The Hawaiian forester and agriculturist; quarterly magazine of forestry, entomology, plant inspection and animal industry

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Vol. XI.

JUNE, 1914

No. 6

Price, 10c. Per Copy; Per Annum, $1.00; Foreign, $1.25.

THE

3fc.- .

Hawaiian forester

AND

Agriculturist

A MONTHLY MAGAZINE
OF

Forestry, Entomology and Agriculture

ISSUED UNDER THE DIRECTION
OF THE

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF AGRICULTURE
AND FORESTRY.

PUBLISHED MONTHLY.
Entered as second-class matter at the Post office, at Honolulu, Hawafi.

ADDRESS ALU OO M M U N I O AX I O N S TO

DANIEL LOGAN,
EDITOR "THE! FORESTER,"

P. O. BOX 366,
HONOLULU, H.T.

For business relating to advertising or subscriptions, address

Hawaiian Gazette Co., Ltd., Publishers,
217 S. King St,, Honolulu, Hawaii.

=E

TUT MfH/^^TY f\^ p.: i! r<. , !-v^;

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE.

Circular Gives Forest Facts 169

Tobacco Culture 169

Alfalfa, Etc., continued 171

Salt as a Manure 179

Storing and Marketing Sweet Potatoes 180

Hedychium 183

Planting Sweet Potatoes from Sprouted Tubers and Vines. . 185

Fertility of Soils 186

DIVISION OF FORESTRY.

FOREST AND ORNAMENTAL TREE SEED AND SEEDLINGS FOR
SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT NURSERY.

The Division of Forestry keeps constantly on hand at the Govern-
ment Nursery, seed and seedlings of the important native and introduced
trees. These are sold at prices just covering the cost of collection or
growing.

The list includes both forest and ornamental trees, such as Silk Oak,
Koa, various species of Eucalyptus, Golden and Pink Showers, Pride of
India, Poinciana, Albizzia, etc. The price of the seed varies from 10
to 50 cents per ounce. The seedlings may be had for 2^ cents each,
except a few kinds which are 5 cents. Seed of the various palms is also
for sale; the price per 100 varying from $1.00 to $2.50. All seed is tested
before being sent out, which insures its being good.

All communications in regard to seed or trees should be addressed to
David Haughs, Forest Nurseryman, Box 207, Honolulu, Hawaii.

RALPH S. HOSMER,

Superintendent of Forestry.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

To give information about insects free of charge is one of the duties
of this* Division, and Hawaiian readers are hereby invited to make in-
quiry in person and by mail. In order to be able to advise intelligently
or send the right kind of useful insects for relief, we like and sometimes
it is indispensable for us to see the insects suspected or caught in the act,
also specimens of the injury. In a tin with a hole or two, or a wooden
box specimens may be mailed by parcels post. When specimens are
not accompanied by letter always write your name and address in the
upper left-hand corner of the package. Address all communications
SUPERINTENDENT DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY, P. O. BOX 20"'
TONOLULTJ, HAWAII.

EDW. M. EHRHORN,

Superintendent.

THE jHAWAIIAN

P0RE6TER I AGRICULTURIST

Vol. XL JUNE, 1914. No. 6

CIRCULAR GIVES FOREST FACTS.

Striking facts regarding our forest resources, their value and
their waste, are condensed in an eight-page illustrated circular of
the American forestry association just issued. The lumber in-
dustry is said to employ 735,000 people, to whom are paid annually
$367,000,000 in wages, the worth of products being $1,250,000,-
000. The forests of the country cover 550,000,000 acres.

An average of 70 human lives are sacrificed anually in forest
fires, says the circular, and a loss occurs of $25,000,000. Damage
from insects and tree diseases, which follow fire, costs each year
$50,000,000. The cost of destruction resulting from floods is not
estimated, but is given as "countless millions. "

But the circular expresses hope more than pessimism. As well
as the colored pictures showing the forest fire, the effects of the
fire, and the damage caused by floods, it shows also forests planted
and grown under intensive management, and the natkmal forest
ranger scouting for fires on the mountain lookout station. The
effective patrol here referred to has reduced "forest fire losses to
as low as one-tenth of one cent an acre." It is pointed out that
by planting forests an annual income could be derived in the
country of $65,000,000; and by preservative treatment upon
timber each year $100,000,000 could be saved.

TOBACCO CULTURE.

A bulletin is quoted by the Tropical Agriculturist (Ceylon) as
saying that the best quality of tobacco leaves are produced when
the plant grows very rapidly; consequently an abundant and
readily available water supply at the right moment is an important
factor in the production of high class tobacco. Dry- weather in
the early stages of plant growth would cause a considerable
development of the root system in search of moisture; should
this be followed by rains — about a month after planting but— ■
optimum conditions should then obtain for rapid growth.

In the same magazine appears an article on the enzymes of
the tobacco plant, which opens with the statement: "Many chemi-
cal changes take place in the tobacco plant throughout its growth-

170,

as well as during the curing and fermentation periods. New
chemical substances are formed and others are decomposed. The
final result of these reactions gives the color, texture and aroma
to the finished product. A change in these transformations is
sufficient to destroy the value of the crop." For the rest, the
article goes on to show, partly on the authority of Loew, that the
curing process is not due to bacterial agencies, for, "if this were
so, it would be possible to produce any desired brand of tobacco
simply by inoculation, " but that the changes "are due to soluble
ferments or enzymes, which are produced in the plant during its
development ;" Loew having shown the presence of diastase, oxi-
dases, peroxidases, proteolytic enzymes and cellulose-dissolving
enzymes. In elaboration of this theory the article says that the
enzymes are in the nature of proteins, and are present in the
protoplasm of the cells. They are easily destroyed by excessive
heat or too rapid drying. In studies of these enzymes in two
Kentucky tobaccos, "the seed and leaves showed in every case
the presence of appreciable quantities of invertase, diastase, emul-
sin and reductase, in many cases inulase and a proteolytic enzyme
were also found. Soil, on the other hand, contained no enzymes
except in two cases. Oxidases appear to be present in the tobacco
leaf at all stages of its growth and gradually increase in amount
from the seedling stage until the topping stage, after which they
gradually decrease until, in the cured leaf, they practically dis-
appear.

"During the curing and fermentation periods there is a great
loss in weight, as much as 15 per cent., about 34 °f which is solid
matter. Certain gases are developed, amongst which ammonia is
easily detected. Practically all the starch disappears during the
early part of the process and sugar is formed as a new product.
This shows the important part played by diastase. The sugars
also disappear, being probably destroyed by oxidases. The pres-
ence of invertase leads to the conclusion that cane sugar may
be stored in the root and afterwards translocated to the leaves.
The protein content of the leaves decreases considerably during
the ripening of the plant, also during the curing and fermentation
period. The presence of amino-compounds during these processes
is further proof of proteolytic enzymes. The nitrates also de-
crease and the nicotine content diminishes. This suggests the
presence of reductase and probably there are enzymes acting on
the resins and gums. It is believed that the aroma of tobacco is
partly due to the decomposition products of gums and resins, as
well as to the breaking up of glucosides. Positive tests have been
obtained for a glycoside splitting ferment. The presence of fats
and proteins results in tobacco of inferior flavor. They are re-
moved by lipeolytic and proteolytic enzymes, provided the con-
ditions are favorable.

"The characteristic brown color which develops during fer-
mentation is attributed to the action of oxidases. During the

171

smoking process it has been shown that an ethereal oil is formed
from certain products and this probably contributes to the flavor.
Critis, malic and oxalic acids are found in greater quantities in the
cured leaf than in the green leaf. These are probably transformed
to acetic and butyric acids during fermentation. Thus we see
that numerous complex chemical changes take place during the
growth, curing and fermentation of tobacco and that enzymes
play a very important part in these changes. For the product to
obtain the greatest commercial value, extreme care and attention
is necessary at the critical stage of maturity and also during the
curing and fermentation. "

Another plant for paper-making material is presented in this
number, the Hedychium coronarium, the article describing which
is from the Tropical Agriculturist of Ceylon. That journal sug-
gests the plant as a possible new product for Ceylon, and it might
be well worth experimenting with in Hawaii.

ALFALFA— A PROMISING FORAGE CROP FOR
HAWAII.

(Continued.)

EXPERIMENTAL DATA FROM THE COLLEGE OF HAWAII FARM.

Purcelain is very easily destroyed, but its very rapid growth
and continuous reappearance, especially during rainy seasons,
makes it a serious pest in young alfalfa.

Worst of all worthless grasses, and the most difficult to eradi-
cate, is the so-called "knot grass." It is rather deep rooted and
has numerous underground stems with a number of knots or
swellings from which the popular name is derived. These roots
are removed from the soil with difficulty, and as each knot is
capable of producing many more in a short time, especially when
there is an abundance of moisture, it is obvious that the only way
to combat it successfully is to keep at it persistently.

Insect Pests. A large number of insects, including several
orders and species, are found to be injurious to the growing al-
falfa crop, the most serious of which are the cut worms, army
worms, alfalfa weevil, alfalfa looper, and various species of grass-
hoppers.

According to.O, E. Essig 1 of California, the alfalfa weevil
(Phytonomus posticus) has proven to be such a serious pest of

I'Cal. State Comm. Hort. Monthly Bui. 1 and 2, 1913.

172

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alfalfa in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho that neither hay nor seed
can be sent into California from these States without first being
examined and fumigated by a State official. This weevil feeds on
the leaves, and since spraying is dangerous to the # animals, no ef-
ficient remedy has yet been discovered.

Among the alfalfa insects mentioned by O. E. Essig of Cali-
fornia are the following:

173

Alfalfa weevil (Phytonomus posticus),

Western army worm (Chorizagrotis agrestis grote),

Alfalfa looper (Autographa gamma calif ornica) ,

Alfalfa crane fly (Tipula simplex Drane),

Grasshopper — various species,

Western 12 spotted cucumber beetle (Diablrtica sonor Lee),

Clover or almond mite — (Bryolia pratensis gar).

According to Farmer's Bulletin No. 495, the clover seed Chalcis
fly (Bruchpaghus funebris Howard) is also very injurious to
alfalfa seed.

Although the cut worm was the only serious pest at the Col-
lege of Hawaii, it was found to be an extremely serious and dif-
ficult one to combat, owing to its presence in large numbers and
to its habits. This worm feeds at night, devouring leaves, stalk
and all, and hides in burrows a few inches under the ground
during the day. This pest, together with weeds, was found to be
the cause of a great deal of trouble and disappointment in our
efforts to get a stand of alfalfa, for in one night what little growth
that was made during a few days would be entirely wiped out.

All possible efforts were made to establish the crop ; poisoned
bait consisting of 5 lbs. of bran, 5 lbs. middlings, 1 lb. white
arsenic, 1 lb. sugar, and about 1 qt. of water, laid out at the rate
of 36 lbs. per acre, was found to be fairly effective for several
days. Flooding the field was also effective, but in spite of all
our efforts, the cut worms continued their work of destruction
and promised to maintain the supremacy. In ten feet of row one
of the men counted 193 dead cut worms which had been poisoned
the night before. The outlook was so disappointing that the men
in charge of the field were on the point of giving it up, when it
was decided to make a few more trials, which fortunately resulted
in perfect success. Since the first crop was harvested there has
been no more trouble with either weeds or cut worms, and the
crops now being harvested are proving that the time, trouble, and
expense devoted to the establishment of the field has been more
than worth the effort.

Animal Pests. There are no animal pests of alfalfa in Hawaii,
but various sections of the United States have found the wood-
chuck, ground squirrel, prairie dog, gopher and field mouse rather
noxious at various times owing to their habits of burrowing into
the ground and eating the roots. Being easily destroyed by drown-
ing, they are not serious pests.

Fungous Diseases. Various fungous diseases have been re-
ported from different regions as being rather serious in alfalfa
fields, many of them being especially serious on certain varieties.
They generally cause a wilting of the plant with a subsequent
dying and rotting. Various fungicides have been used against
such diseases with more or less success, but the only recommended
method to combat them when they have once become well estab-

174

lished is to destroy the entire crop by burning and planting the
infested and neighboring fields to other crops not subject to the
diseases till they have been completely wiped out.

The most common fungous diseases are the various leaf spots,
root rots, wilts, and damping off. While some of these are known
to exist in Hawaii, and our alfalfa fields show signs of the pres-
ence of the leaf spots, they are of no economic importance with
the common alfalfa.

Mr. Andrade found that his plantings of Arabian alfalfa at
Moiliili, Oahu, were rather seriously infested by a form of root
and crown rot.

This same diseas"e is also present at the College of Hawaii
farm, where the Arabian, Chilean, Kansas and Australian varie-
ties are doing very well. Only a few plants of the last three va-
rieties are affected, but the Arabian seems to be very much more
susceptible to the disease. Very recently the Arabian plants were
nearly all wilted by the disease, while those of other varieties
close at hand were almost entirely unaffected.

Other Pests and Diseases. Alfalfa on the mainland is also
subject to various other minor pests and diseases, including a
nematode which causes root rot and a bacterial disease caused
by Psendomonas medicaginis. They are not considered to be at
all serious.

COMPOSITION AND FEEDING VALUE OF THE CROP.

Alfalfa is a valuable crop for feeding because of its large yield
of palatable forage and high per cent, of protein. Following is
the average composition of digestible nutrients of alfalfa as com-
pared with that of corn:

Alfalfa.

Protein

(+ Fat X 2.25)
Carbohydrates

Fat

Nutritive Ratio

Green

Water free ....

3.7 %

14.17

8.65%
54.72
40.7
40.0

0.6%
2.3
1.6
1.6

1: 2.3
1: 2.4

Hay

Meal

12.3

17.2

1: 3.3
1: 2.3

Corn.

Green

Grain

Meal

1.0

7.8

6.4

12.5
66.5
66.3

0.4
4.3
3.4

1: 2.5
1: 8.5
1:10.4

Alfalfa is an excellent food for horses, cattle, sheep, brood cows,
and laying hens, especially for milch cows and fattening animals.
As it is not a propf r ration when fed alone, it should be supple-

175

mented by other food, such as maize grain, barley, and wheat bran
or middlings. The College of Hawaii has obtained very suc-
cessful results with manienie pasture and the following daily
ration :

Wheat bran, 5 lbs. ; rolled barley, 3 lbs.

Alfalfa meal, 4 lbs. ; green alfalfa, 20 lbs.

Alfalfa does not make good pasture, as it cannot stand heavy
trampling and constant close cropping. There is little danger of
bloat if the animals are turned on to the field when it is moist
with dew, and, besides, the crop is too valuable to be wasted by
pasturing.

A very good mixture for the silo or for roughage is one part of
alfalfa to two parts of green field-corn or sorghum. This mix-
ture does not only pack better in the silo, but it is also very well
liked by the animals, milch cows especially.

ECONOMIC VALUE AS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP.

Alfalfa is the queen of nitrogen-gathering legumes. The plants
not only work for nothing for themselves, but will also pay for the
privilege.

It is a crop that needs very little attention when once estab-
lished, which under favorable conditions may be after the first
few months, and it lasts a long time. Its requirements are few,
and it not only fits very readily into rotation with corn, sorghum
and other non-leguminous crops, but also furnishes a large amount
of that most costly food material protein. It not only restores
the fertility of the land through its nitrogen gathering organisms,
but always leaves it in good physical condition and with few
weeds. Once established, the field becomes a constant source of
food to be had for the cutting and, in dry weather, a little irriga-
tion and tillage, and it excels all other forage crops from the
standpoint of yield, feeding value, and cost of production.

Cost of production is the item of greatest importance, regardless
of the thing produced. This was one of the main features of the
experiment with alfalfa at the College of Hawaii, for no complete
Hawaiian reports on this particular phase have as yet come under
the writer's notice. The alfalfa growers in and about Honolulu
have not taken the trouble to obtain accurate figures regarding
either yields per acre or cost of production.

Bulletin 22 of the Nevada Station gives the following as the
cost of growing one acre of alfalfa hay in 1909 :

Interest and taxes or rent $ 5.196

Labor of cutting and stacking. . „ x 4.878

Interest and depreciation on machinery. . . . y 256

Total cost per acre $10.33

Average yield, 3.3 tons. Cost per ton, $3.10.

176

Farmers' Bulletin 339 gives the following cost of production
for the Eastern States :

Plowing :. $ 2.00

Harrowing 1.00

Fertilizers 10.00

Lime 5.00

; Rent 3.50

Seed, 25 lbs. at 18c 4.50

Seeding 50

Harvesting 3 tons at $2 6.00

Plowing under alfalfa 3.00

Total cost $35.50

Three tons alfalfa at $15 $45.00

Cost to be deducted 35.50

Profit $ 9.50

The experiments at the College of Hawaii were begun last
August, and the yearly cost and yields cannot be accurately cal-
culated at present, but $175 may be considered as a fairly good
estimate of the annual cost per acre. This is rather high because
of the necessary accuracy of weighing, etc., during the experi-
ments,, and the small plots which do not permit of the use of ma-
chinery to any extent. While the cost to establish the crop is
high, the crop is lasting and subsequent harvests and cultivation
cost but very little. At our last harvest, the total cost of cutting,
weighing and cultivating a single crop was $19.92 per acre, or
$2.25 per ton of green fodder obtained, not a bad investment with
the market price of the product at $5 per ton.

1. Varieties Under Test. Utah, Kansas and Australian
strains of the common alfalfa and the Arabian variety were
seeded August 20-22, 1912, in J^-acre plots at the rate of 15 lbs.
per acre. The seed was drilled in rows 12 inches apart and 200
feet long. A light rainfall during the night of August 21 left the
soil in good condition, with the result of good strong germination
in all four plots.

2., Troubles Begin. Germination of the alfalfa seed was ac-
companied by that of a greater number of weeds, which kept what
Jittle labor there was to be had constantly busy at weeding. Be-
fore the plants had become more than a few inches high, the at-
tack. of cut worms described above made things still more discour-
aging, not only by their destructiveness, but also by their per-
sistence:

177

3. Combating the Worms. Our troubles with weeds were
considered rather serious, but the presence of the cut worms made
them even greater. The laying of bait as described above under
"Insect Pests" was at first found to be rather disappointing in its
results ; in fact, the outlook for success was so far from favorable
that failure was already contemplated. However, the strong
"never-say-die" spirit of Prof. Krauss, our agronomist, though
beginning to totter, could not quite be shaken down. He faced
the enemy with grim determination and finally won out after a
long, hard fight.

The effectiveness of the bait lasted lor several days in spite of
light nightly rains* The Paris green mixture was a little better
than the white arsenic, but from the standpoint of cost the latter
was found to be preferable to the former.

As already mentioned, irrigation w^ found to be very helpful
in drowning out the worms, and it seems that the most effective
method of fighting these worms would 4>e v to till the soil lightly
to loosen it up, irrigate thoroughly an^fieayily for a few hours
and then lay out poisoned bait for those which escaped drowning.
Since cut worms are active only at night, it is r best to spread the
bait as late in the afternoon af*possible.

4. Replanting/ The work of the cut wotyjls Was so destruc-
tive that it was found necessary to replant large portions here and
there in order to obtain a good uniform stand.. All .plots were
badly infested with cut worms, but it seems that the Arabian va-
riety was the most susceptible.

5. Growth of the Plants. After the cut worms were held in
check the plants grew very well. The first crop was harvested in
the middle of October — seven weeksr after planting. The plants
were not quite mature and very small yields were, of course, ob-
tained, but the prevalence of weeds and cut worms made it neces-
sary to harvest early.

All four varieties have grown very well, but the Arabian va-
riety has not blossomed and seeded well. The other three varie-
ties proved very vigorous and produced an abundance of fodder
and also a good deal of seed.

One plant of the Utah strain untouched by the sickle produced
in seven months 308 vigorous stems by actual count and yielded
large quantities of seed, which proved to be of good vitality. The
College plans to do some breeding work with the progeny of this
plant, which weighed more than five pounds on harvesting at the
end of eight months. The stems were a little over four feet high,
the average height of the whole Utah bed at maturity being three
and one-half feet. The Arabian variety averaged but thirty
inches.

That the cut worms are not troublesome after the plants have
become, well established is shown by another experiment con-
ducted from January 11, 1913, to the middle of February. At

178

CO

o

<

a

this time two beds of the Utah and Kansas seed were planted
broadcast in plots opposite those still under consideration, and
separated only by a ten-foot roadway.

Germination was excellent, but the prevalence of weeds and
cut worms, together with a shortage of labor, resulted in failure.
The important point to be noted, however, is that while the cut
worms were very destructive on the young seedlings, they did not
harm the older plants.

6. Irrigation and Fertilization. All four plots received three
irrigations of two hours each in September (September 1, 15 and

179

26) during the fight against the cut worms. On October 17 the
Utah variety received an hour's irrigation in order to drown out
cut worms. No further irrigation was made until March 3-6,
when each plot was given a final irrigation of from two to three
hours' duration.

At this time the Kansas and Arabian varieties were fertilized
with nitrate of soda at 750 and 800 pounds per acre respectively.
Since all four plots showed equal improvement, it was concluded
that while the irrigation was beneficial, the addition of nitrate had
little or no effect on the resulting crops.

7. Harvesting. Once established, the crops were ready for
harvesting every thirty days for the common variety, and every
third week for the Arabian.

All harvesting has been made with the ordinary hand grass
sickle. This method should not be used on large fields, for the
machine mower will do the work much more cheaply and rapidly.
Therefore, in considering the figures on the "cost of harvesting''
to follow later, the reader should not forget that the small size of
the experimental plots and the hand cutting have made this item
higher than it need be.

8. Yields. From the first to the last cutting the yields have
been constantly increasing. While they were rather light at first,
the last cuttings made so far were as follows :

Utah ; May 19, 1913 — 2310 lbs. green or 9.2 tons per acre green.

Kansas ; May 22, 1913 — 2076 lbs. green or 8.2 tons per acre
green. -

Australian ; April 28-May 14 — 2096 lbs. green or 8.4 tons per
acre green.

Arabian ; April 28-May 14 — 1036 lbs. green or 4.2 tons per acre
green.

Average, 7.5 tons per acre green.

These yields might have been even better if the crops had been
taken at the proper time. The small herd of the College could not
use more than about one-sixty-fourth of an acre of fodder per
day, and the crops were therefore left standing till ready for use.
Hence every bed was not cut absolutely uniformly, though an
effort was made to harvest the crops as uniformly as possible.
(To be continued.)

SALT AS A MANURE.

In Soderbaums' experiments at Stockholm it was found that the
application of common salt to oats caused a considerable increase
in the yield of those cases in which nitrogen was given as nitrate
of soda or sulphate of ammonia, but not in the form of ammonia

180

chloride. No injury due to manuring with common salt was ob-
served. The results seem to justify the conclusion that where
potash and phosphoric acid are present in sufficient quantity, and
the water requirements of the plant are met, the increase yield by
the addition of salt is to be traced to direct manurial effect, espe-
cially in respect of the chlorine part of it. — Internat. Inst, of Agric.

STORING AND MARKETING SWEET POTATOES.

(From Farmers' Bulletin 548, U. S. Department of Agriculture.)

Each year the sweet potato is becoming of greater importance
as a money crop in the South. The value of this crop in the
United States in 1909 was $34,429,000, 90 per cent, of which
was produced in the Southern States. The total area devoted
to sweet potatoes in the United States increased from 537,000
acres in 1899 to 641,000 in 1909, and the yield increased from
42,500,000 to 52,200,000 bushels. The total value of the crop
increased at a much more rapid rate than either the acreage or
yield, showing an increase of 78.3 per cent, in 10 years.

With better methods of storing and marketing the potatoes,
their value could be doubled without increasing the acreage or
production. This is especially true in the South, where the pota-
toes are either rushed on the market at digging time, when the
price is low, or stored in outdoor pits or banks, where a large
portion decay. Very few of the sweet potatoes stored in pits
or banks ever reach the market, for from 25 to 50 per cent, spoil
and those that remain are not of good quality. Even if the pit
or bank method of storage would keep the potatoes it is not
economical. Too much labor and expense are required to make
these banks every year and to get the potatoes out when wanted
for market. Sweet potatoes can be marketed more economically
and to much better advantage from storage houses. It is not
advisable to open a bank when the soil is wet or the weather
cold, as these conditions injure the potatoes and cause them to
decay. Outdoor pits and banks can not be depended on. Some
years a very small number of the potatoes spoil in banks, while in
other years practically the whole crop is lost. The only safe and
practicable method of storing sweet potatoes is in a storage
house, as the potatoes can be taken out at any time without sub-
jecting them to unfavorable conditions.

To keep sweet potatoes in good condition they must be (1)
well matured before digging, (2) carefully handled, (3) well
dried or cured after being put in the house, and (4) kept at a
uniform temperature after they are cured.

The grower can judge when his sweet potatoes are ripe by
breaking or cutting the tubers and leaving them exposed to the

181

air for a few minutes. If the cut or broken surface dries they
are mature, but if the surface remains moist they are not ready
to be dug.

The second essential, careful handling, is of the greatest im-
portance and should be practiced in digging, gathering, hauling,
and unloading. The potatoes should be sorted in the field and
gathered in padded baskets or boxes to prevent bruising or
breaking the skin. The baskets or boxes should be loaded on
the wagon, hauled to the storage house, and the potatoes care-
fully poured into the bins. When they are to be hauled very
far a wagon with bolster springs should be used. Sweet potatoes
should never be thrown from one row to another, loaded loosely
into a wagon body, or . hauled in bags, because any of these
methods will bruise them and give a chance for disease to enter.

Careful handling is one of the essentials in keeping sweet
potatoes, and there is no more important place to practice it than,
in the field at digging time. The implement used to dig sweet
potatoes should be one that does not cut or bruise the roots.
One of the best types of diggers is a plow with rolling colters
on the beam to cut the vines and with rods attached to the mold-
board to free the roots from the soil and vines. After the pota-
toes are dug they should be scratched out by hand and allowed
to remain exposed long enough to dry off. The digging should
be done, if possible, when the weather is bright and the soil is
dry.

The potatoes should be graded in the field in order- to reduce
the cost of handling to a minimum. A good plan is to go over
the rows and pick up the sound, marketable potatoes in one bas-
ket, then gather all of the seed stock in another basket or box,
and the injured ones in still another. These lots should be stored
in different bins. By following this method it will not be neces-
sary to grade the potatoes at the storage house and will thus save
time and reduce the cost of handling. The potatoes should be
poured into the bins as carefully as possible, to prevent bruising.
Sweet potatoes can be stored in boxes, hampers, baskets, or bins
with equally satisfactory results. The preference of the indivi-
dual grower will determine the method to be employed. Each
year after the sweet potatoes have been marketed the house
should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before being used
again. All dirt and refuse should be cleaned out and all parts
of the interior sprayed or washed thoroughly with a solution
of formalin (1 pint of formalin to 10 or 15 gallons of water).
Diseased roots should not be thrown on the manure pile or on
land to be used for sweet potatoes, the safest plan being to burn
them.

In filling the storage house the workmen should begin at the
back end of the bins and pour a layer of potatoes about 2 feet
deep in all of the bins rather than fill one bin at a time. If the
bins, are 8, or 10 feet long it is a good plan to divide them into

182

two parts. By nailing cleats to the middle support of the bins,
the partition can be raised as the bins are filled. The partition
boards should have some space between them to allow free circu-
lation of air. A 1-inch block between the boards will be satis-
factory to separate them. By dividing the bins in this way the
back of the bin can be filled without walking over the potatoes
in the front part. When taking the potatoes out, those in one
section of a bin can be removed without disturbing the remainder.
This is very important where the potatoes are sold in small
quantities.

One reason why southern farmers have not received good
prices for their sweet potatoes is that they have not used proper
methods of handling and marketing. In many cases the potatoes
are badly bruised and cut in digging, are put in bags or rough
barrels , without grading, and are rushed on the market when
there is an oversupply. The secrets of success in getting high
prices are (1) to carefully grade, clean, and pack the -product
and (2) to put it upon the market when there is a good demand.

When the potatoes are to be marketed they must be carefully
graded, no matter how well it had been done when they were put
in the house. The market demands a medium-sized, uniform type
of sweet potato, free from bruises or decayed spots. In grading,
the large, overgrown, and the crooked, broken, or bruised roots
should be kept at home for feeding or for canning. The best
potatoes will bring a higher price when separated from the culls.
Two market grades are sometimes made — the "extra selects" or
"primes" and the "seconds" or "pie stock" — but the southern
farmer will do well to make just one market grade and keep the
others for feeding to his live stock.

After carefully grading the potatoes they should be put in
clean, neat, attractive packages. Bags should never be used, as
the potatoes become badly bruised when handled in this way.
The standard veneer potato barrel with a burlap cover is usually
used in summer or autumn, but for winter shipment the double-
headed stave barrel or tight box is used. The smaller type of
package, such as the bushel hamper, bushel box, or basket, is
becoming more popular each year. A neat and attractive package
of well-graded potatoes will bring a good price almost any time,
even when the market is overstocked with inferior goods.

The value of the sweet potato has increased about 80 per
cent, in the last 10 years. With better methods of storing and
marketing the present value could be doubled.

Sweet potatoes can be kept satisfactorily in a storage house
where the temperature and moisture conditions can be controlled.

Sweet potatoes to keep well must be well matured, carefully
handled, thoroughly cured, and kept at a uniform temperature
while in storage.

Thorough ventilation is essential during the curing period.

183

The temperature should be kept at about 80° or 85° F. during
the curing period and reduced gradually to 55° after the potatoes
are cured.

Fluctuations of temperature should be avoided throughout the
storage period.

The varieties of sweet potatoes that the markets demand should
be grown.

The potatoes should be carefully graded, cleaned, and packed
in neat and attractive packages.

Sweet potatoes should never be marketed in bags or in bulk.

Veneer barrels or bushel hampers are desirable packages to
use during mild weather and double-headed stave barrels or tight
boxes in cold weather.

HEDYCHIUM.

(From the Tropical Agriculturist.)

Peradeniya, May 15, 1913.

At the tenth ordinary meeting of the Royal Society of Arts
held in London on February 12th last a paper on "New Sources
of Supply for the Manufacture of Paper," by Messrs. Clayton
Beadle and Henry P. Stevens, was read. Wood pulp is the raw
material from which paper is chiefly made but it is now being
realized that the world's supply of wood pulp is showing signs of
exhaustion and that prices are rising. It is stated that the cost
of production of ground wood pulp has advanced 50 per cent, in
the United States during the last 10 years.

The paper trade has been turning its attention to other sources
of supply of raw material and one of the plants to which atten-
tion is drawn is Hedychium coronarium.

This plant is of the same natural order as ginger and carda-
mom, and grows profusely in Brazil as shown in the frontispiece
taken from the Kew Bulletin.

It is propagated by root-stocks from which a crop in one year
might be expected ; from seed, two years would probably be re-
quired. It grows in damp localities near water courses at eleva-
tions ranging, in Ceylon, from sea level to 4,500 feet. In Brazil
it has taken possession of land cleared for sugar which suggests
that land suitable for the growth of sugar-cane would be suitable
also for Hedychium. In that country it grows in a thick jungle
to a height of from 3 to 6 feet; as many as 100 to 150 sterns
being counted in a square yard. After cutting down, a period of
from 4 to 5 months elapses before a second crop is ready, the
rainfall being about 60 inches per annum.

184

Root-stocks are continually reproduced so that continual crop-
ping year by year would seem to be ensured.

YIELDS.

It is estimated that well-covered land with stems say 4 inches
apart would yield 7 tons of raw dried fibre equal to 4 tons of
paper per acre per annum.

In the neighborhood of Morretes in Brazil tracts of land of
from 7,000 to 8,000 acres are covered with Hedychium capable,
it is believed, of yielding at least 50,000 tons of dry fibre sufficient
for the production of 30,000 tons of paper per annum. Another
estimate gives 6-10 tons of dry raw material per acre per annum
equal to 4 tons of pulp compared with 2 tons and 0.70 tons respec-
tively of rice straw, 0.20 tons of pulp wood once in 40 years, and
1.35 to 1.57 tons of pulp from bamboo once in 5 years. Hedy-
chium coronarium gives a greater weight of raw material per acre
than any other product listed.

DISPOSAL OF RAW MATERIAL.

There are three methods of dealing with the raw material, the
simplest being the drying and crushing between rollers of the
stems after which they may be sent to Europe. This entails the
payment of freight on a large proportion of unserviceable ma-
terial.

Another method is to pulp the stems as is done with wood ; a
third method is to manufacture paper from the green stems on
the spot. It is stated that the whole treatment from harvesting
to the manufacture of paper need not occupy more than twenty-
four hours.

No figures are available to show the cost of production of a
ton of pulp or of the returns. Messrs. Clayton Beadle and
Stevens obtained 4 per cent, and over of dressed fibre from Hedy-
chium compared with \ l / 2 per cent, from Manila hemp, the papers
produced possessing a greater tensil strength than those of the
strongest Manila papers. Owing to the semi-gelatinous nature
of the cells a natural parchment can be made.

ITS VALUE FOR CEYLON.

As has been stated Hedychium coronarium occurs in Ceylon
over a considerable range of elevation. In Brazil it takes pos-
session of the land to the exclusion of all other vegetation but
whether it would behave like that in Ceylon has not been ascer-
tained. Its value will depend upon its power of spreading and
reproducing stems. If it is found to flourish under irrigation it
may prove a valuable product for otfr dry zone. There would

185

appear to be ground for thinking that it may prove suitable for
cultivation under the tanks.

A closely allied species, H. Havescens, is more widely distributed
in Ceylon than H. coronarium, but its value as a source of paper
has not yet been ascertained. Some dried stems are to be sent
home for trial and also root-stocks from which green stems may
be obtained on the spot for manufacture.

R. N. L.

PLANTING SWEET POTATOES FROM SPROUTED
TUBERS AND VINES.

The curator of the Botanic Station, Montserrat, has sent in the
results of an experiment carried out to test the value of sweet
potato cuttings taken from sprouted tubers as compared with cut-
tings taken from the vines in the ordinary way. It may be men-
tioned that similar experiments were conducted in Cuba some few
years ago and reported on in the Agricultural News, Vol. VII,
p. 120, where it will be found that the plots planted with slips re-
turned a crop three and a half times as great as those planted with
cuttings. In this experiment the gain of 350 per cent, fully repaid
the extra expense and trouble involved.

In the recent Montserrat trials there has been no such phenom-
enal difference noticed, though the figures show there was, in
the case of some varieties, quite a considerable increase in yield
from the tuber cuttings compared with the vine cuttings. It is
interesting to observe that no difference in vigor was noticed in
the rows planted with the two kinds of material.

The following are a few of the yields which seem to be the
most striking: Red Bourbon (ordinar^ vines) 114 lbs., (tuber
cuttings) 145 lbs.; White Gilkes (ordinary vines) 83 lbs., (tuber
cuttings) 111 lbs. In no case did the tuber cuttings give a lower
yield than the ordinary vines, but it is not established that the
average increase is sufficiently large to warrant the systematic
planting of tuber cuttings instead of ordinary vines. At the same
time, the matter is worth serious consideration in the case of one
or two special varieties.

It should be stated that as regards the size of the plots utilized
in the experiments, the length of the row was 81 feet, the rows
were 4 feet apart and the plants 2 feet. Each plot was therefore
approximately 1/134 acre in area. — Agricultural News.

186
FERTILITY OF SOILS.

We have for long been forming the opinion which we now feel
definite about, that it is not lack of fertility that is wrong with any
soil here that will not grow good crops. A really poor soil is rare
in Jamaica. The fertility is not gone, but the humus often is. The
negative results in the majority of the experiments in bananas,
cane and cocoa — which are the crops which have been most syste-
matically experimented upon — in the use of fertilizers have helped
us in coming to this conclusion.

In Dominica the application of a mulch on cocoa proved more
profitable than the use of fertilizers, and as that is a country of
heavy. rainfall, it was not because the mulch conserved moisture,
but because of the addition of so much humus. In Trinidad the
experiments with fertilizers on cocoa have been mostly negative.
Here the Department of Agriculture has had negative results with
fertilizers on sugar canes and bananas, generally speaking. Yet
the application of fertilizers on a leguminous crop shows visibly
good results in the increased growth of the peas or beans grown
as green dressings, compared with non-fertilized crops — and
through the fertilized green dressings the bananas and cane benefit
from the addition of a greater amount of humus containing stores
of nitrogen, potash, phosphoric acid and lime.

Lands that would not grow bananas at all, now, simply through
a thorough system of trenching, are growing magnificent fruit,
yielding 80 per cent, bunches. Rich bottom lands that were be-
ginning to give poorer and poorer results and yet are trenched, at
once responded to a good application of lime.

All that is wanted, in addition of course to tillage, to make
lands renew their youth, are (1) drainage, (2) humus, (3) lime.

The humus can be got by growing heavy crops of cowpeas,
Jerusalem peas or overlook beans or Bengal beans, and the heavy
crops of these can be secured by tillage aided by fertilizers, and as
these legumes do not require nitrogen, they are economical. Ni-
trogen is the most expensive element in fertilizers.

Tillage, drainage, humus, lime, applied with knowledge and
experience of different crop requirements will enable fine crops
of any product to be raised. — Jamaica Agric. Soc. Journal.

Hawaiian Gazette 60.

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thing needed by the small or large farmer, from the
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also have a good assortment of Hand, Bucket or Barrel
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OFFICERS AND STAFF OF THE BOARD OF COMMIS-
SIONERS OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY.

COMMISSIONERS.

Albert Waterhouse, Acting President and Executive Officer.

J. M. Dowsett Arthur H. Rice

H. M. von Holt Walter M. Giffard

DIVISION OF FORESTRY.

Ralph S. Hosmer, Superintendent of Forestry and Chief Fire Warden.

David Haughs, Forest Nurseryman.

Joseph F. Rock, Consulting Botanist.

Bro. Matthias Newell, in charge of Sub-Nursery at Hilo, Haivaii.

Walter D. McBryde, in charge of Sub-Nursery at Homestead, Kauai.

David Kapihe, Forest Ranger for Tantalus.

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.

Edward Ml Ehrhorn, Superintendent of Entomology and Chief Plant In-
spector.
J. C. Bridwell, Assistant Superintendent of Entomology.
D. B. Knhns, Plant Inspector.
Bro. M. Newell, Fruit m\d Plant Inspector, Hilo, Hawaii.

E. Madden, 1

W. O. Aiken,
W. D. McBryde,
Dr. W. B. Deas,
Capt. C. F. Turner,
G. C. Munro,

Mahukona, Hawaii.
Kahului, Maui.
Koloa, Kauai.

Honorary Plant . , .

Inspector at J Hana, Maui.

I Kaanapati, Maui.
L M ancle, Lanai.
Prof. F. Silvestri (of Portici, Italy), Consulting Entomologist.
David T. Fullaway, Special Collaborator.

DIVISION OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY.

Victor A. Norgaard, Superintendent of Animal Industry and Territorial

Veterinarian.
L. N. Case, Assistant Territorial Veterinariixn.
H. B. Eliot, Deputy Territorial Veterinarian for Hawaii.
J. C. Fitzgerald, Deputy Territorial Veterinarian for Maui.
A.' R. Glaisyer, Deputy Territorial Veterinarian for Kauai.

DIVISION OF HYDROGRAPHY.

G. K. Larrison, Superintendent of Hydrography.

J. C. Dort, Engineer in Charge, Kauai, Headquarters at Lihue.

C. T. Bailey, Engineer in Charge, Maui, Headquarters at WailuTcu.

H. Kimble, Engineer in Charge of Construction, Oahu.

H. A. R. Austin, Junior Engineer, Oahu.

E. E. Goo, Cleric.

CLERICAL STAFF

Mrs. A. Oram, Stenographer and Librarian.

Mrs. C. L. Seybolt, Cleric.

Daniel Logan, Editor of the "Forester."

Board of Agriculture and Forestry

PUBLICATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION.

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rules and regulations, and other occasional papers, which may be had,
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A complete list of the publications of the Board available for dis-
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DIVISION OF HVDROGRAPHY.

Rooms 20-22 Kapiol Jldg. Tel. No. 3662.

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The United States Geological Survey topographic map of Kauai is
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The records and maps erf tl"S division are available for inspection
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This division will also make ditch seepage losses and utilization
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G. K. LARRISON,
Superintendent of Hydrography.