Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-04-28
Edwin C. Moore Says Garden
ing Campaign Should Have
a Guarantee OF Profitable
Marketing .-.. .
Haiku. Maui. April %, 1917.


Mr.. Riley H. Allen, Editor, Honolulu
Star-Bulletln, Honolulu.
Lear MI. Allen:
Your letter inviting a communica-
ton ION the now pressing subject OF
adding TO Hawaii's home production
in agriculture was received. but l
fear am out of tune in this movement
and cannot say much that will be
considered orthodox" 49,.
am disposed to believe in the diyi'
sion of labor and the benefits of trade.
! am disposed to believe In each part
of the country producing that which it
is fitted to produce most efficiently,
and trading il with other parts OF the
country for the things that can be
produced most efficiently there. That
is sound economics. think-and there
are many benefits that come from
trade outside the field of economics.
A one-sidei proposition in which We
try to SCI, sell, sell &c the other Eel.
low but not to buy anything more
from him that we possibly can is not
a satisfactory state of affairs and can
Eot be permanent. 49, S.. .-......s d..
Now ! am not arguing against the
home garden movement, or the home
production of anything which We can
produce on land not fitted for our spe.
cial crops and which would otherwise
be idle. Everyone should have a gar
den. if only for the safe of his soul.
With the kiss of the sun for pardon,
The song of the birds for mirth,
One is nearer Gods heart in garden,
Than anywhere else on earth"
Nor am arguing against anything
which is necessary as a war measure.
But / rather object to having life on
the islands planned permanently from
the military standpoint. r.. III.
What l believe Hawaii should strive
for is contented and prosperous
rural citizen population. That is the
thing We need-looking forward to
years of peace. 1t will also come in
very handy from the military stand
point, but that is incidental. Such a
population will produce as much stuff
to feed Hawaii as can be produced
profitably. And what it produces it
will produce uniformly and with GER
tainty. / have spoken of the many
gardens that are being started as good
for the soul. Do you not suspect, with
me, that that is about all the use
fulness most of them will fulfil? The
soul will be satisfied, but the stomach!
This idea of securing population
of good farmers on the land is not a
spectacular one that you can whoop
up and get people excited about. But
IL is fundamental. The measures that
would bring it about should be adopt
ed. i have worked very hard to
formulate these measures in practical
terms. Here they are:
1. Provide the opportunity for legit-
innate farmers to get on the land by
excluding the Spectator in the home
steading Of the public land, and by
demonstrating all of the public land
fit for farming or grazing. The terms
of demonstrating provided in H. B. 1873
Ia perpetual lease, with permanent
residence requirement, yielding per
cent of appraised value to the govern
ment as rental-would have excluded
the speculator. The house passed this
but ] understand the senate has killed
it: The policy of demonstrating all
the public land has been opposed by
the governor.
2. Aid the farmer as to what to grow
ard how to grow it. The experiment
station has done much to discover this
information but there has been lack