17 
lately impossible. And it is unquestionable that a great area of 
land could be devoted to bananas which at present bears almost 
nothing which is worth mentioning from an agricultural stand- 
point. We have a pretty good supply of Bluefield bananas, 
which in itself is an encouraging feature of our banana industry, 
because that is what they want on the mainland. There is al- 
most nothing that seriously attacks the banana at present. The 
insect and fungus diseases amount to almost nothing on them ; 
very rarely there is a disease which attacks the top, as a sort of 
blight, which is serious in some countries but is not serious here, 
so that it is a crop with a minimum of troubles and disadvantages 
to the man who comes into the tropics relatively unprepared to 
cope with the problems of tropical agriculture. 
One point more in connection with this banana industry: I 
think I am now at liberty to say that there is a very active 
movement now on foot on the part of perhaps the largest banana 
concern in the world, to get our bananas ; and I think it would 
be simply the making of our banana business if this plan is ever 
realized; in fact, there can be no question about it if they take 
up the crop here. They pay right here at the wharf in Hono- 
lulu and ship entirely at their own risk. The proposition now 
is to pay fifty cents for a good bunch down to thirty cents for a 
smaller bunch. Whenever a man shows a receipt that he has 
delivered so many bunches he can take this certificate to the bank 
and get his money when the bananas are delivered. And the 
moment the industry warrants this greater shipping, there will 
be two or three five-day boats put on here. They have already 
been designated to take this trade when it is developed, I mean 
two boats have already been selected to carry bananas where 
they can be gotten in quantities that will warrant this increase in 
the present shipping facilities. Now a proposition like that shows 
that here is an industry that can be developed. I believe that 
in time instead of the 15,000 bunches of bananas shipped at pres- 
ent, the amount can be increased to 250,000. It is only neces- 
sary for one to think of the history of two or three of the Central 
American localities where the natives used to live in the utmost 
misery, but where the conditions are now most prosperous as a 
result of having a regular and dependable outlet for all the 
bananas which can be produced. It has been largely the mak- 
ing of such countries. 
I do not think I am exaggerating the importance of the 
banana industry; because it has an important bearing on the 
shipping and getting transportation from Hawaii, and possibly 
from Maui, to the mainland and getting a fast service which 
would certainly be of immense benefit to the Territory. 
I think I might be allowed to mention one other point that 
bears on forestry lines, rather than upon the soil ; and yet the 
title of the little talk I am making is such that I could not be 
called down for talking on anything under the sun. 
