The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-12-26
HIlo Satisfaction IN invaluable
Work Betlerlnu ihu Taro
Supply.

Tho principal aim Of the Hawaii
Agricultural station Of the federal gov.
eminent IN aiding and promoting small
farming and an increased and more
varied production iu meeting with much
success on the island Of Hawaii, the
two substations there, at Hi'o and
ulcnwood, meeting with much cooper.
alton and attaining good rosulla.
What Is probably tho FIRST actual
scientific experimenting in tho Islands
to better the commercial supply Of taro
is being carried on at Hilo and already
much has been learned tending not only
to increase the supply per aero but to
increase its quality.
Taro is at present, and probably will
be for some time, receiving the most
attention from Superintendent Cloves
who directs tho two Big Island sta
tions. The different methods of propa-
CATION are being inquired into and the
different sizes, ages, etc, at which the
setting out should be done are being
looked into.
The great differences in weights in
| the bulbs have been noted with inter.
est and judicious selection and other
assets of modern agriculture are fast
producing a taro that will DO much
more valuable than the commercial
kinds now planted.
One of the interesting things that
| have been discovered is that an inereas-
ed spacing between the plants is re-
sulting in an increased yield per acre,
paradoxieal as such may seem. The
fact remains, however, that the So
called dry land taro gives heavier
yield per acre when so planted than it
does when planted closer together as
is usually the case. Larger tubers re-
suit and this, with a much lessened
waste. contribute to the increased total
weight. Since these experiments were
started it has been found possible to
take $500 per aero year out Of the
land even with the twelve-months taro.
GlenwoOd Agriculture.
The thousand dollars a year pledged
by private individuals for five years
in support of the experimental station
at Glenwood and the territorial funds
also secured for the same, seem to have
been splendidly invested. The station
is now in the center of the farming com
munity that is showing Hawaii what
can be done with small farming, even
where conditions, in some respects, are
as adverse as they are in that rain
drenched country.
Superintendent Cloves is devoting
himself largely to improving the stand.
ard of butter that is being produced at
Glenwood since the first agricultural
crops failed and the farmers resorted
to dairying until another paying CROP
could he found The result has been q
greatly higher standard of butter
manufactured by the best economic me
thods. Hilo itself supplies the market
and according to present reports the
small farmers are taxed to supply thii
demand. Good living, profits, as a mat
ter of course, result.
The first crops of celery which die
so well seem to have been bad prophets
} for a disease invaded the fields which
it was found, could not be fought sue
cessfully and the celery as crop, wat
given up.
The question of fodder for the sue
ceeding mich cows then arose and mucf
attention is now being paid to raising
crops suitable for this purpose. Mean
| while many of the farmers are raising
figs on the side.
l The honohono, the fiat-leafed plant
) that is so common throughout the Ter
) ritory is proving to be good fodder
, and seems to like the wet country. The
farmers are cultivating large folds Of
it and by proper fertilizing are taking
: off enormous crops. The cattle like i
. and while it is not the best fodder tha
could be secured it is considered goot
. substitute.
, The introduction of leguminous crop
! is also being attempted and the horse
b bean and the pigeon.pea have proved
1 fairly successful. One or two varieties
S of corn are also being experimental
s with and the success of the colony il
general seems to be assured.