The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-12-04

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~ REsIDENr 8. NJ. Dowsett eaIlee
the second day : session Of the su.
gar planters convention to order
1T 0:15 clock yesterday morning. Ha
asked G. H. Eckart, chairman Of the
committee On cultivation and fertiliza
ton Of unirrigated plaentations TO pre-.
sent his report and lead the debate.
The report having been printed was
considered read. Mr.. Eekart said
that the question Of stripping was
probably the most important subject
considered by his committee and woulc
be discussed first. 1.-THE question Is
10 strip or not to strip he said.
g Managers are not unanimous, many
Of them appearing to doubt the value
Of the elaborate tests made by Walter
P. Naquin at Olaa in 1909. y
.Naquin's Experiaents
Among other things Mr. Naqnin de.
tcrmined that cane which rooted from
the joints inside the leaf sheaths was
richer in sucrose than stripped cane
not thus rooted. The trash on IN,
stripped cane docs undoubtedly In
crease the fibre one and one-half per
cent but the increase in sucrosc more
than balances this loss.
In twelve tests made on unirrigate0
plantations there was an average gam
Of 10 per cent in the yield Of un.
stripped cane per acre. Counting for,
ty tons per acre as an average yield
this amounted to about three tons OF
cane, equal to- .35 tons Of sugar--a
clear gain--not to mention the savina
in the cost Of stripping. H e4-
Mr. Eekart said that the saving on
the twelve plantations where these OK,
neriments were undertaken would save
100000 worth Of sugar per ahnum 81
the lessons taught were adopted.
At Olaa they strip once in spring
lust before applying the fertilizer
The trash and weeds are piled between
the cane rowsfas mulch The charge
against the stripping Of the cane was
only cighty,hye cents per acre.
}. T. NOR said that the onomea
practice WIS the same as Olaa.
What the Managers Say
Mr.. Eckart then quoted from his re,
port, as follows:
stripping: This practice which ha,
been the subject of much discussion al
former annual meetings still has Its
staunch advocates among the unirrl'
gated plantations.
Az the plantation Of the Hutehin-
son Plantation Co., located in the Kau
district, Mr.. Glib finds that stripping
Is not necessary.
"Mr. NOR OF Onomea is lin favor
Of giving light stripping in spring
before fertilizing taking of the bot,
tom binder leaves, so that the cane
stalk may become hardened and viii
stand moro rough and wet weather.
He also believes that "a later strip
ping will many a time prevent the
cane from falling over as there viii be
fewer leaves to hold the rain aud win
consequently be less top heavy
" AT Olaa, the lowermost dried leaves
are removed when wedding or cleanina
out for the last time. This trash
when thrown into the kuakuas make
light mulch which reduces the
chances for struggling weed growth
TO develop before the cane receives it,
last dressings of fertilizer in the
spring and early summer Of the second
season. The operation is thus abop,
two-tbirds wedding and one4third strip
ping; for the 1915 crop this stripping
amounted to $685. per acre on an
average.
. Mr.. Webster of Pepeekeo considers
stripping beneficial in the Hilo district
end remarks. In the earlier stages il
allows light and air 70 get at the roots
and belated shoots which would other
wise die or rot OF With bigger Of
oldef cane. II allows any little sunshine
we may get a chance 70 ripen the
cane and put sugar into II.
"Mr. Henderson of the Hawaii Mil
Co. in writing. about the practice on
his plantation says:tI find that uT
here we have got to strip. During
the winter months and early spring tho
cane grows very slowly, consequently Il
docs not shed its leaves, and with tn.
wet climate we have here the cane
roots right through, which Is bound Il
check the growth and If not cleared Of
would make very expensive harvesting
and very Improbable milling
rs Mr.. McLcnnan of the Laupahor
hoe Sugar Co. considers Ii 'necessar Z,
to remove the dead leaves from the
cane stalks when these latter arc from
one foot to two feet high
Mr.. PuDlar Of IIonomm, IN com
menting on the practice, REMARKS. 4
am Ia favor Of stripping cane twice