The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-01-14
RUBBER IN HAWAII. 19o5-191o.
BY w. A. Anderson.

Il is five years ago next month since
she first Hawaiian rubber plantation
vas Incorporated, and it would seem
chat this is an opportune time to take
account of stock" Before another
convention of the Hawaiian Rubber
Growers Association is held at least
two of the plantations will have some
trees old enough to tap, and it is to be.
presumed that they should be ready by
that time to report some tapping done.'
1t would be highly fatuous to claim.
that no mistakes had been made, or
that it would not have been possible,
IN the light of present knowledge and
experience, to show better results. Wei
are still learning, and we shall know
nGe i've years hence than we do now.
Bet we have had some experience, and
Il seems fitting to consider where we
stand now as compared with five years
sgo-as regards progress and the pros.
poets of success.
The first plantation was incorporated
January, 1905. The plans of the com
aany were, broadly, to plant Ceara the
first year, believing they would yield
earlier than Hevea, and to follow with
,HeTea planting from seeds to be OBJ
tuined at the first opportunity, i. e.,
the fall of 1905.
The prospectus states that returns
were expected from the first trees in
1909 at, the rate of onehalf pound per
tree, to' be gathered at collection cost
IF 80 cents per pound, and to sell for
500 per pound. 1t was thought that,
after the land was cleared and the
trees planted, little cultivation would
be necessary, perhaps keeping circle
cleaned for two or three feet about
each tree, and that $500 per acre
would amply suffice to bring the plan
tation into bearing.
Work WAS begun on this basis, and
al about the same time two other plan
iations in Nahiku commenced opera
aiuns. The first unforeseen difficulty
wss encountered when the young trees
were transplanted from the nurseries.
The rats ate most of the first planting
tihf0se method could be found of cir
anusgeltiDg them and checking their
avages. AS fast as the trees were re-
placed they were eaten Off again. This
multiplied expenses and divided profits
by large figure, and much less was
realized from the year 8 work than was
expected.
The next set back, besides, of course,
she minor difficulties always met in a
new undertaking, was the failure of
she Heven seeds, seedlings and stumps,
obtained from Ceylon at large expense.
We have since been assured by an east
Srn plantation manager, after deserib-
ng 10 him the stumps obtained, that
lhsse were undoubtedly from seedlings
tbat sad been discarded from the home
nurseries as unfit To plant, and had
been sant 10 Ms as "A means of getting
revenue out " an otherwise worthless
asset. As these seeds can be obtained
81 only one season of the year It be
name necessary 10 wait for anothe
crop. The lleYoa trees planted In lN0i
from these seeds gave very few norma
Heea The results from seeds ohtaine,
IN the fall of 1909 Mere even W0rfe
shout suO,0u0 seeds, purchased by tire
different plantations, producing los
Than 100 trees. II was not until ~
uili OF 1907 after three years, tina
eeds ners obtained which gave the ~
apiis 10 had rlEhi 10 expect iTni
Tho nat Thus llpYea cultivation hn
Hau delayed three Yfnn by inahlli
isafse aispd seeds, and MI are iuh resdl
g9asntaiiy, "a begin aih d good pnl
Hy ~ ffefs iu nn4srIlrfi ana frl
lhaasaud IL The hfldH 1hu lnrYiiahl
Ifsuii ~ this q thar ffiufps fiom rul
~ 10 90 Territory fef ihe neat fou
Teaf depend fniilely ga lls fssl
49,