Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-11-18


holdings now and then as he proceeds
on his tour OF sightseeing through the
expansive lands which make up the
Haiku district and at the same time
appear to be formidable support
without which the eastern part of Ha-
laeakala might tumble into the sea.
A noticeable fact, also, is the number
q holdings the owners of which once
having secured title 10 their lands
have Immediately found it necessary
TO move to other places, strongly in
dicating their inability to make sat.
isfactory living from the land.
TWO Important Factors
Without wishing to appear over
critical or personal to the least de-
gree. the writer, following interviews
with various farmers, and from per.
sonal observations as well, has come
TO the conclusion that there have been
&c least two important factors in the
leave the homestead" movement
First. when the pineapple Industry had
its origin in this district il came as
a sort OF California gold fever. AS a
result. many who had not the least
idea OF what constituted farm life, and
who possessed more enthusiasm than
money, proved successful in drawing
lots" UnmindIul Of what the future
contained for them, they gathered up
their earthly possessions and took up
their claim" The deserted homes fur
nish silent but most effective evidence
OF the result of unpreparedness as we'll
as ample proof that IL is only the de-
termined and ever-plodding home
steader who meets with success.
Should Have Larger Areas
The second cause Is one which
could and should have been remed ed
by the land department at the oren-
ing of the homestead lands. When the
pineapple industry had its incentive
in this district but little beyond the
experimental stage was really known.
1t was not then known that land must
rest after the second or third ratoon
for period of from two to- three
years, and as a consequence, home
stead lots averaging about 10 acres
each, were-by the land department
only-suppose to DE the necessary
area for each small farmer All OBJ
iections upon the part of the would be
bomesteader were Haunted and 40
acre lots stood. Now, for arguments
sake, we viii cay that owing to nom
tillable gulches, the tillable land per
farm will average probably so acres.
The fact is, the writer considers this
percentage rather high as regards TILL
able land. Mr.. Krauss, the govern
ment official in charge of our local
81 -fof Il
the fact after much toll that pines can.
not be grown in succession on the
same soil That other crops must be
grown In order to give the land a
rest. He found the soil lacking in
humus and therefore unable to with
stand the demand of repeated crops
OF pines. Right here is where the 40
acre area falls down. Although Mr.
Krauss has devoted his time almost
exclusively to the attention of other
crops which the farmer might plant
and from which he might derive some
profit while his land rests for pines,
as yet no very great degree Of success
has been obtained. Thus il follows
that the farmer with but 80 acres OF
tillable land, and that lying idle half
the time, with no other crop with
which to alternate, finds himself in no
very enviable position. IL also does
not require a very high degree of in
feIligence to rsalize that the farmer
as matters stand today, should have
no less than so acres of land. With
the homesteader raising pines tina;
cost $l1 per ton TO produce, and for