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investigations for three years to determine whether good 

 tobacco can be grown in the islands. Most favorable results 

 have been obtained. The experiments were conducted in Ha- 

 makua, Hawaii, where the chief types of commercial tobacco 

 are being grown. The final results indicate that wrapper 

 tobaccos of fine texture, and body and filler leaf of mild flavor 

 and good burning qualities, are a commercial possibility. The 

 flavor of the Hawaiian grown tobacco is said to be distinct 

 and to lie betvv^een that of the Manila and Cuban products. 

 It is believed that our island tobacco can be sold on its pecu- 

 liar and intrinsic merits. Ihere are at least 100,000 acres of 

 land in Hawaii where the physical character of the soil is 

 right for growing this crop. It is estimated by Mr. Smith 

 that a grower may produce tobacco on his own land and with 

 the labor of his own family at a cost of from 2 to 2^ cents 

 per pound of green Iccif, equal to from 10 to 12}^ cents per 

 pound of barn-cured tobacco. 



Hawaiian tobacco grows wild throughout the islands with- 

 out cultivation, and has reverted to its original type. The old 

 Hawaiians recognize certain limited districts as producing; 

 superior tobacco, the best grades of which are sold at about 

 50 cents per pound. 



Vanilla, another new and promising industry, is then dealt 

 with. The bean from which this esteemed flavoring is obtain- 

 ed, is the cured fruit of a climbing orchid, which is not pro- 

 duced unless the flowers are hand pollinated. This is a deli- 

 cate operation, not difficult to learn. The fruit pods are gath- 

 ered before ripe and are cured by sweating while green in the 

 direct sunlight between folds of woolen blankets. The yield 

 per acre in Hawaii has been estimated at about 13,000 pods, 

 equal to 120 pounds of cured beans. The industry is very 

 profitable to one having sufficient means who will give it per- 

 sonal supervis'on. Five acres of vanilla, in bearing, should 

 yield a crop valued at from $2000 to $2500, but there will 

 first be an unproductive period of about three years. 



The silk industry has been another source of valuable ex- 

 periment, conducted by the Experiment Station, which has 

 lately produced a crop pronounced by experts as ''well worthy 

 of being graded as first class." Eggs for experimental pur- 

 pose and also mulberry cuttings will be furnished free of 

 charge by the Station, so far as possible, together with full 



