8i2 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST [June i, 1888 
COFFEE PLANTING- IN HAWAII : 
BEPOET OF MR W. J. FORSYTH, ON THE 
SUITABILITY OF LANDS FOR COF- 
FEE AND CINCHONA CULTURE. 
Hon. L. A. Thurston, Minister of the Department 
of Interior : 
Sib, — According to instructions of 15th of 
August last received from your office, I proceeded 
to the Islands of Maui and Hawaii on a visit of 
inspection with a view to report upon the suitability 
of lands for the cultivation of cinchona and coffee. 
The following is my report : — 
ISLAND OF MAUI. 
Landing at Kahului, I went to Makawao; thence 
to the department of Kahiki Nui visiting on my 
way the uplands of Kula and Ulupalakua. From 
there to Kaupo, Kipahulu, Hana and Koolau. I 
returned again by the same route to Makawao and 
visited Hamakuapoko and Hamakualoa, which com- 
pleted my survey of East Maui. I then rode round 
West Maui, passed through the departments of 
Wailuku, Kaauapali and Lapaina, and made excur- 
sions into the Interior whenever I thought advis- 
able. 
ISLAND OF HAWAII. 
From Lahaina I crossed over to the Mahukona 
landing, Hawaii. Thence to Kohala district and the 
districts of Hamakua, Hilo, Puna, Kau, North and 
South Kona, and returned again to Mahukona. 
Thereby making the complete circuit of the Island. 
I went inland at various places in every district, 
wherever I thought it necessary to do so. 
The elevations I ascended never exceeded 3,500 
feet above sea level, for reasons which will appear 
ater on. The general characteristics of both closely 
resemble each other. 
The district of Koolau, part of Hamakuapoko and 
'Hamakualoa, on the Island of East Maui, are in 
general very like the districts of Kohala, Hamakua 
and Hilo, on the island of Hawaii, so that what I 
have to say- of the one applies equally to the 
other. I could also add a section of the department of 
Kau above Naalehu, but there is more exposure 
and wind than in any of the aforementioned places. 
These districts have a great depth of soil, strictly 
volcanic, a chocolate colored loam, and subsoil drain- 
age. 
In the sime way the districts of Puna, North and 
South Kona, on the island of Hawaii, resemble 
each other, except, that Kona proper may be more 
regular in its seasons. 
SOIL ON HAWAII. 
The soil formation is chiefly act, more or less de- 
composed ; pahoehoe lava too is quite frequent, 
mostly bare, or coated thinly with a layer of soil ; 
at other places the layer of soil attains to a thick- 
ness of several feet. The general lay of the land 
is sloping ridges, rarely steep or precipitous, which 
is excellent for surface drainage. In seasons of heavy 
rainfall where the land is closely cultivated, surface 
drains are made at regular intervals to receive the 
surplus water and convey it to neighboring ravines. 
This method is always employed in the cultivation 
of both cinchona and coffee, and effectually prevents 
the washing away of top soil, which is always the 
richest. All that I have said and what will follow 
has reference only to lands which range between 
1,000 and 4,000 feet elevation above sea level — sel- 
dom under 1,000 and rarely so high as 4,000. 
RAINFALL AND CLIMATE. 
I regret exceedingly not being able to obtain a 
good rainfall record from each district; as rain and 
the distribution of rain exercises a great influence on 
the cultivation of the products under notice. Ha- 
makua has a rainfall of from 85 to 149 inches 
nicely distributed, taken from a record kept at 
Honokaa plantation for two years. Hilo has a rain- 
fall of 127-75 observed at Hilo for ten months of 
present year. On the island of Maui, district of 
Makawao, there is an average rainfall of 81.10 
observed at the homestead of Mr. W. P. A. Brewer, 
for three years ending 1881. These all show very 
good distribution. There is no record observed iu 
the district of Kona, but I should judge the average 
would range from 80 to 110 inches. I form this 
opinion from the way the coffee is reported to 
crop. If the rainfall was in excess of 150 inches 
the coffee tree would likely blossom and ripen all 
the year round. The crop I am informed is nearly 
nil gathered within a period of three months, which 
indicates a distinct season, and lower rainfall. The 
rainbelt of the islands is confined to a range of 
elevation from about 500 feet to not over 4,000. 
Above this elevation there is very much less rainfall, and 
along the shore line, also, the climate is much dryer. 
The districts of Hamakua and Hdo, on Hawaii, 
and those districts on E-ist Maui, including Hana, 
which I stated are very much alike in all their 
conditions, are exposed to the regular trade winds. 
They never blow violently, except only on very ex- 
posed places near the bluffs, and where the land 
slopes to windward. Further inland their influence 
is almost eufirely gone, ami at an elevation of 2,000 
feet aud upwards, there is very little wind at all. 
The upper part of Hamakua is subject to strong 
Kona winds, which pass over the Waimea gap, or 
plains, with considerable violence. The lower, or 
windward part of this district, or that portion ad- 
joining Hilo, is protected by the mountain of Mauna 
Kea from all such visitations. The districts of PuDa 
and Kona, so far as I could learn, are blest with 
perpetual calms. The greater portion of the lands 
within the range of the altitudes mentioned, are 
more or less forest clad. The bush upon the lower 
part of the forest lands of Hamakua and Hilo, is 
somewhat thin. The underbrush has been killed off 
aud the largest trees art rapidly dying away. These 
bare sections have paved the way for the celebrated 
Hilo grass,* which abounds everywhere, flourishing 
with great vigor. I noticed very little fern, which is 
in marked contrast to both Puna and Kon-i districts, 
where the ground is equally well covered with timber 
but without Hilo grass. Ferns never impoverish land, 
and are at all times desirable to encourage, as they 
cast a dense shade on the surface of the ground, pre- 
venting the growth of all foreign weeds, notably 
Hilo grass, which latter draws from the soil the pro- 
perties required for coffee. 
REMARKS ON COFFEE AND CINCHONA. 
Having d-scribed the leading characteristics of 
those districts from which I should select hinds for 
the cultivation of either coffee or cinchona, I shall 
now explain why they are adapted for cultivation, 
by describing the requirements or natural conditions, 
best suited for the growth of these products, in- 
dicating the localities or sections of those distiicts 
which I am of opinion are richest aud best for 
the purpose. I assume that Your Excellency had in 
view the desirability of encouraging only such pro- 
ducts as are strictly tropical and those best suited 
for volcanic soils, and not any that find a genial 
home in a wider range of latitude. This policy is 
extremely wise, for it narrows the circle of pros- 
pective competition and increases the possibilities of 
continued success. With regard to coffee and cin- 
chona, their proper and only home is here and in 
other tropical countries which are blest with the 
same natural conditions. There is not any territory 
under the control of the Government of the 
United States of America, suited for the cultiva- 
tion of either coffee or cinchona. I speak with cer- 
tainty upon this point, having had extensive corres- 
pondence with the Minister of Agriculture, Washington, 
upon the prospects of cinchona as a likely industry 
to introduce into some portion of the Southern States. 
cinchona . 
In selecting lands for the cultivation of cinchona, 
great care must be observed, as the success or failure 
of first efforts will assuredly either encourage au 
extension of the field of operations or effectually 
damp all future attempts. Trials have been made 
in two instances, to introduce the cultivation of cin _ 
* The iluk of Ceylon, alang-alaDg of the Straits and 
Java.— Ed, 
