HAWAII STATION. - 23 



keted fiom Hawaii, and their introduction will doul)tless be of great 

 advantage both to growers and shippers. The station has success- 

 full}^ in.ti'oduced the cultivation of the roselle {Hibiscus scibdariffa). 

 The fleshy calyx of this fruit and the young seed pods are used for 

 the manufacture of excellent jam and jelly. The experiments show 

 that this plant is well adapted to local conditions, and it is being 

 grown on an extensive scale for distribution purposes. 



Cooperative work is being carried on by the station at several 

 places with a number of important crops. On the island of Maui a 

 rather extensive experiment with wine grapes is in progress. One 

 liundred and seventy-seven varieties of wane grapes were procured by 

 the station and planted in ISIarch, 1906. The station directs the 

 experiment, which is carried on without further expense to it. The 

 growing of table grapes is already being carried on in a limited way 

 hy the Portuguese settlers, and wdth the anticipated increase of 

 immigrants from Portugal and the Azores it is probable that grape 

 growing and wine making can be made profitable industries. 



An important experiment in rubber production is being carried on 

 at Nahiku, on the island of Maui. This embraces tests of varieties, 

 the use of fertilizers, methods of tapping, preparation of rubber, etc. 

 The rapid rise in the price of rubber has resulted in extensive plant- 

 ing experiments throughout the Tropics, and it is believed that this 

 industry can be made profitable in Hawaii. According to a recent 

 report, one company on Maui has now growing 138,330 rubber trees, 

 of which 120,800 are Ceara, 8,086 Hevea, and 450 Castilloa rubber. 

 Experimental tappings have proved satisfactory, and it is believed 

 that fully 100,000 trees will be yielding a profit by the year 1909. 

 The difficulty of obtaining seed and the low vitality of some ship- 

 ments are serious drawbacks to the rapid extension of rubber planta- 

 tions. A small experimental planting of rubber trees and coffee has 

 been made on the station grounds. 



The tobacco investigations which were begun in 1903 have been 

 continued with promise of great success. In 1906 the location was 

 changed from Pohakea to a tract of government land in Paauilo that 

 has been set aside for this purpose for a term of years. This experi- 

 ment is in coo[)eration with the Territorial board of agriculture and 

 forestry and a number of private individuals. In 1906 4 acres were 

 planted to the best varieties of Sumatra and Habana tobaccos, and a 

 curing barn 30 by 50 feet was erected. The crop of 1905 w^as re- 

 garded so highly that about fifty farmers and planters are this year 

 experimenting with tobacco, and the industry seems in a fair way to 

 become commercially established. 



The station is continuing its cooperation with the Hawaiian Stock 

 Breeders' Association in the introduction and distribution of seeds 



