The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-02-09

only. The possibilities ~ an In.
tensive, diversified agriculture are un.
limited. ! base this belief on Ave
years trained observation and actual
experiment In the Islands.
The subject your secretary has as.
signed me. though 'small' ss far ~
farms 20, l. Of such infinite diversity,
I am almost at loss where 20 begin.
However, my first thought naturally
Ia. what il small fhrmi And in this
rambling talk, shall consider the
back yard Of = fifty.foot town lot, an
acre or one hundred acres, agricultur.
ally applied, a small farm 30 long as
one dominant feature prevails, and
which IL seems 20 me is an important
factor in our plea for and considera-
tion Of the small farm in Hawaii
namely. that such lands be owned and
occupied by those who cultivate them,
so that the cultivator g interests may
be eentered in the permanent up
building of the land, the community
and the state--in word. to establish
homes in the fullest sense of that
sacred term, upon the foundations of
which rests all that is best for our be-
loved Hawaii. This, and more di-
versifed agriculture than that which
has heretofore prevailed in these
Islands. are the key notes that ring
through the best thoughts that have
been expressed for Hawaii s future.
The small farm, | take it, may be
devoted to a single crop or to divers
ity of crops; to dairying alone; to the
raising of single breed of livestock,
or to combination of all these which
we may term mixed farming, 30 long
as the owners interests are centered
directly in the farm and he cooperates
with his employees for their better
ment, they being his in kind, and they
of ambition to become independent
farmers in time, and he helpful to-
wards that end, it seems to me, the
spirit of the small farm is fulfilled al
most regardless of the area under con-
sideration.
am deeply in sympathy with the
thoughts expressed in two recent pa
pers delivered before Honolulu audi
ences Jared Smith in one of these
says: "Men are worth more than
acres. Rich lands do not of
themselves make country rich
The possession of extensive
areas of land by state is of less i'm
portance than that the land, whether
rich or poor, should be well popu-
lated This. it seems to me, is espe-
eially applicable to Hawaii, a land so
exceptionally favored for the domiciie
of man.
In his admirable address upon Pater-
nalism in Agriculture, Mr.. Bryant has
pointed out score of dangers to
which our present agricultural staple
is perennially exposed (and which l
would commend for second reading).
Likewise have other able, impartial
thinkers reminded us why the "small
farm" should be encouraged in this
commonwealth.
1t shall be my purpose to consider
how the small farm may be estab-
ished and maintained. Two extreme
views seem to prevail in regard to the
email farm in Hawaii, the one pessi-
mistic, believing that nothing but the
great plantation can be made to pay
here, the other overly optimistic, or at
least making light of the obstacles in
the way of successful, many times
diversified agriculture conducted by
the small farmer.
4 1t seems to me that the truth lies
\ midway between these views, and that
few have already grasped the situa-
tibn and are making the most of 1t.
have great respect for and unlim.
tied confidence in the final outcome of
the splendid agricultural struggle un'
dertaken by such men as the Louisson
Brothers of Hamakua, Byron Clark of
Wahiawa, and number of like men
who have remained undaunted through
years of Encouragement. 1t seems to
me they are pointing the way to better
eouraging others to enter similar lines
of endeavor. These men, even in theii
comparatively extensive operations
must be classed as ''small farmers
since they fulfill the all.important
mission of combined cultivator anC
owner of the lands they control. They
oversee, manage and make these farms
their homes; their whole interests are
eentered there. 1t is to their interest
permanently to improve their lands, to
uplift their employees who are their as.
sociates, and to upbuild the community
rather than drag it down. Such men
will foster every civic Improvement
locally as well as at a distance. He is
able, he is on the spot, he knows the
reason why, which the stockholders OF
our large corporations can not know
4 - PetiHin ~. seemingly may hul ut Z,
Il their interests to know. However, We
already note change for the better
even in the largest landed interests, to
p~me it is hopeful sign of the times
the encouraging of n desirable class OF
Immigrants to settle upon the planta
tion lands among elevating environ
ments, to establish small farms, an,
1 profitable ones upon the even limite,
areas the plantations have wisely seel
! tit to provide for them. For proc
look npon the once barren slopes o
Punchbowl r
However, it is not for these whor
A we have suggestions to offer, they ar
trained to hard work, long hours an
to till the soil, from youth up.
d The small farmer have in mind
the man of moderate, sometimes YER
moderate, means, perhaps, but with
good store of intelligence and perst
verance; agriculturally inclined, per
haps already trained, a resident, o
about to become one and take hi
chances with us for better or 70
worse. To him / would say: We hav
land and opportunity for a hundre