The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-09-23

and Agriculturist says:
In the Governors report for 1908 the
| following statement IS made: Rice is
| inevitably diminishing product, both
| from the competition of the new nee
fields of Texas and Louisiana and the
| diminishing numbers of Chinese IN the
1 Territory" For the first time, probably,
| since rice-growing was started IN the
| Hawaiian Islands, rice this year d1sap-
pears from the list of exports. Owing
| to lack of labor the rice planters are IN
| bad way and imported rice now rules
the local market AS the Hawaiian rice
fields are the most productive OF any
in the Union, other things beng eq1al
they ought at least to supply the local
demand. This demand Is large, as rice
| is the chief food of the thousands OF
| Asiatic 1aborers on the sugar plarta-
tons. According to the census OF 1900
| Hawaii was third in production OF rice
among all the States and Territories.
| There were in Hawaii in 1899 5o4 rice
| farms with an area of oI3o acres, which
| produced 33,442, 400 pounds OF rice,
valued at SI,s62,o5I. The acreage was
&c per cent the production II.S per
cent, and the value 1913 per cent OF the
| total percentages for the whole country.
] The average number of acres per farm
was I8I, the average production per
acre 5000 pounds, and the average
value per acre $I7foo Louisiana, the
leader in rice production. for the same
wear had an average production of 1904
pounds. with an average value of crop
per acre of S2o.o5 South Carolina S
average yield per acre was 6oo.o pounds,
and average value per acre $500. Lands
suitable for rice cultivation are limited
in area, yet have never been fully occu-
pied where they do exist. Possibly rice
growing MIGHT be restored here to its
former condition of profit if the labor
saving methods of the Southern States
were applied.
Fruits.-Slowly but surely the fruit
industry of Hawaii is making advances.
Bananas, which few years ago consti-
tuted about the sole fruit export, are
now being cultivated, packed and ship
ped to San Francisco with more scien-
tihc method in each of those respects
than ever before. AT Hilo, the chief port
of the Island of Hawaii, especially is
the industry assuming goodly proper
tons. A few years ago Hilo did no
direct exporting of the fruit, but this
year it ships from 5000 to 10000 punches
of bananas by direct steamer to San
Francisco every month. Reports from
there are that the Hilo bananas are the
best ever received in San Francisco.
That the market is good for a greatly
increased supply may be gathered from
the fact that SS,54I,I56 worth of bananas
was imported TO the mainland for the
year Ioo2-3, of which quantity the pro-
portional consumption of the western
division of the country is estimated at
$457,o35 in value As Hawaii shipped
bananas TO the value of but S77,749 for
the year ending June 80, 1904. it will be
seen that there is large margin for ex-
pansion of the industry.
Pineapples, both raw and preserved,
are being exported in steadily increasing
quantity. The cultivation and canning
of this fruit is largely in the hands of
Incorporated companies, Oriental labor
being the chief reliance. Pineapples to
the value of S44,o52 were shipped hence
for the year ending June 80, 1904 The
States for Ioo2-Ioo3 were estimated at a
value OF $93z,368 Hawaiian pines are
of very fine quality. Successful expert
ments having been made of shipping the
fresh article as far east as New York,
the only limitations to the pineapple in
dustry are those of land and labor
Oranges from time without date have
grown wild on the different islands,
large quantities being marketed in
Honolulu. Some of the fruit is we'll
favored and there is no doubt that with
cultivation a profitable industry might be
built up in oranges. Lines thrive but
have never been raised in quantity ap-
preaching the local demand.
Various Articles.-Coffee was export
ed the past year to the value of SI6o,I72,
besides which there was a large amount
of Hawaiian coffee consumed at home.
Our coffee has a flavor second to none,
but by reason of the small amount ex-
ported, it has yet to be classed in the
worlds market. A great expansion of
coffee raising few years ago ended IN
almost general failure, owing chiefly TO
sSad selection of location. Hawaii. it
must be remembered, has variations of
climate within its own confines, owing
to the influence of mountains and pre-
vailing winds, which are probably found
in but few other countries within a. cor
responding area. Several coffee planters
fortunate enough to have secured fit
locations for the plant are doing we'll.
They are gradually working up a strong
demand for the article in mainland
centers by intelligent efforts at placing
their crops, and more particularly by
shipping only the higher grades.
a little zeal on the part of the Wash
ington authorities-not to mention the
patriotic regard they may be presumed
TO have for this integral part of the
Union-would bring about the exclu-
sive consumption OF American coffee by
the army and navy. This, together with
a protective tariff on the foreign article,
would tend materially to increase the
production in this Territory as well as
in the Philippines and Porto Rico-for
the ''insular possessions" should have
their prosperity as sedulously promoted
by national statesmen as that OF the
States and Territories The good fame
of the common flag over all is involved.
Fiber material already casually men
toned gives great promise for a lucra-
tive new industry. Appearing for the
first time in the list of exports-except-
ing from the long extinct trade in DI1lu