Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-12
ASPARAGUS ON
-
kauai PROMISES
GREAT INDUSTRY
5S79-7t
News from lhue Tells OF De-
velopment Of New Line OF
"SmaII Farming

Especial star Bulletin correspondencel
LIHUE, Kauai, June 9.-An enter
prise that promises exceptionally fine
results on Kauai is the asparagus
plantation al Waiiua that A. d. Hills.
the manager of the Lihue Ice & Elee-
trio Power Company, Is developing.
The industry Is only in its infancy
as vet, OF course, but the prospects
for. the growth of a stable and re-
Smnneratiye business are very eneour-
aging. - ii X
Mr.. Hills was induced to try the
experiment of raising this sueeulent
vegetable for the general market by
the success of his own private plant
ings in his home garden at Malumalu,
where he has been raising, principal
", the Palmetto" variety. with very
good results There he has keut his
home table supplied. for a number Of
years, with choice asparagus, and has
proved that the plant can be grown to
perfection on Kauai =
Adjoining the large eoeoannt forest
known as the Riverside Grove, on
the banks OF the Wailua river, six
miles from Lihue. is a small area of
has been conducting his experiments
in asparagus culture for over year,
with gratifying results.
First Paintings In ApriL
The first paintings were made in
April OF last year, with beginning
of only a few beds, but at the present
time there are over forty beds plant
ed, covering an area Of somewhat
more than an acre, and the first
crop was cut last April. The old
plants were cut back, on section of
the plantation, as is the custom in
growing asparagus, and q heavy mulch
Of rice huls, sandy loan, dead leaves,
etc.. piled over them. Through this
mulch the rapidly growing tender
sprouts shoot up In three or four days
to a size suitable for the table.
This first cutting was taken of
about the middle of the month, and
now over fifty pounds per week are
being cut of the product from the six
to ten rows which are kept cut back.
Cuttings are made every day. nov, I
and Mr.. Hills Is finding no difficulty
in disposing OF all he can raise, at
is cents per pound, on Kauai where !
the demand now that the residents
Of the island are finding that the DELI !.
cious homegrown product can be de-
lowered at their very doors by the
ice. company's trucks, is rapidly In I
ereasing. and is, Of course; at pres /
INT far ahead Of the supply.
TO supply this Increasing demand. /
Mr. Hills is enlarging his area of plant
ngs, and expeets to the present rate /
)f progress to have the whole seven /
acres of available land In the fmme- /
late vicinity planted, by the end Of i
he year. AS this is the only truck /
arm where asparagus is raised for
he market on Kauai at the present
ime. he will find good permanent /
market on the island until his output
s. much larger than it Is now.
sood Market Sure.
When the time for expansion comes,
lie win undoubtedly be able to find
rood market in Honolulu, where the
domestic asparagus business Is not Z
ret of sufficient Importance to find a
lace in the market reports, for his
,uttings; and there is no question a
bout finding ready sale for the pro
Inct on the coast, at fancy prices, as
DON as il becomes available in large
Quantities E.s
In California the season begins
bout the middle of May, and lasts
or only six or eight weeks, so that /
With the cutting being done at Wal
ia three times per week throughout
he whole year, advantage can with
ut doubt be taken OF the fancy prices
o be obtained there for the tender
boots. at certain periods of the year.
On the coast, the prices Of aspara-
us ranges, during the season from
5 cents to % cents per pound, and
t other times is of course consider
bly, higher. when all that is eaten
rust be raised in lighthouses or inn
Orted from the tropics.
Mr.. Hills has had number of In.
uiries from Honolulu az to the time
hen he will begin shipping to that
ity, and he Is satisfied that he will
ave no difficulty in finding large mar
ct there as soon as he has increased
is paintings here enough to produce
surplus over the Kauai demand
The shipments are not graded as !.
ct, In sizes, since there has been such
good demand for the ungraded pro-
uct, but as soon as the shipments
row to considerable size, this will
9 done.
uttinqs All the 1ear around.
Cuttings will be made nearly every
~, the whole year through, and de-
yeries are now made on Kauai three
mes per week. BY means Of the Liz
ne lee & Electric Power Company,s
ato trucks.
Experiments in asparagus culture
ave been made on q limited scale
Store. in private gardens on the IS
nd, but, owing to the inexperience II
the gardeners IN such culture. new
with very marked success. The II
ethcds now being put into operation
J Mr. Hills. aided by the quality Of j
Ie soil al. WafIua, have evidently \
ZEN responsible for the great success 4
the present experiments The first
'ade cuttings now being made on the I
antaticn average hall an inch or /
ore IN diameter. and the tender tops
q from i've to six inches long The
lality Of the succulent shoots IS