Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-02
PLANTERS SHOW
BIGINTERESTIN
HANDLlNGLANDS
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ond season. He believed most worth
was got out Of fertilizer by putting
the greater part OF II On the good soil
rather than on the poor as the prac-
tise was apt to Oe. 1t had been found
that an increase from 90 TO 80 tons
OF cane an acre Or 50 per cent, VAS
obtained from heavily fertilizing poor
fields, but he considered it better to
gain II tons over the 40 tons an acre
on good soil. which might be done by
giving the latter kind OF soil the heavy
dressing. There was less percentage
of gain in tonnage OF cane, but more
money TO be made out Of the crop.
| w. o. Smith quoted George Wilcox
as saying years ago that ii was mis-
take to put a large amount Of fertile
er on Door soil. MIR. Ewart said the
laborer was prone to putting it on
heavy where he saw a poor patch OF
cane. Mr.. NOR said his practise was
to put more organic matter on poor
soil, reserving high grade fertilizer for
good soil.
Mr.. Eckart mentioned that the sue
rose was lighter at the beginning OF
the grinding season and suggested
that the canes growth might be check
ed at that period by the application OF
, phosphoric acid just before the har-
, vesting. Then fertilize the next year s
crop with phosphates. They were now
making tests at Olaa. Nitrate of soda
put on with other fertilizers in mid,
IN
cent in the cane. He went on TO
elucidate the benefits Of mulching.
: Mr.. Moir agreed with him on this
topic. saying it was worth trying even
IL expensive. They might get cheaper
material for the purpose.
A. Gartley took up the matter Of
experiments with varieties of cane,
contending that in bringing ahead
many varieties they were multiplying
variabIes. He advocated selecting the
seed of Yellow Caledonia and La
hama, and crossing these varieties
1 tc produce a standard cane.
Mr.. Ewart took him up on the
theory of Mendel that new species
would revert to original types.
Director Agee of the experiment
STATEN admitted that the question
raised was an interesting one but did
not know that it had ever been thor
oughly investigated. Louisiana ex-
perin1ents failed to ssubstantiate the
theory Of breeding standard species.
4 To test the question would require
la long period of time and a. large
! area of ground. He asked for DIR.
Lyons views on the subject.
/ DR.. Lyon said it was nard to tell
J where to begin or how to express
I himself, but the gist of his remarks
: was that plants developed certain po-
tsntialities, some of them other than
good. which were bound to reproduce
themselves in spite of attempts to
breed an unobjectionable species.
'aTha matter of bud variation and
plant breeding" the speaker remark
ed, is today very much OF
an unsoiEed problem" Thus far
no seed had been obtained from fel-
low Caledonia cane, no perfect flower
1 thereof having ever been fornd at the
experiment station. They knew that
none of the canes OF which they had
seeds would come true to the seed.
Mr.. Gartley wanted more inxestiga-
ton of the weed question. Some weeds
were benign to the cane, while others
were very detrimental. :,
4 Mr.. Forbes, called on by Mr.. Eek
art as an expert on the subject, told
OF his experience with the suppression
of weeds. The decline of honohono
I grass in Hamakua he regarded as 10,
iicating deterioration OF the soil Re
yerting to cane varieties he thought
II a waste of time TO discuss them
saving they were planting. thousands
OF acres of Yellow Caledonia today
which showed the same characteristics
. as when introduced. He strongly ad
!, Focated hand spraying Or weeds, the
& the cost Of whielts was only a third Of
:, that from the use of the hoe. - -
Mr.. GLIB sad he and other mana
gers were expecting gasoline driven
cultiVators from Engiand, the orders
for which had been held up by OF
ders from Germany for 700 Of the ma
chimes.
Afternoon Session. "
On the reassembling of the Hawai-
ian Sugar Planters Association yes
J6rQ6y aII6fIl0Ch ff6StuSuL T. f. DlSb
op announced the election of John M
Dowsett as president, together with
that Of the other officers, pausing al
the name of the presiding officer fol
the ensuing year to permit a. yoiIes
CT applause from the members. He
then introduced his successor.
New President Installed.
Mr. Dowsett en- taking the chair
expressed his great appreciation OF
the honor conferred on him, which he
should not have accepted were it not
that Mr.. Schaefer, who had been next
in order for the position as the retir
ing vice-president, asked for permis
sion to decline election. Further, he
solicited the support of the members
in his efforts to fulfil the response
bilities of the Cffice for the ensuing
year. n
J. w. Waldron as chairman Of the
committee on the experiment station
was then called en- to read the report
IN fhof Cllbioct II aprand that