The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-13
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The Cultivation of Cane and the Manu-
facture of Sugar In Hawai-.

E. G. Wilder in Yale Monthly.

- 70 q - o e" ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
For nearly half century, with ever
increasing proficiency and activity, the
cultivation of cane and the manufac-
ture of sugar in the Territory of Ha-
waii has developed to such a state that,
at present, the chief output of that
country is able to hold its own with
any in the world
broken for the first planting it must
first be cleared of growth Of all kinds,
which, however, is practically of only
one sort,-a very hardy and destructive
bush known as Lantana. The laborers
are of many nationalities but the Japa-
nese predominant by large majority,
they being good, sturdy workers. After
the clearing is completed, two huge
traction engines, which are set at some
distance apart, draw back and forth
between them large double-ended
pillow turning from seven to ten fur
IONS DIT d tIHle ne 6uuS OI JHeSS LUZ
rows are worked by laborers so that
each furrow in turn may be made to
communicate with an irrigation ditch
at the end of the field or at lesser
intervals. The soil is then fortified
and slightly irrigated, to better pre-
pare it for the seed cane which is now
to be put in place.
Cane is planted much like potatoes.
Tt does not have "eyes' which
are the source of the coming vine,
but in their stead are shoots which
fulfill the same function. On every
stick of sugar cane at each joint there
is little fat triangular shaped bud.
These are in straight lines diametrical-
II opposite each other, alternating from
one side of the stem to the other. Cane
used for seed is of a poorer quality
than that used for making sugar, be-
ing smaller and less juicy. The long
sticks are cut up into pieces about
eighteen inches long and laid longi-
tudinally in the burrows, after which
little earth is thrown over them.
Now that the cane is planted, it can
not be left but must be constantly ir-
rigated and stripped. Stripping con-
sists of taking off the old and dry
leaves. From five clock in the morn
ing until dark at night the men, and
women also, go through the fields from
one end to the other and handle every
single stalk, taking off the old leaves
which, when they have enough, are
bound into a bundle and left on the
spot. It is necessary to wear gloves
in performing this duty, for every cane
leaf is covered with myriads of little
burrs. Going through the patch is in
itself feat which one unaccustomed
to perform would find very difficult, for
the cane, after it has attained the
height of an average man, generally
falls over and transforms the field of
straight and regular rows into dense
jungle.
1t requires about a year before the
cane is ripe and ready to be cut. This
is heralded by the appearance of long
rod crowned with silvery gray tassel
topping off each stalk A field at this
stage presents beautiful sight to one
standing upon some elevation on sun
NY summer afternoon when the eve can
see acres and acres of these shining
tops, the whole giving the impression
of distant glistening water. All the
cutting is done by hand with large fat
knives two feet long and six inches
wide with a crook on the back of the
further end which the laberer uses to
draw the cane to him. During the last
three years attempts have been made
to invent a machine which would take
care of this function, but up to the
present time no satisfactory results
have been attained. Each stalk is cut
off close to the ground, and then the
top as far down as the leaves, is taken
off. This done, the laborer throws it
down and goes on to the next while
others, often many women, gather up
all the good cane and pile it where it
may be loaded on to cars by machinery
or place it directly on the cars them
selves. These cars run into the fields
on temporary tracks, being hauled to
the main lines by mules where they
are left to be taken to the mill by
locomotives, the distance being some,
times as much as ten miles. In regions
where mountain streams are available,
the cane is often fumed to the mill.
After couple of weeks or so, when
the tops have all become dry, a space
of some feet is cleared around the
edges of a field and the whole made
ready to burn. Before firing, however.
women go through again and gather up
any stray sticks Of good cane which