The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-26
FORESTER
FOR MARCH
Tobacco Raising for
Hawaii Mel Is
Favored.

The March number of the Hawaiian
Forester and Agriculturist contain.
much of interest. Among other thing:
published in the number just published
are articles on Tobacco Experiments,
"U. s. Forester Halls Report on Ha-
waiian Forests" Introduction of The
Brewer Blackbird," Forester Hosmer'
Trip to Hawaii" Report Supt. For
estry to Board of Ayr. and Forestry
planting Seasons at Wahiawa, Oahu,
Florida and the Cuban Treaty. "Cul-
tivation of Tobacco"
NEED OF MORE BIRDS.
In the Forester is published an inter
esting letter from Byron O.. Clark fav-
oring the introduction of more birds
in the islands. He recommends that the
Brewer B1ackbird be brought in and
says that it might destroy the leaf-hop-
per and other insects.
TOBACCO RAISING.
The Forester comments as follows on
the prospects for the successful cultiva-
ton of tobacco in Hawaii:
The experiments conducted by the u.
S. Experimental Station in Hamakua
are in part the result of the action of
the last Legislature in appropriating
funds to aid the Station in its expert
ments and diversified products. We
have every reason to believe, that I'M
der the intelligent superintendent of
Director Jared G. Smith and his. As
sistant, L. E. Confer, the latter having
this special experiment under his inn
mediate charge, it will be fully demon
strated within the next year that first
class grade of tobacco can be success
fully grown and prepared in these IS
lands. There IS, however, always the
possibility that the particular locality
for the present experiment may not be
adapted to tobacco culture, or it may
be- perhaps, that its somewhat close
proximity to the sea may diminish to
a more or less extent the quality or
grade of the tobacco raised there. This
remains to be seen, however, and in any
case we may rest assured that Mr.
Smith will surely avail himself of the
which will be presented to
him lii the present experiment, and If
need be will make further experiments
at later period in other sections of the
islands. In the meantime, our Agricul-
turlsts should not leave the matter of
entirely the u. S. Expert
ment Station.
As there is no doubt but that soil and
climate have much to do with the sue
cessful raising of good tobacco, it is
advisable that experiments should not
be confined to one district alone, but
that others be inaugurated by some of
our Agriculturists and that these ex-
per1meT1ts receive closest attention, so
that failure in securing the necessary
quality of leaf NAV be obviated. There
are interior valleys supplying good
alluvial soil which might be tried on
many of the islands, and if the proper
seed is selected, the planting out, cul-
tiyation and curing is properly attended
to, there IS every reason to believe that
the experiments will be successful. 1t
has been alleged that parts of the soil
of Cuba were alone suited to the produc-
ton OF Havana tobacco, but with the ex-
ception of few localities which produce
a particular favor, this assertion is dis
proved, for. with good choice of seed,
the proper soil and climate, together
with intelligent cultivation and curing of
the Leaf equally good tobacco is now
being produced In other tropical coun-
tries. We understand that the u. s.
Experimental Station has an abundant
supply OF the Sumatra and Havana
varieties of seed and parties wishing to
experiment might get a limited quaint
ty from the Director, by making proper
application to him. It does not take
much seed to start the nursery as it is
very minute-one ounce containing Sz5.-
600 seeds-and a tablespoonful should
produce at least 10000 plants. If prop
erly handled a tablespoonful of seed will
sow a bed in the nursery 20 feet long
and 4 feet wide, from which the plants
are afterwards transplanted Let some
of our larger land owners cooperate
with the Agriculturists, undertake intel
hgent experiments on small scale and
demonstrate that the growth and prepar-
alton of superior grade of tobacco can
be carried on advantageously in many
sections of these islands We must,
however. caution Our Agriculturists that
haphazard experiments, which only re-
suit in failure, will tend later on to
discourage others from branching out in
what may ultimately become new in
dustry for HawaI. 1t will never do for
us to give I'D until not only one, but
many experiments, conducted intelli-
gently in various section of the islands,
have fully demonstrated whether or not
we can secure the proper grade of to-
bacco and in such quantities that it NAV
become a factor in home consumption
as we'll as IN our export trade We wish
every success to the first experiment of
the u. s. Experimental Station.