32 



where kitchen garbage and common garden weeds were fed to a 

 Htter of five pigs, 899 pounds of dressed pork were produced in 

 nine months from birth at a cost of about 9.7 cents per pound. 

 These two experiments probably represent' the minimum and 

 maximum in hog feeding costs, and show possibiHties in this 

 "lowly" animal. Who of us wouldn't eat fresh pork when we 

 could raise it for 25 cents a pound? 



Which would you rather have — fresh Island eggs or the im- 

 ported variety? And yet, why do we import so many? All 

 through the country districts of these Islands, one can find many 

 and various kinds of poultry. As a general rule, these are poorly 

 fed and housed, being left to pick up their living as best they 

 can. They usually lay a few eggs and occasionally "steal their 

 nest" and hatch a few chickens. Very few of their owners know 

 or care how many birds they own, how many eggs they lay, or 

 how old the birds are. Because of these facts, prices of eggs 

 and poultry are high and large quantities have to be imported. 

 We have some egg farmers today who are making a success of 

 this phase of animal husbandry, and we eagerly buy all they have 

 to oft'er on the market. Should we let the failures of a few 

 who have undertaken poultry raising, stop the further develop- 

 ment of this industry? Poultry and eggs can be produced here, 

 and our market can use them. It is not necessary to have a 

 large sum of money in order to start in this industry. A small 

 beginning is very desirable in order to give experience and train- 

 ing which is necessary for final success. 



I have not touched on the possibilities of beef and mutton 

 production, as these branches require much more land than the 

 average homestead contains and must necessarily be left to a 

 few who control large grazing areas. But if the average, true 

 homestead communities will set aside a portion of their lands 

 each year for the production of fodder for livestock, and through 

 some community organization, which could buy and sell more 

 advantageously than individuals, put some good dairy cattle, hogs 

 and chickens on each homestead, there will be more prosperity 

 ten years hence among our small farmers, than the future prom- 

 ises for them if the same policy that is being carried out now is 

 continued. 



THINNING ALGAROBA FORESTS. 



By C. S. JuDD, Superintendent of Forestry. 



The stands of algaroba trees (Prosopis juliflora) established 

 through the agency of stock on the arid waste lands in the Ter- 

 ritory of Hawaii often occur as dense thickets, which are diffi- 

 cult of penetration by man and beasts on account of the thorny 

 tangle of branches, close growth, and fallen or leaning trees. 

 Such a condition results in retarded tree growth and in unde- 

 veloped crowns. The crop of blossoms for bee pasturage and 



