n8 
which  are  actually  needed  and  as  to  the  best  methods  of 
packing  and  shipping  this  material. 
There  is  at  present  a local  demand  for  sweet  potatoes  far 
in  excess  of  the  supply.  The  local  demand  is  not  only  for  a 
large  quantity,  but  for  a more  uniform  article,  so  that  the  con- 
sumer will  be  able  to  call  for  a definite  variety  and  will  be 
assured  that  he  will  obtain  what  he  desires.  The  local  sweet 
potato  market  could  be  greatly  extended  by  the  development 
of  those  varieties  which  are  most  in  demand.  Now,  if  there 
is  one  lesson  which  California,  for  example,  has  taught  the 
world,  it  is  the  lesson  that  it  pays  to  give  attention  to  the 
product  before  you  send  it  to  market.  The  very  fact  that 
California  has  sent  oranges  three  thousand  miles  across  the 
country  and  put  them  into  the  market  in  competition  with 
local  products  proves  the  value  of  careful  methods  of  market- 
ing. 
We  come  now  to  the  question  of  scientific  problems  con- 
nected with  crop  production.  At  present  the  Hawaii  Experi- 
ment Station  has  its  work  organized  around  one  chief  problem, 
namely,  that  of  preserving  soil  fertility  indefinitely.  It  is  to  be 
accomplished  by  determining  the  best  system  of  crop  rotation 
and  treatment  of  soil  by  fertilizers,  so  that  to  make  the  opera- 
tion of  farm  management  fit  in  with  the  plan  of  raising  one 
particular  crop  as  the  money  crop.  The  present  plan  involves 
the  demonstration  of  best  methods  to  accomplish  these  results 
with  pineapple,  cotton,  rubber,  taro  and  in  the  production  of 
forage  and  rice.  The  plan  of  farm  management,  in  order  to 
be  scientifically  correct  and  successful  from  a business  stand- 
point, must  be  such  that  the  yield  of  the  money  crop  will  be 
maintained  at  the  highest  point  rather  than  diminished  as  each 
rotation  comes  around.  Some  of  the  crops  which  must  be  used 
in  rotation  with  the  chief  money  crop  can  thus  be  sold,  while 
others  will  be  used  as  forage  for  farm  animals  and  for  benefiting 
the  physical  and  chemical  condition  of  the  soil.  The  need  of 
such  rotation  has  been  felt  most  keenly  by  the  pineapple 
growers,  but  it  is  necessary  with  every  crop.  It  is  impossible 
to  secure  maximum  yields  of  pineapples  when  this  crop  is 
grown  continuously  on  the  same  soil.  The  interruption  of 
continuous  pineapple  plantings  with  other  crops  will  not  only 
produce  the  profits  but  will  permanently  maintain  the  fertility 
of  the  soil. 
The  necessity  for  the  production  of  more  forage  on  ranches 
is  evident  from  the  great  loss  of  cattle  which  was  suffered 
during  the  present  season  of  drought.  There  is  no  possible 
way  of  increasing  the  carrying  powers  of  the  grazing  lands 
and  putting  the  business  of  ranching  on  a solid  foundation 
except  to  produce  enough  forage  to  tide  over  the  animals  dur- 
ing the  period  of  drought  and  thus  relieve  the  overstocked 
ranches. 
