370 REPOET OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



undoubtedly be grown. The limit of production would be near 

 100,000 tons, and this yield could be reached without converting to 

 the purpose one single acre of land on which sugar cane is now grown. 

 If Congress will afford to coffee the same protection which is extended 

 to sugar, it would mean not only the building up of an industry among 

 our own people and within our own borders, but the establishment of 

 this industry on a firm basis would also mean a marked increase in the 

 number of small landowners. From the national standpoint, that 

 State which produces or can produce within its own borders the great- 

 est number of necessaries consumed by its own people is the strongest. 

 To foster the coffee industry in these islands of the Pacific will be to 

 make Hawaii a stronger member of the family of States. 



I append herewith some correspondence which may throw more 

 light on the subject. I believe from what I know of the islands that 

 Mr. Wight's views are correct and unprejudiced. They are certainly 

 worthy of consideration. 



Honolulu, H. I., May 16, 1901. 

 Dear Sir: In conversation with Mr. A. Louisson he stated that you were desirous 

 of obtaining authentic information in regard to the cultivation of coffee and other 

 crops adapted to these latitudes, and, having gone into this matter most thoroughly, 

 I take pleasure in placing such information as I have at your disposal. 



LOCATION AND PREPARATION OF PLANTATIONS. 



Experience has demonstrated that coffee can be successfully cultivated only at an 

 elevation of over 1,000 feet, and tlfe best results are obtained at an altitude in the 

 neighborhood of 2,000 feet. A deep rich soil is essential, and also a certain amount 

 of shade. The lands in the Hamakua district above the cane belts from Kukuihaele 

 to Laupahoehoe grow fine coffee; from Laupahoehoe into Hilo results have not been 

 satisfactory. This is probably due to a clayey subsoil. The upper lands in the dis- 

 trict of Kona are also suited to the cultivation of coffee. A rainfall of from 50 to 100 

 inches a year, evenly distributed, is essential to produce the best grades. Absence 

 from wind is also requisite. 



The first step in opening a coffee plantation is the erection of laborers' quarters. 

 Fifteen dollars an acre will cover this expense, including suitable water containers. 

 The next step is clearing the land. The best practice is to cut down the forest, 

 cutting the trunks of trees over 1 foot in diameter in lengths of 8 feet, and below 1 

 foot in diameter in lengths of 12 feet. All brush smaller than one's wrist is best 

 burned, but great care should be taken in burning the brush not to burn over the 

 land. The ferns which are invariably found in forest land keep the ground moist, 

 prevent weeds from growing, and also protect the young coffee trees against insects, 

 and the growth of the ferns does not interfere with the growth of the coffee. 



There is no doubt but that coffee grows better in the shade than in the open, the 

 amount of shade depending on the rainfall and altitude of the plantation. In the 

 Hamakua district 12 shade trees to the acre give the best results. Coffee trees grown 

 in the open throw out branches close together, necessitating much extra labor for 

 pruning; those grown in too dense shade throw out branches too far apart and the 

 crop does not ripen well, but by placing shade trees judiciously the coffee grows suf- 

 ficiently open to make the labor of pruning nominal. 



