Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-29
LOCAL LANDS
Considered
AT COLLEGE

| II is the province OF the College OF
hawaii to foster and propagate teach
ing ami investigations that shall per-
/ tain to the agriculture Of the tropics.
As an instance CT the value of this
kind of work, the sugar planters ex-
pertinent station may be cited. This
institution has promoted teaching as
well as investigation and the results
Of its work in the importance Of cane
culture and field and factory methods
in sugar production have paid many
times over for the cost Of maintaining
the institution.
Large fields for teaching and re-
search are opening up in respect to
our new industries, such as pineap-
pies, rubber, coffee and other activi-
ties. At the present time from 200
to 400 pounds of sugar are added to
each ton of pineapples in canning.
When it is remembered that during
the past fifty years the sugar beet
has been improved in sugar content
about 100 per cent, it does not seem
improbable that the pineapple holds
out the same inducements, for its Inn
provement in sugar content, acidity
and dry matter, as does the sugar
Ieet.
This improvement, however, must
be accomplished by those who are
thoroughly cenversant with the phys
iology and nutrition of plants, math-
Iematics, agronomy and soil manage
ment It cannot be accomplished in
a haphazard method.
The problems OF soil fertility In
these islands are presenting them
selves for consideration and they are
entirely worthy of it. The time was
when 1t was believed that the chem
list could, by an analysis of the soil
and the crop. determine all the nee.
essary phases of the management of
that soil. 1t is now recognized, how
ever. that the crop-producing power
Of any soil depends on number of
factors such as chemical composition,
physical condition and drainage, or
ganic matter content and water hold
ing capacity, and the bacterial life.
that exists in the soil. All of these
facts are essential in a study Of the
crop-producing power Of the soil and
the dominance OF one factor over an
other depends very largely on the.
particular type and formation of the
soil and the crop grown.
AS years go by. more and more at
tention must be paid to the various
activities and methods necessary to
keep our soils up to the high stan.
dard Of production. Much attention Is
being given TO the conservation Of our
timber. mineral and water resources.
but of no less importance than this
is the conservation OF the resources
in our agricultural soils; indeed. it
would appear that the question of
ff1aiiltaining soil Fertility is the great
est question that is before the Amer
lean people today. for the value of ag-I
riculture products is more than four.
times the valuue of. our mines, and is
greater in value than all Of our other
products Of mining and manufacture
ing combined.
The continuous production of one
crop on the same soil has in all
instances, led to the depletion of that
soil in producing power, and even
where chemical fertilizers have been
added. for such fertilizers do not add
organic matter to the soil to any APP
probable extent, nor do they improve
the water-holding capacity of soil,
or its physical condition.
The field of animal husbandry is
also feplete with subjects for teach
ing Men of experience say that milk
cannot be produced here at ten cents
per quart, with profit. In the New
England states it can be produced on
the farm for three cents per quart
Intelligent feeding and breeding win
do much to lessen the cost. Our ter
ritory should also produce beef, NUT
ton. poultry products and draft ami
mails sufficient for its needs, and the
question of how to do it is one of the
factors in its accomplishment.
New Information in all these and
other subjects is being obtained by re-
search and experimentation, and 1t is
the province Of the College of Hawaii
to instruct in these lines of know.
ledge.
ARE THEcE EVE