210 DEPARTMENTAL REPOETS. 



too great dependence on one-sided rations both in feeding dairy cattle and in fat- 

 tening animals for the shambles. The use and necessity of leguminous forage 

 plants is not recognized. Enough by-products of the sugar plantations are burned 

 every year to feed all the beef, pork, and mutton consumed in the islands. 



Experiments should be conducted m the utilization of the waste cane tops in 

 the form of silage for feeding dairy cattle and beef steers, and with the waste 

 molasses for fattening sheep, cattle, and hogs. On some plantations the work 

 horses and mules are fed cane tops and molasses to good advantage. The practice 

 can with profit be extended to other branches of animal husbandry. But it is of 

 even greater importance that extensive experiments be carried on with forage 

 plants rich in protein, the clovers and beans, to supplement and fully utilize all 

 of the heat and fat-making energy of the cane- top and sorghum rations generally 

 used. The Hawaiian Islands can grow and fatten more than enough animals to 

 supply the home demand. At present considerable importations of cattle, beef, 

 mutton, hogs, and pork are made from the mainland, Australia, and New Zealand. 

 On the contrary, because of the location of the group, Hawaii ought to be able to 

 command a superior market for all her surplus dairy and meat products in the 

 Orient. 



Plans are being made for experiments in horticulture, including 

 both fruits and vegetables, and coffee culture. These will include 

 experiments with reference to the methods and times of pruning, 

 methods of cultivation, picking, and marketing, as well as tests of 

 varieties. To show the importance of such investigations, Mr. Smith 

 makes the following statements: 



The Hawaiian Islands market depends largely on supplies of fruits from the 

 mainland at all seasons of the year. Not only can enough fruit in sufficient 

 variety be grown to supply the local markets, but both fruit and vegetables might 

 be grown for export. The Honolulu market is usually well supplied with fruits 

 and vegetables, though not always of the best quality nor in large variety, but the 

 plantations, farms, and ranches depend largely on canned products. Work to 

 show the practicability of the growing of a wide range of fruits and vegetables 

 for the home table at a distance from well-filled markets will be profitable and 

 desirable. 



It is hoped that experiments in coffee culture and the growing of 

 various spices and drugs may also be undertaken at an early day. 

 On this subject Mr. Smith reports as follow^s: 



Probably $10,000,000 has been sunk in unprofitable coffee c^^ltivation in these 

 islands during the last ten years. An intelligent investigation of all phases of the 

 coffee industry will well repay. Coffee is a white man s crop. It is grown at 

 elevations unsuited to cane and where the climate is admirably adapted to a 

 comfortable and healthful existence. 



The coffee lands of Hawaii can be made as productive as any in the world. 

 Experiments in the selection and crossing of varieties to produce more prolific or 

 hardier trees, and espei-ially an investigation of the methods of curing cotfee, should 

 be made in an effort to save this industry. Hawaiian coffee has already made for 

 itself an enviable reputation for (juality and flavor of berry. If it could be sold 

 on its merits instead of iji competition with the low-grade coffees of Brazil and 

 Central America, it would in time prove an immensely profitable crop. An ett'ort 

 should be made to save this industry from total extinction. It is a croi) especially 

 suited to the small farmer and the small investor— the man who can biiild uj) a 

 home and care for his crop himself. Tiie establishment of the coffee industry on 

 a successful basis would make the Hawaiian Islands a land of small farmers more 

 quickly than the transformation could be accomplished in any other way or through 

 the medium of any other crop or industry. Besides coffee, various spices and 

 drugs could be grown, such as pepper, allspice, ginger, cardamom, cloves, various 

 tannins, kinos, and oils. But with all of these the experiment station must lead 

 the way and show the possibility of profitable culture before the f aimers are 

 advised to undertake the cultivation. 



Investigations on methods of cultivation and the use of fertilizers 

 and drainage and irrigation are also miicli needed. On this point Mr. 

 Smith states: 



Very little has been done to demonstrate the value of thorotiL;h cultivation and 

 the use of commercial fertilizers except in connection with sugar cane. There is 



