The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-06-28
HOPE HELDOUTFOR
NTRAiT[ES SUPPLY
FOR SUGAR FIELDS
Shipping Board Recommends
One Steamer and Three Sail
ina Vessels Be Allowed
ACTION NOT YET TAKEN
ON BOARDS PROPOSALS
Failure of Arrivals Would Mean
Loss of Halt of Crop of
Two Years Hence


Relief from the nitrate famine in the
near future is Indicated but not vet
definitely assured The indication lies
in advices received by the Hawaiian
Fertilizer Company Of the recommend
alton made by the shipping board where
in that board recommended that there
be allowed for the bringing to Hawaii
from Chile one steamer and three sail
ing vessels. Action upon the recon-.
incubation has not as yet been taken,
however, or if it has been taken the
fertilizer company here has not as yet
been notified.
Confirmation Of the report that this
Recommendation had been made was
secured from Norman Watkins, mana,
ger Of the Hawaiian Fertilizer Com.
nanny who, at the same time, advised
against too much confidence being
placed in this solution of the problem
until such time as the recommendation
shall have been faVorably acted upon
inasmuch as the company has been dis
appointed in expectations several times.
How About Lane
What action will be taken by the
secretary Of interior when he reaches
need for fertilizer to keep up produc-
ton was clearly set forth to him.
Shortage of fertilizer would not be
severely felt in next years crop but,
unless it be speedily relieved, the 1920
crop will be seriously reduced. The
1919 crop is in good shape so far as
fertilization has gone, for the reason
that il had been pretty well cared for
ha ha
1920 crop it would be different That
requires the use Of fertilizer during the
present summer and autumn.
Figures, gained by comparison of the
yields of fortified and unfertilized
fields, have been recently prepared by
the Planters Experiment Station and
these show that the loss through inabil-
ity to fertilize the soil would be even
greater than has been published. The
Experiment Station finds that the DIFF
ference in the yield is not far from
fifty percent, and prOPortionate where
the supply is inadequate.
Largest Hit Hardest
In case of a continuance of the fail
ure of the supply of nitrates, it would
be the larger producers, plantations
like Hawaiian Commercial, Oahu, Eva,
Waialua, Maui Agricultural and Wal
mku that would be the hardest hit, not
the plantations whose Yields are small
er in total or per acre, and this is evil
dent by merely cutting yield figures in
two.
Not only would a failure to secure
fertilizer mean a smaller supply of
sugar to the consumer; it would mean
inability to produce at a profit for many
of the plantations If the yield per
acre in cane is reduced bv half and the
cost Of cultivation remains the same,
less cost of fertilizer, it is evident the
profit on the half production would
cost nearly much as would u full
crop. One agent said that without a
supply Of fertilizers some Of the plan
tatiOns would not earn enough to pay
their taxes.
Drought Still Felt
Under best conditions the 1919 crop
will not be so large as it might have
been but for the drought of last year.
Young cane was killed and much had to
be planted again. While the shortage
will not be so serious as that which
resulted to this years crop from the
drought, it will be appreciable. Fer
tiliZer is absolutely necessary to bring
profitable crop for the following crop.
How the department of agriculture
is making out with its effort TO supply
the farmers Of the country with nitratrs
is told in the Weekly News Letter re
ceived here on the last mail.
Government Efforts
The work Of Transporting and dis.
tributing to farmers the nitrate pur.
chased by the government for ferti-
liZer use is proceeding as rapidly as
possible, despite unavoida bic traDspOr
tation difficulties due to unexpected
war demands for shipping, according to
n statement issued by the United
states department of agriculture.
II was originally contemplated that
the 100000 tons Of 1000 pounds each
of nitrate purchased under the provi
hiOns of the food control act would be
delivered at Atlantic ports at the rate
of something over 10000 tons per
month, beginning in January At tina:
time il appeared that deliveries could
be timed in such a way that all aPPli
cants would receive, when needed, prac'
tically the full amount of their orders
Unfortunately, on account of unexpect
ed war demands for shipping, it was
Impossible TOT the shlPPluS pOhi" ~
assign vessels at the rate contemplated
In the circumstances it became neces
sary for the department to modify IT.
plans Of distribution.
Emergency Distributors Appointed
In order to meet the changed situa
ton, emergency distributors were uP
pointed in the majority Of the roun
ties affected TO deal with the farmer
direct, in order that the nitrate Oh
hand could be furnished to the pro