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Garden vegetables, such as beets carrots, turnips and parsnips, are rarely raised in the islands. So far as attempts have been made to raise them, the failure has been so general in consequence of the grub worm, that I know of but few who have succeeded to any extent. Mr. Greene of Makawao says: "As for garden vegetables I can not raise them, for the Pelua or grub-worm destroys them. Onions will do nothing. I am almost discouraged with attempts at these articles."

The onion however does remarkably well in many places, and with less cultivation than is requisite in the United States of America yields a crop. The onion is not generally raised from the seed, and for economy's sake it may be best to plant it twice during the season, first about October again, in January. The native onion planted in October naturally divides itself up into six or eight independent plants so that what covered one rod of land in October, may be replanted in January on six or eight rods.

The grub worm is said often to destroy this plant on elevated situations such as Makawao and Kohala. But I am not aware of such an evil on low lands near the sea.

PEA NUTS do well in the islands, require a rich, dry, mellow soil. Should be planted in October or November, if the fall rains have commenced. If the soil in which they are planted is moist the year round, they will grow on and continue to put forth fresh nuts, till matted together, and the whole is taken by the rats. Hence the importance of a dry soil that they may ripen together.

SUGAR CANE. This article which insects can harm but little, will grow, if planted at any season of the year, and on almost any part of all the islands, where it can obtain a sufficient amount of moisture. The most profitable season however for planting it in all the low lands is said to be from May to August. The earlier, probably the better, as the tops for planting can then be obtained at the least amount of loss to the crop on the land from which they are taken. A favorable circumstance this, that when almost nothing else can be planted the sugar cane may be.

FRUIT SEASONS.-Early in the fall is the best time for planting the fig. It then has a long moist season before it in which the slip will take root, and in favorable circumstances grow with great rapidity. The sap of the tree is at this season generally down, and the woody

fibre is solid, and in good condition to grow.

The fig will yield a

large and profitable crop, if well cultivated and planted in a good soil; and from some experience in cultivating it I am led to believe that to lighten up and enrich the soil around the roots of the tree is more important than any protection that shade trees can give it. Indeed two of the most productive trees I have seen in the islands stood unprotected and alone, on the windward side of this island, having no other roots intermingling with theirs. To be fruitful it should not be allowed too many branches, and no young shoots from the root.

But of fruit trees, generally, your committee are not prepared to speak.

In considering the subject of seasons we shall not have discharged our duty unless we speak of the caterpillar and grub-worm season. The caterpillar generally makes its appearance in December or January and continues for a month or more. They are legions—so numerous as to cover the ground for hundreds of acres together, thicker than the farmer sows his wheat, and so voracious as to leave no green thing behind that suits their taste.

The natives rarely think of planting anything but kalo in lands infested by the caterpillar till his season has passed.

His appearance may be confidently expected in from 6 to 10 days after the second soaking rain in the fall or winter.

The grub worm commences his work about the same time with the caterpillar, but is more concealed in his work and will hardly notify you of his operations till you find your field partially mowed over by an unseen enemy. The grub works mostly in the night, and lives underground during the day; while the caterpillar remains exposed upon the tops of the grass or plants he is devouring. Of the two the grub worm is more to be feared than the caterpillar; he continues his work much the longest.

Every judicious agriculturist, will make enquiries in relation to these vermin, their time of appearance, &c., on the soil he intends to cultivate.

If no means can be found to prevent their ravages, they will always be a great impediment to many kinds of agriculture. Soaking the seed to be planted in tobacco juice is stated in some New England

paper to be an infallible preventative of the incursions of the grubworms. I hope this is true, if so, we shall have found at least one good use for tobacco, and one strong motive for raising it in this country, which is probably as well adapted to its growth as any land on earth.

The grub-worm has in some places been at least greatly diminished by plowing and re-plowing the land to be planted and allowing domestic fowls to live upon it when newly turned by the plow. As to losses sustained by the grub-worm. I am informed by Mr. Bond of Kohala that one native, Naihe, entirely lost a crop of onions, by the grub, which if brought to maturity would have been worth ten thousand dollars.

A field of from one to three or four acres of corn has the past season been planted, and replanted a second or third time, and destroyed by the grub. Any means of destroying this insect that would prove effectual would be of great service.

One other topic claims our attention at this time, viz :—

The season of KAIKO or HIGH SUrf. On the windward side of the islands there are certain periods in the fall or winter when there is a high surf connected with a north or north-west wind. At such times a salt spray spreads over the adjacent shore, and in the distance, often resembles a New England fog.

This salt spray is ruinous to many, perhaps most vegetables that may be exposed to it. Corn, wheat, beans, peas, potatoes of all kinds, beets, carrots, parsnips, &c., wither before it as if cut down by New England frost. Even the leaves of the tamarind fall as if smitten by a November blast in New England.

Natives are cautious of planting in places exposed to the Kaiko until the season for its violence has passed.

The kalo root and banana are supposed to have no season but may be planted with equal advantage at any time, in case the soil be sufficiently moist. But of this opinion I stand in doubt.

Natives say that in the months of May, June and July, at which times the kalo is in blossom, it can not be planted with equal profit as in other months as the yield will be much less. The young kalo, that shoot from the parent stock will be less numerous and the crop altogether inferior. This I am inclined to think correct, although I am alone in the committee on the point.

I am not aware of any season when the banana may not be planted with profit. Although a field planted so as to ripen in March or April will be more likely to be lost in the winds and rains of the two preceding months, than if planted at a later or earlier period.

In behalf of the Committee on Seasons,

J. S. EMERSON.

To the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society :

GENTLEMEN. Having yesterday become a life member of your society, and am happy to say much pleased with its proceedings, I take the liberty of addressing you, which liberty I did not consider myself justified in taking, situated as I have been heretofore, unless I would have prepared documents, treating on some of the most leading principles of the agriculture and manufacture of sugar, which from my constant application to this business, and experience on these islands, I think would have proved satisfactory to all; however as this has not been done, I live in hopes to be able at the next annual meeting to produce some still more valuable statistics relating to facts that have come under my immediate notice, on these islands, and compare them with other places, as our great end is to know what really can be done here, and not preach up what is done in other parts of the world, without giving some satisfactory comparison to our present adopted place of residence.

As little or nothing has been said yet on the subject of employing and economizing manual labor, I cannot let this opportunity pass, without making a few remarks on the subject, as I consider it one of the most vital importance to the agriculturist, and the future welfare of these islands in general and also that we cannot be too prompt in adopting some method for the revisal of the present system of employing native and all other laborers, which is in my opinion an erroneous one. In the first place the boy, the cripple, and the aged man are hired by the year as efficient laborers, in every respect, whereas

their services are not worth much more than two-thirds of that of an able bodied man; another thing, the natives' policy, or any other laboring class of men that we can get here, is to do as little as possible, for they get the same rate of wages for doing little as if they did much, and we have no legal method conveniently within our reach at present to exact a just day's work; there are a few natives that have a little more energy than others, and are wishful of doing what is right, but the majority are just the reverse, consequently they rule. My system is to pay a man according to his intrinsic value, and to accomplish this his Majesty's government, and the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society must take it in hand, and adopt, if they think fit, the following humble suggestions. In the first place, a tariff of the different kinds. of work must be established, the accomplishment of which can be effected in the following manner.

Say take six or more able-bodied men, that have been accustomed to work, and give them in charge of some competent planter, and let him work them for a certain time, at every different kind of work that is required on a sugar plantation, by these means we are able to see what a laborer here really can do. Then we can take the medium of the work performed in the given time of each work separate and establish it as a standard task, for a certain sum, and proclaim it a law. In this tariff the quality as well as the quantity of work to be performed must he specified, also the condition that the work was in at the time the labor was performed, whether much or little grass, wet or dry; whether the earth was hard or soft, so that in event the laborer does not, and will not, perform his work according to law, his wages for that work is withheld until he performs it faithfully, and if he is not satisfied with this treatment let him then apply to a justice of the peace for redress. By these means a laborer is justly paid according to his intrinsic value, he is also fully protected by this tariff as his employer cannot insist on him doing more work than the tariff proclaims, but at the same time the laborer is at liberty to do more work and receive extra pay for it if he is ambitious and willing to work. This plan of self interest encourages industry and enlivens a desire in the laborer to accomplish his task faithfully and as soon as possible, and if he is ambitious will endeavor to do more than one task, so as to enhance his daily wages. The present system encourages idleness and

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