10 



suit his own purposes. Many of the crops which have 

 been shown to be profitable here have not been developed 

 on their proper commercial basis, but for the commercial 

 and profitable development of these minor industries, we 

 need nothing but more farmers of skill and intelligence. 



SUGAR. 



Sugar cane is apparently indigenous to the Hawaiian 

 Islands, as is also true for many Pacific islands. At any 

 rate, at the time of the first visit of Captain Cook, sugar 

 cane was grown and eaten by the natives. The first ex- 

 portation of sugar was made in 1837, since which time 

 the industry has grown until in 1908, the yield was 

 521,000 tons, valued at more than $40,000,000. The 

 varieties principally grown at present are "Lahaina," 

 "Rose Bamboo" and "Yellow Caledonia." The Sugar 

 Planters' Association maintains an Experiment Station 

 by assessment upon the various companies, devoting 

 $70,000 annually to the Experiment Station work. The 

 chief work of the Station has been along the lines of 

 insect control, the eradication of fungus diseases, exam- 

 ination of fertilizers, soil studies, cultural methods and 

 the technical details of sugar manufacture. One of the 

 most conspicuous practical results brought about by the 

 Experiment Station is the successful control of a number 

 of insect pests of sugar cane, particularly the leaf-hopper, 

 which, before the introduction of parasities, did damage 

 to the extent of millions of dollars; but was brought 

 under practical control, by means of parasities, within 

 two or three years. Attention has been given to the 

 propagation of new varieties by means of hybridization 

 and the growing of seedling canes, and some promising 

 results have geeri obtained along that line. 



There are 213,000 acres planted in sugar cane, partly 

 on land owned by sugar planters, and partly on leased 

 land. About 105,000 acres of this land have been re- 

 claimed by irrigation, at a cost of about $15,000,000. 

 About 41,000 tons of fertilizers, in addition to stable 

 manure are used annually in the production of cane. 



From these figures it is apparent that sugar is the chief 

 agricultural industry of the Islands, and that the main 

 industries of the Islands are at present, in one way or 

 another, dependent upon the sugar industry. The agri- 

 cultural and milling machinery used on the plantations 

 is of the very best and most improved form. The chief 



