The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-02-12
VALUABLE
BULLETIN
Mr.. Higgins Writes on
Citrus Fruits in
Hawaii.

Citrus Fruits in Hawaii, by ]. E.
| Higgins, Horticulturist, Hawaii Agri>
cultural Experiment Station" is the
title of Bulletin No. 9 of the local sta
ton series, lately issued from the Gov
eminent printing office, Washington.
The paper was forwarded to the Office
of Experiment Stations, Department of
Agriculture, by Jared G. Smith, special
agent in charge of the station here.
First of all Mr.. Higgins treats of the
orange, giving an elaborate thesis on
the cultivation and preparing for mar
ket of that fruit. The bulletin should
going into the growing of oranges. Il
ought to be placed in the hands of all
. in the Territory who can make good
use of it.
A few pages of the pamphlet are de-
voted to the lime and the pomelo,
grapefruit and shaddock-the last
three, from the standpoint of the bot
anist, being, it is explained, simply
different names applied to the same
species, Citrus decumana. though
"horticulturalIy some distinctions may
be made
There are three full-page plates in
the bulletin and seven text figures, il
Illustrating the instructions to the Gull
tivator
Following is the Introduction of Mr..
Higgins to his essay:
Citrus fruits were introduced into
Hawaii more than a century ago. In
the record of Vancouver's voyages it
is recorded that in the year 1892 thai
explorer gave to one of the Hawaiian
chiefs in kona some vine and orange
plants besides other valuable plants
and seeds. A few days later some
orange and lemon plants that We're i'll
a nourishing state were landed on the
island of Niihau. These oranges Were
probably from Tahitian seed, since
Vancouver sailed from Tahiti to these
islands and records having received
large supplies from the natives before
his departure. Even earlier attempts
at the introduction of the orange ard
the lime are reported, but it is diff
cult to say which of the efforts was
first successful. Some of the oldest
orange trees in the islands are said 20
have been in fourishing condition
a rev years ago at the residence Of
the late Thomas Brown, Esq, on Ka-
uai.
"Oranges, lemons, lines and porelos
have all found a congenial home in
Hawaii. Indeed, the orange is some
times thought of by the casual OBJ
server as being indigenous. SO emf
nently suitable have the soil and eli
mate proved to be.
When properly cared for and fer
tilted some of the native orange trees
produce fruits unexcelled in point OF
flavor and juiciness, bearing little re-
semblance to the very indifferent spec
linens often found in the markets,
which have been picked green, dump
ed into casks without curing, and sent
into the market.
These facts are in striking contrast
with the statistics. showing that be-
tween $4,000 and SEQ. 900 worth of cit
rus fruits were imported into Homo
lulu alone in the year ended January
q, 1905. Considerab BILE quantities have
also arrived at the ports of Hilo and
Mahukona direct from San Francisco.
These circumstances have seemed to
make it desirable to give a. statement
of common practices in citrus culture,
with special reference to their appli-
cation to Hawaiian conditions"