The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-19
BY RALPH S. HosMER.

Out VI the JnlnSS tnaJ most impress
ed the thoughtful visitor to Hawaii is
the decided interest that is taken
throughout the Territory in scientific
Investigation of things agricultural
For long time Hawaii has been
recognized as a country where agri-
culture-was being carried on in a high
ly organized manner, but to most new.
corners it is a surprise to find so many
men of scientific training as constitute
the working staff of the several local
scientific institutions devoted to agri-
cultural research. Particularly is this
manifest in Honolulu, the seat of the
agricultural experiment stations, for
here are being worked out problems
that confront the investigator in pure
science and the small farmer as well
as those that chiefly concern the own
ers and managers Of the great sugar
companies
Indeed so closely does this agricul-
tural scientific activity bear on the
daily life of the community that it
may almost be said that the practical
application of this science to everyday
affairs in Hawaii is the keynote of its
success in agriculture
Including only those men connected
with the several agricultural scientific
institutions in Honolulu who are ac-
| tually engaged in such scientific work,
the total comes to between fortv-five
and fifty. To this figure should be
added a number of enthusiastic anna
| tours in science and perhaps a dozen
medical men engaged in research
work, This enumeration does not in
clude sugar plantation and other in
dustrial chemists. Were they counted
the total for the Territory would be
well over one hundred.
The scientific investigation OF agri-
cultural problems is carried on in the
Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton, the Territorial Board of Agricul-
ture and Forestry, and the Experiment
| Station of the Hawaiian Sugar Plan
! ters' Association With these should
properly be listed the College of Ha-
waii-the local College of Agriculture
and Mechanic Arts-because in con-
nection with its classroom work there
College Farm, investigations in sew
eral branches of agriculture that de-
serve to be termed true research.
Along with this work of applied sci
ence in agriculture, the College has
recently taken over the botanical sur
vey of the Territory, started under
ture and Forestry by Mr.. Joseph F.
| Rock. This is a piece of work of far
reaching Importance, as it will serve
as the foundation for much later re-
search.
At first blush it might seem that
with so many institutions there would
be overlapping of interests, but as it
works out in practice the field is so
divided by mutual consent that con-
fiicts are eliminated. 1t is probable,
however, that in time a closer organi-
cation will be effected, at any rate
between the government institutions.
The Hawaii Agricultural Experiment
Station is best known locally as the
Federal Station" from the fact that
while receiving financial support from
the Territorial government, it is a
branch of the Office of Experiment Sta
tions OF the U. S. Department of Agri-
culture. In common with agricultural
experiment stations throughout the
mainland, the Hawaii Station carries
on Investigations covering a wide
range, the emphasis being, however
placed especially on the production of
crops other than sugar, as rice, cot
ton, rubber and tropical fruits and on
study of local soils from the chemical
standpoint.
The Federal Experiment Station is
essentially the special ally of diver
sified farming in Hawaii; the particu-
lar friend of the small farmer. There
are many crops that can be grown in
Hawaii, but the difficulties of contend
ing with pests and of getting the
produce to a market that will return
a profit on the transaction are at
present considerable. The especial
function of the Federal Experiment
Station is to point the way by which
these difficulties may be overcome. In
its Investigations of the rice and cot.
ton industries 1t has shown what vari-
cites are best adapted to the local
climate and conditions. In its study
of fruit transportation it has demon
strated how tropical products can be
got to mainland markets in such good
conditions as to command high prices.
In cooperation with the Territorial
Bureau of immigration it is now work
ing on the question of lettering the