sup
plies. and market for products The
nearest good stores are from fifteen to
twenty miles distant The cost of haul
ing supplies ranges from FIVE to ten
dollars a ton The cost of hauling
lumber is fifteen dollars thousand feet,
| just about half its original cost. This
heavy expense is practically doubled for
it costs about the same to get products
| to the nearest market To ship to Homo
lulu, the cost of freight must be added,
so that to send a ton of potatoes to
| Paia or Kahului costs S. andsto Homo
| lulu with the necessary extra handling,
| besides the freight the expense is about
| $3.50. When the gross price received
| is only from SIS to $40 the margin OF
] profit is small Then take into account
rent of land and labor to raise the crop,
and the profit dwindles to a mere
| nothing.
| Second. Pests. The past few years
these have been many. To save the
young corn from being totally destroyed
by insects it is necessary to go through
the fields and sprinkle a mixture oil
-four and Paris Green on every spear
of corn Usually this is done twice
during the first north or two Think
of this labor besides the cost of the
material. The potatoes and all yege.
tables have to be treated in this same
manner Various blights also attack
these products which cause a further
loss.
Third. Climatic conditions. If The
summer is particularly dry which is the
case every few years the growth is
very much retarded and the crop is
small ard poor. On the other hand
if heavy rain sets in the soil is sc
soft and fine that the better soil is wash
| ed down into the beds of the streams
| or washoats occur here and there
through the fields, causing much dam
age and loss. 1t is impossible to dc
any irrigating as there are no stream:
! excent FOR few hours after {
in. All the water used has tc
1t from the roofs of houses anC
II cement cisterns, tn,
9...s zeal which IS another item
in expenS. = rs to be taken intC
consideration. is practically inpos