The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-03-05
LECTURES ON
AGRICULTURE
First of a Series Begun by
the New College
of Hawaii.

ne Afst o1 the evening lectures on
agriculture in the College of Hawaii
course were given 10 a very interested
audience Wednesday People were ex-
pectlng some good things and DIR. E.
'. Wilcox and Pesident Gilmore pre-
scented their subjects in a strikingly
| able manner so that everyone felt well
repaid for the evening spent.
As was. announced by President Gil
more, the work is 10 give opportunity
| to people to get the newest and best
information upon subjects pertaining to
| agriculture
In the course Of the lecture on the
| agricultural problems Of Hawaii, DIR.
| Wilcox told Of the problems as he and
his workers were finding them and also
something of what they were under.
taking to do at the station and about
| the islands.
The first problem which he mention
ed was that of the pineapple growers,
which had assumed q specific nature in
that It had been noted that certain
soils produce yellow pineapples. that
continuous cropping was unfavorable
TO good yield and that the disease,
black rot. was troublesome. Market
ing is a question for all crops but the
best methods Of getting the crops on
the market is very vital to these men.
With rubber, problems were chiefly
in the experimental stage for the faith
in the ultimate outcome had led men
to plant some 1900 acres to rubber
bearing trees, chiefly Of the Ceara
variety.
Station s experiments upon some 300
or 400 trees have shown good results.
For the benefit Of the industry meth
DDS of tapping, the use of fertilizers
and the use Of the land while the
young trees are growing are receiving
attention in a cooperative way by both
growers and station men. Cotton grow
ing has a good opportunity. Some work
must be done with variety tests. Sea
Island and Carvonica are the two va
rieties under consideration, but the
Egyptian cotton would have a good
market since United States makes large
importations Of such cotton. Here,
seed selection will improve this crop.
1t was interesting to note that Mr..
Waterhouse had distinguished some for
tv-six varieties OF taro. Problems with
other fruits were taken up. Meat pro-
duction was being improved by atten-
ton TO forage crops. Of all the prob
lens mentioned the most vital to the
people Of Hawaii was that treating on
the question of maintaining fertility.
In a very pleasing and most inter
esting manner President j. w
Gilmore stated his viewpoint of agri-
cultural education. He brought
out the economics Of the subject very
forcibIy by a report Of his own travels
and experience and by statistics from
the Bureau of Commerce and Labor.
He contrasted the former popular
idea Of education with the present day
advance in industrial education.
Achievement in industrial affairs must
come about by training. Oldtime prac-
tises must pass and give away to the
new and most profitable.
Attention was called to the return
TO the old farms Of New England
which were considered TO be worn out,
and this was because Of the application
of the new intelligence.
To-day the farmers are recognized
Al citizens and men as well as produc-
ers Of crops and animals. Agriculture
is the application of the sciences such
as physics, chemistry and biology, TO
the production Of plants and ANIMALS.
..Education for the farmer does not
stop with the production of things but
consist also of the selling of them ana
in the relation which he bears to man
ufactures and transportation.
The results of agricultural education
are pleasing and very favorable Tor
crop production has been increased,
man : efficiency improved, and the cost
and the time TO produce crop has been
remarkably lessened.
The lectures were well attended and
Il is hope that many more will await
themselves of the opportunity of at
CORRESPONDENT.