16 
THE TROPICAL AGHICULTURIST, \Jvly 1, 1902 
Mexico, and Darien, so far, has failed to reveal any 
differences suffieient to warrant the recogniiioa of 
defluite varieties. Mr. Koschay's varieties have not 
yet bjeu estxhlishei botauically. Specimens have 
been seat by him to i'lof. Warburg of Berlin, an 
authority on this group of plants, and their doter- 
minntion will be awaited with interest. 
It is important meanwhile to draw attention to 
the fact that probably more than one variety may 
be cultivated u ider the name of ' Central American 
rubber tree.' and intending growers should be careful 
to secure seeds or plants from reliable sources.— 
IVest Indian JJuUctin. v 
THE PRINCIPAL VEGETABLE PRO- 
DUCTS OP THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 
As cvoryo;i3 in t'lo h^iiticultiu-ul world kuows, 
Su<?:ir is the stapl.i inlustry, and is larj^ely culti- 
vated tliroaghout the Islands. It was cultivated in 
very small qua I'titios b>foro 1876, when a treaty 
of c)mmsr.:iAl rjcipro;ity with the United Slates 
came into effect. Under the provision.^ of this 
treaty an era of unexpected prosperity set in. bikI 
the production of Sugar, as well m liice, increased 
more th.iu was ever anticipated. Lxrgo barren tracts 
of 1 ind were brought into cultivation by extensive 
irrigalioQ, some of the ditches being 40 miles in 
length, carried through dense woods, tunnelled through 
rock, and .spanning wide canons. The Bwa Plan- 
tation, near Honolu'u. is one of the largest and finest 
in the Islands. About 90,000 acres are taken up with 
the various plantations, with a yearly yield of about 
223,000 tons of sugar. It requires an average of 
eighteen months for a crop to mature, the ordinary 
yi..ld being 3J tons to the acre ; yet on specially rich 
alluvial soil, it is sometimes as great as 9 tons to the acre 
Next in importance comes Kice. Its culture is 
principally carried on by the Chinese, i.nd in the 
.San Francisco market it grades with the best coming 
from Ohina. The ground is ploughed and well har- 
rowed, the field is then submerged, the water being 
allowed to stand until the crop ripens, when it is 
drawn off. The method of cultivating is crude and 
primitive. The Chinaman sows the seed thickly in 
a small field ; when the pl iuts are about 0 inches 
high, they are pulled up and tal:en to the field for 
planting, where they are set out in the mad by hand 
in rows about 8 inches apart. When matured the 
water ia drawn off to allow the straw to ripen. The crop 
is thou cut with the sickl,\ No threshing machines are 
used by the Chinese "ice grower, but^ the grain is 
Bcparated from the chaff by being b -atcn' out with the 
hoofs of horses or Chinese cattle, as in ancient times. 
Coffee is cultivated, but not to a large extent, although 
Havv.iian, or Kora, Coffee takes a high place among 
the best Coffeei of the world; the trees are grown 
anywhere, from the sea-lovel up to 3,800 feet above 
the sea. One of the greatest difficulties to contend 
with is insect blight, which is greatly kept i'l check 
by peculiar paasites, and lidybirda that have b;en 
introduced for each kind of insect. The cultivation 
of Tea is carried on with good results, the best quality 
of leaf being obtained on tlie higher elevations. The high 
price of Ubour prevents its more extensive cultivation. 
Uemp hai been experimented with, and promunced 
by experts to be of a good, strong description. The 
expense tf cultivation is tnfling, and the yield per 
acre is about 13) tons. Uamie, or vegetable silk, 
grows luxuriantly, but the industry is not developed, 
owin;; to the want of suitable machinery. 
The soil and climate of Hawaii cannot ba excelled 
(or the production of tropical and sub- tropical fruits, 
and their introduction has added l.j,rgcly to the pros- 
perity of the isUindi, especially so in the case of 
iemi-tropical fruits, such as the Alligator pear Banana, 
Lime (CitruH Limetta), Orange, and Lemon. The 
AUigulor-pear grows to a largo size, and the fruit 
is of a superior quality. The (losh is of butter con- 
sistciioy, with a nutty 11 wour, and it makes a delicious 
grossing fyr ealads; the largest of these beadu ia 
about 6 inches long, an 3 weighs upwards of 3 lb. 
The Mango grows in great profusion, and several 
varieties are used for m \kiag chutney, the best varieties 
having been imported ftoni India and Jamaica. It 
is an evergreen with .smill, glossy leaves ; and a gam 
which exu les from the truuk of the tree is used in 
medicine. It bjars fruit sever.il mouths of the year, 
and it is not uausu.il to find trees with fruits on one 
side and bljsaoms on the other. 
Go^iouut.s grow all along the sea-shore, or any 
spot whore nothing else vv'ill grow; but they are now 
very little cultivated. The Sipodi la, Souiaop, Pom- 
melo, Ghcrimoya, Custard-Apple, Papaw, Citron, 
Water-Melon, Grranadi la, Pomegranate, and Tamarind 
are some of the desirable exotic fruits that do well 
in the islands. Vegetables of all descriptions are 
raised throughout the year, and Water and Gauta- 
loupe Melons are superior to those grown in most 
countries. Pineapples grow wild on all the islands ; 
there are some twenty-five varieties taking their names 
from the localities whence they are obtained. Near 
Pearl City, some eight miles from Honolulu, a plan- 
tation of an excellent variety exists. The average 
weight of the fruits is 8 lb., although the fruits of 
some varieties have been known to reach a weight 
of 17 lb. The Pineapple season is from the middle 
of the month of May to the middle of August. 
Bananas are raised in great quantities and shipped 
to the west coast' of the Dnited States, the cost of 
cultivation being very small. Along the mountain 
ranges are trees and Vines in luxuriant growth, 
forests of a magnificent species of tree, whose wood 
has beautiful markings, and capable of taking a 
high polish, equalling the finest walnut and maho- 
gany ; this is the Koa-tree. The islands at one 
time were very rich in Sandal-wood, but when the 
natives found it would be a great source of income 
to them, tbey cut down the old trees in a very 
short space of time, and sold them to dealers iu 
the United States, and neglected to plant young 
trees for a future supply- 
Net the least important vegetable product ia Taro. 
It consists of two kinds— the upland, which grows 
on the hillsides in dry ground, and the lowland, or 
more important staple, which ia propagated like Rice, 
under water. Long irrigating ditches are required 
iu preparing the bed. The ground is levelled off 
and enclosed by a wall impervious to water. The 
floor of the patch is mide as rich as possible, and 
the top is cut from the ripe roots and set out in 
hillocks placed several feet apart. The water is let 
in, and allowed to remain until the crop is mature, 
i.e., in about twelve months, the only labour required 
being to ke'')) the soil clear of weeds, and provide 
a depth of about 6 ins. of running water. Taro 
can be planted at any season, and a ripe crop 
obtained. The root is oblong, the largest being 
about 1 f ot in length, and from 3 to 4 inches in 
diameter. The root is b.iked by the natives, who 
make from it whu they call poi, the baked root 
being pounded till it forms a paste, which is thin- 
nod by adding water, and atterwurds allowed to 
■ferment. As a food it is most nutritious. 
Another important plant mnoh used by the natives 
is the Ti ; it has also a large, oblong root, and the 
leaves are of a shining green tint. The Ti-leavea 
were at one time woven together, and formed a 
short cloak, which the natives sometimes wore. The 
root, after baking, ia sweet and pleasant to the 
taste. It is also used to make an intoxicating drink, 
by bruising the roots with a stone, and steeping in 
water until it ferments. 
Besides the plants mentioned, there are many 
beautiful flowering and foliage plants, among which 
CodiiD ims (Crolons) are worthy of special mention. 
All the varieties grow in grcit luxuriance, and show 
exceedingly rich leaf-colouring. Hound the College 
grounds, iu the suburbs of Honolulu is a hedge of a night- 
blooming Cereus (Cereua nycticalus), which is a magni- 
ficent sight when in flower, the blobsonis ranging from 
'i to 3 feet in circumference, Donald Mclntjjre Moawlua^ 
Iloitoluhi,— Gardeners' CkromcU, 
