11 



lesson to be learned from the sugar industry by those 

 engaging in other lines of agricultural work, is the 

 thoroughness of cultivation which the planters perform, 

 and the business-like methods which are characteristic; 

 of the whole industry. On all of the larger plantations, 

 the land is plowed to a depth of from one to three feet, 

 thus furnishing a soil reservoir for the retention of mois- 

 ture and a deep feeding ground for the cane. The first 

 crop of cane is obtained in about 18 months and is fol- 

 lowed by a ratoon crop in 14 months; and the second 

 ratoon crop, 18 months later. A third ratoon crop may 

 be obtained, but seems not to be profitable under our 

 conditions. The average yield of sugar per acre is a little 

 more than four tons. 



The land suitable for raising sugar cane has nearly 

 all been taken up for that purpose. There are, here and 

 there, however, small areas where farmers might raise 

 cane and sell it to sugar .mills. There are also a few 

 areas suitable for large plantations which are now devot- 

 ed to other purposes. The sugar planters employ a large 

 number of trained agriculturists and engineers of various 

 sorts in the management of their plantations. 



RICE. 



Rice was introduced into the Islands as a commercial 

 cereal in 1858. Interest in this crop developed rapidly, 

 and in 1862 the first exportation of rice took place. Since 

 this date it has increased until now there are 12,000 

 acres cultivated in rice, producing an annual crop valued 

 at $2,500,000. Rice is the chief article of diet of the 

 orientals, and its production is almost entirely in the 

 hands of Chinese. Two. crops are produced annually, one 

 in the spring, and one in the fall; and corresponding 

 with these semi-annual crops, are spring and fall varie- 

 ties of rice. The annual yield of clean rice ranges from 

 3,000 to 6,000 pounds per acre, and the net profit per 

 acre, from $50 to $100. Careful estimates place the cost 

 of production at $3.00 to $3.75 per hundred pounds. 

 The prices received for rice in 1908 ranged from $4.25 

 to $5.00 per hundred pounds. The rental ordinarily paid 

 for rice land varies from $10.00 to $50.00 per acre. 



Cultivation of rice in the Islands is carried on by 

 Chinese methods. These methods have been brought with 

 the Chinese from their native country, and have been 

 followed here ever since the cultivation of rice has been 



