The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-05-09
OF LANAI
MAY BEAT WORLD
NICHOLSON RETURNS PROM THE
ISLAND WITH SUPPLY. WHICH
Will BB AEALYzBD.


Bringing a supply Of bee,s, analysis
Of which Is expected TO prove whother
beet sugar can be proftably produced
in the Territory or not, John T. Nc.
Crosson Of the Lanai Ranch Company,
Ltd, returned from an inspection Of
the model farm - yesterday. He left
Lanai in the, companys 5, fine power
launch and caught the steamer Mauna
Kea at Iahaina, arriving in Honolulu
yesterday morning.
The company started experimenting
with sugar beets last year An expert
was brought out to the island from
Salinas, California, and a section of the
land was cultivated especially for the
purpose of seeing what could be done
here with the saceharine producing
vegetable. The expert and Mr.. Nc
Crosson went into the matter very
thoroughly; soil conditions appeared to
be favorable, the beets made good
growth and the experiment was pro-
nounced slccess
Mr.. McCrosson brought a lot of the
beets with him and will turn them over
to the experts at the United States Ex-
! pertinent Station here for analysis.
Upon their report will depend whether
the Lanai Ranch Company will go
ahead with the production of sugar
beets on big scale.
Mean Cutworms.
According to statements made by
Mr.. McCrosson last night, the company
had to contend with some difficulties
in making this remarkable attempt to
prove that sugar beets as well as sugar
cane can flourish in the Territory. The
ever active cutworm, the common or
garden caterpillar and other parasites
appeared to think that the beets were
set out particularly with a view to
giving them new variety of food.
But. though the worms ate their fill for
a time, they were vigorously com
bated and the experiment turned out
remarkably well.
Mr.. McCrosson has handled too many
big things on the Islands to let mob
of worms get the better Of him. Now
he awaits the analysis of the govern
!. ment Is wise men at the experimental
station, and if they come along with
the kind of decision he believes they
will, then the Lanai Ranch Company
4
into the raising of sugar beets on the
island on an extensive scale, with small
farmer tenants.
Other important work which is being
; done on the island by the company is
in regard to the water supply. MI
McCrosson and associates already have
accomplished remarkable work on the
Island of Hawaii in extending the
water supply, and when they started
to develop Lanai one of their first steps
naturally, was to develop water. They
are now piping it around the island C
distributing basins, from which the cat
tie and other stock can be properly
; watered.
Comprehensive Ranch.
The company's Lanai ranch is going
to be a winner. The company has di
} vided the island into cattle, sheep, farm
5 and plantation districts, in order to gel
: real idea of what it was capable OF
! and what would be the best to p-oduee
This, of course, called for great out
t lay. In order to do things right, thor
, oughbred stock was imported at no lit
tie expense, and only the best kinds OF
] horses, cattle and other animals were
{ placed on the island.
Mr.. McCrosson stated that the cattle
aye doing remarkably well and are in
! creasing all the time. They are doinS
so finely, in fact, that more thorough
breds will be placed on Lanai as suor
as they can be procured. The only AMI
J mails Of those placed on the island which
3 do not appear to take kindly to Lana
5 are the thoroughbred rams. A goot
4 many of these have died.
Taken altogether, however, Mr.. Nc
{ Crosson intimates that the company
l model ranch is going ahead splendilly
, iIf the sugar beet analysis turns out t,
0 be what Mr.. McCrosson hoIes the pro
: moters anticipate that they viii be wei
? repaid for the time, money and labo
= thav have aYnandnd