374 EEPOET OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



In my opinion the fruits of the Temperate Zone can not be profitably cultivated to 

 any extent owing to the small consuming population of the same. A considerable 

 market for oranges ought to be found here and a plantation of 400 or 500 acres should 

 succeed, but I doubt if any considerable foreign market could be found. On the 

 other hand, coffee, gutta-percha, India rubber, cocoa, cacao, cocoanuts, and products 

 which are naturally adapted to this latitude, which w T ill keep indefinitely, and which 

 are used universally all over the world, seem to me more desirable crops. 



Yours, very truly, C. S. Wight. 



Mr. Jaked G. Smith, 



Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, 



Honolulu, Island of Oahu, Hawaii Ter. 



At my request my assistant, Mr. T. F. Sedgwick, has prepared 

 brief statements upon the present condition of a number of important 

 industries, which I submit herewith. It is shown that of such impor- 

 tant food crops as potatoes and rice not enough are grown to supply 

 the local demands, and of taro, which is one of the important plants, 

 being used both as bread and as a vegetable, the supply is gradually 

 diminishing, owing to a number of causes. 



A cooperative experiment in taro growing was started with Judge 

 Wilcox of Honolulu about August 15. A taro patch was selected in 

 which almost every plant was affected with "blight," and experiments 

 are now being made to find methods by which the disease can be 

 checked. Losses in the yield of taro have in some cases amounted to 

 90 per cent of the crop. Taro being the staple food of the native 

 Hawaiians, these experiments^ if successful, will be of great and 

 immediate practical value. (PL XXIX.) 



POTATOES. 



Formerly potato growing was an important industry, potatoes stand- 

 ing at the head of the list of exports. In 1849 the number of barrels 

 exported was 51,957, but at the present time the local demand is almost 

 wholly supplied by importations, which amount to 1,500,000 to 2,000,- 

 000 pounds per annum. The retail price varies from 1J to 4 cents 

 per pound. 



It is estimated that there are at least 6,000 acres of land well adapted 

 to the growing of potatoes. The best potato land is in the Kula dis- 

 trict, island of Maui, on the slopes of Haleakala, the yield varying 

 from 1$ to 4 tons per acre. The soil is fine, almost a powder, quite 

 deep, and does not crack. The tubers are smooth and free from pim- 

 ples and present a good appearance in the market. The size of the 

 potato is inferior, but this is due to poor selection and bad cultivation, 

 as there are records of specimen potatoes 16 inches long and 11 inches 

 in circumference. The quality is excellent, and when properly shipped 

 brings a good price in the market. Good potato land is also found in 

 the vicinity of Kawaihae, island of Hawaii. 



