Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-12-15

had gone the results were very prom
ising. Nitrate application at the time
OF topping he thought would prove its
value and be made the rule on the
plantation. Experiments I'm mulchine
OF the cane for the suppression OF
weeds were being continued and indi
Gated success. Results from the ap
plication Of phosphoric acid shortly
before harvesting were favorable on
the upper but neutral on the lower
lands. The test on the whole had
not been satisfactory.
Originator 81 Weed-Spraying Idea.
In his report as chairman of the
committee Mr.. Eckart disclaims being
the originator Of the weed-spraying
idea, as credited by one Of the CON
tributors, saying sthe Olaa work in
!. this connection was based on the val
ued suggestion Of Mr.. H. p. Agee, d.
rector of the H. s. p. A. experiment
station"
A conversational discussion ensued
the chairman of committee holding
the floor and commenting on expert
ences related, those who participated
being A. Gartley, e. X. Bull, Edward
Broadbent, j. N. s. Williams. James
Webster, John T. Moir, David Forbes,
DIT. Lyon, Anthonw Lidgate, John NJ.
Ross. H. B. PenhalIow, Andrew
Adams, @. F. Renton, John A. Scott,
George Ewart and Director H. p. Agee
OF the experiment station.
Various Applications Discussed.
The talk ranged over phosphoric
4cid application, pruning OF roots, linn
ing. green soiling. stripping, topping.
burying OF burning Of trash, burning
before harvesting etc. There was rec
fudescence Of the near ancient clashes
over the stripping and burning prob.
LENS, with evidence Of agreement thae
the correct solutions depend upon To-
cal conditions.
With reference to green soiling Mr..
Webster SAID he found the Jack bean
failed in growing nodules while the
Mauritius bean yielded them profuse-
~ Mr.. Ages, however. had frequent
~ found nod,iles on the jack bean, al
though. being attached to threadiike
tendrils, were liable 20 stay behind
when the plants we're pulled up.
Mr.. Eckart laid special emphasis
on the experience of Mr.. Lidgate in
the burying Of trash. He read Mr..
Lidgate's letter from the printed re-
port. Eleven years ago Mr.. Lidgate
told the association how he had proved
that bufying the trash greatly In
creased the fertility and consequent
yield Of sugar while it did not promote
the prevalence of pests n the soil.
In answer to question Mr.. Lidgate
said he believed in stripping the cane
provided labor was plentiful. Mr.
Eckart thought the preponderance OF
opinion among the planters was now
against stripping.
"Bnt not against burning,s 4. f.
Bishop interjected.
Mr.pEckart replied that the opinion.
was that on irrigated plantations the
trash should be buried but on unir-
rigated plantations it should be
burned.
Mr.. Scott attributed the rapid
growth of cane through the trash in
Hilo distinct to the heat produced In
the soil by the trash blanket While
he had given up stripping he never
burned. He was increasing the pro
portion Of ration to plant cane, There
were fields on Wainaku plantation
which had been under cultivation since
1870 continuously and from which the
sugar yield the past season was IA
tons to the acre. All over the planta
ton. taking good and bad, the average
yield was 5.66 tons The speaker said
that IL Lahaina cane had not been SUI.
perseded by Yellow Caledonia the ISL
and of Hawaii would have gone bank
rupt long ago.
Weather and Ratoons.
Mr.. Ross, combated the Oahu idea
that wet weather on the island of Ha-
waii was the cause of good ration
growth there He gave several in
stances of better growth of ratoohs in
dry than In wet seasons on the Big
Island.
Mr.. Lidgate strongly contended, in
closing at noon, that the solution of
most of the problems discussed lay in
the fertility of the soil