The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-01
HAWAII AGRICULTURAL
EXPERIMENT STATION

!, 1906. The station directs the expert
ment. which is carried on without fur
Their expense TO it. The growing o
table grapes is already being carries
on in a limited way by the Portu
guese settlers, and with the anticipated
increase of immigrants from Portuga
and the Azorss it is probable tina
grape growing and wine making car
be made profitable industries.
RUBBER
An important experiment in rubber
production is being carried on at Ma
hiku, on the Island OF Maui. This EN-
braces tests of varieties, the use Of
fertilizers, methods of tapping, prep
aration of rubber, etc, The rapid rise
in the price of rubber has resulted
in extensive planting experiment.
throughout the tropics, and it is be-
lieved that this industry can be made
profitable in Hawaii. According to q
recent report, one company on Mau
has now growing 1885 rubber trees.
of which $500 are Ceara, S086 Hevea,
and 45G Castilloa rubber. Experimental
tappings have proved satisfactory, and
it is believed that fully 100000 trees
will be yielding profit by the year
1909. The difficulty of obtaining seed
and the low vitality of some ships
ments are serious drawbacks to the
rapid extension Of rubber plantations.
A small experimental planting of rub
Ter trees and coffee has been made on
the station grounds.
TOBACCO.
The tobacco Investigations which
were begun in 1908 have been continued
with promise of great success. In 1906
the location was changed from Poha-
kea to tract of government land in
Paauilo that has been set aside for
this purpose for a term OF years. This
experiment is in cooperation with the
Territorial Board of Agriculture ana
Forestry and a number of private in.
dividuals. In 1906 four acres Were
planted to the best varieties of SUI
matra and Habana tobaccos. and a
curing barn thirty by fifty feet was
erected. The crop OF 1905 was regard
ed so highly that about fifty farmers
and planters are this year experiment.
ing with tobacco. and the industry
seems in a fair way to become CONNER
cially established.
STOCK RAISING!
The station is continuing its coop.
Grafton with the Hawaiian Stock
Breeders Association in the introduce
ton and distribution of seeds Of
grasses and other forage plants. Dur
ing 1906 large quantities OF seeds of
q Low
Mexico. Australia, France and else
where. and many of the more valuable
grasses and forage plants are well
on some of the island
ranches.
CHRONOLOGICAL WORK.
The chronological work during the
past year has been along the lines OF
the control of insect depredations, In.
designations in silk culture and bee
keeping. and studies on mosquitoes and
heir control. Field work in connec-
ions has taken a considerable amount
DC time, and experiments are being
conducted to control some Of the more
serious insect pests of economic plants |
'ther than sugar cane. Particular at
ention is being given to the insects
attacking pineapples, tobacco, coffee |
isaI and forest trees. In the siik-cul- |
ure Investigations a quantity OF silk /
worms of Chinese race, known as |
he Orc silkworms, was secured and |
red for comparison with European /
previously grown. The re-
ults obtained are very encouraging.
nd it is thought that silk produce
ion as family industry can be made
roftable. In connection with the sta
on chemist, the entomologist has been
arrying on studies on HawaiianI
oney and the sources from which 1t
made. TWO new races of bees have
cen introduced during the year, and
ne gives promise of being better
dapted to Hawaiian conditions than
ne Italian bees. The entomologist has
ontinued to act with the committee
aving in view the reduction of mos
uitoes, and through his initiative top
seding nainnows have been success
lily introduced to feed upon mos
aito larvae in taro ponds. fish ponds.
ce fields, and other places where
and spraying are impracti-
able.
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.
The chemical Investigations have
cen divided between the usual lines
: routine work and research investi-
atoms. One Of the most important
mes of work has been the analysis
Hawaiian-grown folders and feed.
* stuffs. AS the result of this in-I
it is shown that in gen,
al there is a marked deficiency In
lie lime content of Hawaiian grasses
nd folders. The effect of this def
ency on the strength and develop
ent of animals is shown not only by
lie station Investigations, but by those
the veterinarian Of the TERRITORIAL
,ard of agriculture, and the import
ice of lime as a factor in feeding
.tions is being recognized by all
.udies were made of a number of
as sources of alcohol, partic-
ar attention being paid TO the waste
'oducts from pineapple canneries. Z
he research work has been confined
.ry I1reralv 70 soil S+rg3fGS ~ .7.a4er. |