The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-12-13
THE FARMERS TALK SHOP,
Continued from page -

The prices for corn are higher than for
ten years and will probably remain so.
What had the price of corn to do with
the growing of cassava in Hawaii? IL
the corn price rose starch and glucose
could not probably be made from it.
Cassava then would be used. Cassava
starch more nearly approached corn
starch than any other. Cassava could
be grown with little labor. There was
plenty of soil, sunshine and air going
to waste in Hawaii which could be well
utilized for cassava growing.
| c. Koelling, the Koolau castor oil
man." stated that he was already
greatly interested in cassava growing
and that he was converting his castor
oil plantation into a cassava planta-
ton. He stated that whenever a Kona
storm came his castor beans were near
| ly ruined ana he was compelled to
change to something else not so easily
hurt by the elements. Nature seemed
against castor bean development at
| Koolau.
From very small piece of ground he
had already taken 600 pounds of cas-
sava roots. He first cleaned 100 pounds,
washed and grated them and extracted
10 per cent of starch. Another lot gave
20 per cent out of possible 26 per
cent. A sample sent to Williams, Di-
mond & Co. brought back a very IA
vorable report. comparing it to their
commercial No. 2 quality. Mr. Koell-
| ing has now planted eight acres in
cassava roots. The seed was brought
from Rice's plantation on Kauai and
cost him about $50 an acre. Planting
was done on August 20 last and the
plants have grown to an average of
about five feet.
Mr.. Smith said the roots were excel
lent in their natural state for horses
and cattle and We're also good for
mich cows. He thought the prepared
product of the cassava would sell for
about three cents a pound. He stated
that Mr.. Rice had 300 acres on Kauai
| planted in cassava for the feeding and
fattening of his horses and cattle. Mr.
Smith considered the Hawaiian vari-
| ETY. of cassava as good as any he had
ever heard of. 1t did not hurt water
| which had been used for cleaning 1T,
hogs and cattle apparently enjoying
water with the starchy taste to 1t. Mr.
| Craw said that the Tahitians were
starting a movement to grow cassava
on large scale. Mr.. Smith said Cas-
sava would grow well at 1000 feet ele-
walton.
ALEXANDER CRAW TALKS.
Mr.. Craw, being asked to address the
meeting, spoke directly concerning the
folly of people of Hawaii sending from
$4,000 to $4,000 to the coast annually
for oranges, lemons and lines. These
could just as well be raised in the is
lands. But trees once started here
must be cultivated and not left alone TO
grow and bear fruit. That was the Sc
cret OF success in growing citrus fruits.
Plant seeds of the Hawaiian oranges
ana thousands of trees would grow
from them. Then cultivate them care
fully
Mr. Smith spoke of an orange grove
at Lahaina which was flourishing and
was profitable to the owner. There were
clumps of trees also in Kona and Ha-
makua which were doing well.
JUDGE DOLE ON FRUIT
Judge Dole spoke also of orange ant
other fruit trees. He had a small plac,
In Pauoa in which orange trees wer,
growing, and although neglected t.
some extent they were doing fairl,
well. He thought the King orange O.
California suitable for the Islands. I
was sweet and aromatic.
, Secretary Higgins spoke encourag
ingly in the same matter Severa
orange clumps he had seen in Kont
) were doing very well.
CULTIVATION OF BANANAS.
paper on the cultivation of ba
nanas, by Charles Furneaux of Hilo
was read by the secretary. The papel
had originally been read before tn,
Hilo Agricultural Society. 1t contain
ed valuable data on the varietie.
which do well in and about Hilo and
gave minute directions as to their cul
tivation. Mr.. Patty, of Hilo, was asked
} to speak concerning his knowledge o
banana cultivation and said he botf
raised and shipped the fruit. Some o.
the shipments to California had beer
: financial losses to him. He hoped t,
get forty cents a bunch In future. II,
| has a hundred Cuban plants which d.
well. In fact, he spoke strongly ii
favor of the Lady Finger, Cuban anc
Chinese varieties. For shipping banana
leaves alone were not sufficient a!
wrappers and grasses should also b.
used.
AS TO COFFEE.
Mr.. Terry. of Olaa, spoke Of the cot
} fee industry. He conceded with Others
that coffee raising in an about Olas
had been somewhat of a failure. H,
had been on Louisson's coffee planta
tion in Hamakua, where 5000 bags o.
coffee were the years product, thu
largest crop in the islands to his knowl
edge. He was astounded to find II
Waimea almost as fine looking coffee
trees as on the Louisson place. At tn,
CONTINUED on Page 50