HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION. 365 



ment Station for the period from April 5 to November 1, 1901, seven 

 months. 



The correspondence has been rather large, the station having already 

 given assistance and information to many farmers in all the islands of 

 the group. 



Some poultry experiments have also been inaugurated. These could 

 be undertaken immediately without great expense, and it is hoped 

 that they may lead to results of immediate practical usefulness. 

 Largely because of the great number of diseases with which barnyard 

 fowls are afflicted in the Hawaiian Islands the supply of poultry does 

 not meet the demand. Live chickens sell in Honolulu markets for $15 

 a dozen and eggs at from 40 to 50 cents a dozen. If the station can 

 demonstrate a practical way for the economical production of chickens 

 and eggs it will add largely to the resources of the small farmers on 

 the islands. The ravages of the disease known as sore head are so 

 severe as to almost prevent the raising of domestic fowls. An article 

 on Chickens and their diseases in Hawaii has been prepared by my 

 assistant, Mr. T. F. Sedgwick, and published as Bulletin No. 1 of the 

 Hawaii Station. This treats of sore head, as well as of several other 

 common diseases, and gives simple precautions and preventive meas- 

 ures which, if adopted by poultry growers, will do much toward 

 enabling farmers to fight disease. 



As soon as possible, experiments will be begun in animal husbandry 

 and dairying. Owing largely to an insufficiency of forage, meats are 

 very expensive. In the markets of Honolulu hogs sell for from 10 to 

 17 cents per pound live weight. To remedy this difficult} 7 it is intended 

 to undertake at an early da} 7 feeding experiments with various roots 

 and tubers and with the common papaya as food for swine. 



As soon as possible, experiments in dairying should be undertaken 

 upon a carefully planned system. Dairying and cattle feeding are now 

 being carried on on a small scale with some measure of success, but 

 the supply of milk and butter is insufficient to meet the demands of the 

 home trade. Island butter retails for 60 cents per pound, milk for 12 

 cents a quart, and Hawaiian-made cheese is almost unknown in the 

 Hawaiian markets. A few. of the dairies are managed on a scientific 

 basis. 



There is, moreover, widespread ignorance of the best combinations 

 of feeds and too great dependence on one-sided rations both in feeding 

 dairy cattle and in fattening animals for the shambles. The use and 

 necessity of leguminous forage plants are not recognized. Enough by- 

 products of the sugar plantations are burned ever} 7 year to feed all the 

 beef, pork, and mutton consumed in the islands. 



Experiments should be conducted in 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 



