The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-01-20
CLARK ON
FARMING
Views of the Expert
of the MahiaWa
Colony.

tory of HAWAII
| Sir: In complying with your request
| for a report on the agricultural
development and conditions of Hawaii,
I shall of necessity confne myself to
the island of Oahu when speaking Of
| specific results. as all my experience
| during my seven years residence in the
islands has been from sea level 10 1900
feet elevation on this island. The mat
ter of each 1000 feet of elevation has
greater influence on climatic adapta-
bility for various crops than is usually
believed by those without actual ex-
perfence, and is an unanswerable ar
gument for the conducting of expert
upper line of possible agricultural
development We have on these islands
the widest range for diversified plant
ing of any portion of the United States,
and the possibilities of our develop
ment along that line are not appreci-
ated by our people. We not only have
diversity of conditions produced by the
different attitudes. ranging from sea
level with it's complete tropical condl-
tons to the high mountain plains with
winter SHOWS, but we have also every
climate from the arid dryness of Cali
fornia to that of 200 inches rainfall per
annum. 1t would seem that these is
lands had been created that man
should enjoy the manifold products of
all climates and all countries. Yet
scarcely anything has been done to
open up and develop our wonderful re-
sources except in the production of
sugar, which is exported to the main
land in a raw state-to be used large
Iy in preserving fruits many of which
can be grown here. We have besides
a long list of varieties not grown else
where in the United States and for
which there is an unlimited demand.
We can never become really great
state until we do more to make posi-
BILE a citizen class of residents engaged
in producing the principal portion OF
their own food and able to convert the
surplus into the most valuable mar
ketable form; and this surplus should
be greater per acre than in any other
state. Until we approach this condi-
ton We shall have no agriculture
worth comparing with other portions
of the United States, for we are not
making proper use of our opportun-
tiles. 1t should be easier to produce
800 from an acre of average land in
Hawaii than SO from the average farm [
east of the Mississippi river; not that
our soil is superior to theirs. but sole
" because of climatic conditions 1t
was q common saying in Southern
California that climate was sold, not !
land Although this originated in the
jocular mood of a real estate agent,
there never has been a truer statement
made. What would California De with
the climate of Maine: or Hawaii with
that of Minnesota? Our climate for
production: our geographical position
as a vantage point for distribution, are
our great resources. Why not make
use of the talents that have been
given US?
There was a time when Hawaii sup
Piled California with flour: also pota-
toes and other vegetables But now
California produces her own and sends
part of the surplus here. We should
produce enough vegetables for our own
use and have a surplus to send to Cali
fornia during the winter months when
she does not grow many kinds suffi-
cient for her needs. Insect pests have
been, and now are, the great hind
rance to producing many crops These
pests have all been introduced. and
in time will be brought under control
as they are in other countries.
BY persistent effort we have demon
strated at Wahiawa that all the lead
ing vegetables of the finest quality can
be produced if the insect enemies can
be kept under control; and We can say
from the past years experience that
we believe we can successfully cope
with many of these pests. We have
found aphids one of the worst enemies
to fodder crops, such as corn, sorg-
hum, COW peas. etc, but by selecting
the time of planting we have been able
to get crops at certain seasons of the
year. Sweet potatoes grow well at all
and are not seriously inter
fered with by the pests. They are of
fine quality for table use and good food
for stock. An experimental crop Of
Bayo beans (the frijole of the Mexican)
was a decided success the past winter.
They ripen in May and June and are
superior to the imported at that sea-
son, being much fresher than the old
crop harvested the previous summer
in California. This crop should be
made profitable here. as fresh stock {
for June delivery is of considerable i
value for ship supplies. This bean IS
also used very extensively by the Japs ]
N place of kinds imported from Japan. {
Thousands of bags of this crop can be
marketed at the California price plus {
freight from the coast, so it is n very
promising crop for the small farmer. {
Large quantities of these beans could |
be used by the army and navy. TO g
doubt, if a supply could be depended /
upon. I shall plant of the small white 5
navy bean the coming winter. expert 7
mentally and more extensively laser i
f there is a prospect of a market, but i
frao II cAnfass I TING Z