The Evolution of a Cocoanut Plantation: II

The Evolution of a Cocoanut Plantation. BY ELDER JOHN Q. ADAMS, OF THE SAMOAN MISSION. II. Our ''Mormon" boys devoting part of their missionary careers towards raising cocoanuts! This sentence may be made into either a statement or a query, as the question mark is added or omitted. From such a ;^ ^^, .:•»,•>-■.. S. condition, perhaps sufficient justification may be derived for what will follow in this article. In a previous article another phase of the cocoanut was dealt with — its relation- ship to the commercial world, together with its significance to the Pacific Islanders. In the succeeding few para- graphs we shall take up the past, present and future of our own plantation, and en- deavor to note the progress- ive stages as they gradually develop, with due mention of the part played by our faithful Saints of this village, (Mapusoga) at once our school center and the scene of one of our two large plantations. Some eight years back Mapuscga was founded, ostensibly as a school village. About twenty-four acres of land were leased from several chiefs of the village of Tralenin, a place three miles inland and twelve miles up the coast from Pago Pago. As in all pioneer efforts, where a few years of man's artificial efforts are made to supplant the results of hundreds of years of Nature's Many weary months of ax-swinging.

52 IMPRO VEMENT ERA . sway, much exertion and planning become involved in the trans- formation. Dense forests, such as are found only in tropical lati- tudes, must be leveled, despite all their pristine majesty, and replaced by a more useful generation of trees. Dwellings became necessary, and dot the clearings as man's most effectual stamp that the places are his, and that he has simply come as the rightful owner to claim his own. Avenues of subsistence must also be originated, and in a multitude of ways does pio- neering teem with possibilities, and things to be accomplished in sequence. Thus was Mapusoga begun, led by "Mormon" boys of the substantia!, Rocky mountain stamp, and rein- forced by their dark-skinned brethren, of Lamanitish descent. From the beginning our Saints here have been a source of wonder to the on-looking public, because of the reversal of the natural order of torrid laziness. Ac- customed for preceding generations to taking life easy, and the bounti^ s of a tropical climate, there has been lack- ing any incentive whatsoever to hard, manual labor. And yet the "Mormon" slogan, jfe'^v^^^MBBi . ^jf %. t *^JM^ jHinL'iMj k^ 't^^^^^ 1 Wi On these quickly improvised scaffolds the bare - legged choppers perch contentedly and peck away. work," seems to be a contagious something that permeates the life of a Latter-day Saint, ?ome from what land he may; and so it was and is here. All was not smooth sailing at first, by any means; but, as the place grew, and as a necessarv recompense for the months of weary ax-swinging and knifing, small wages were distributed and a good spirit prevailed. And now for the present. As the wilderness melts away into a broad clearing, planting begins — but first, just a word: The usual order of work is to first clear away the underbrush and shrubbery, by means of large knives, wielded by the smaller and weaker members of the community. Following them comes the brigade of strong men with heavy, five- pound axes — good headway resulting. The large trees do not root

THE E VOL UTION OF A COCOANUT PL ANT A TION. 53 deeply in this land of constant rain, the root systems of some species beginning up as high as six feet above the ground, form- ing a great, spread- ing butt. To sever the trunk close to the ground would be quite impracticable, hence, notches are made in the tree up to where its girth is reasonably small, and in these, slabs are inserted. On these quickly improvised, A place thus cleared is not again molested for miniature scaffolds say— well onto a year. the bare -legged choppers perch con- tentedly and peck away, their blows resounding until the ominous swap foretells a weakening base. With care, no accident need occur, and as the monarch goes crashing to the earth, an accompany- ing shout is given by the victors. A place thus cleared is not molested again for say — well onto a year — when it is pretty well overgrown with pawpaw, and other tender shrubs. These are easily dis- patched with knives, and axes are used on the fallen trees, now in the first stages of rot- ting, all protruding branches being cut off. Once more the ground appears, and now plant- ing begins. The nuts, previously sprouted for perhaps eight or The nuts are first sprouted in a closely pUnted nursery.

54 IMPROVEMENT ERA. more months, in a closely planted nursery, are set approximately thirty feet apart each way, at the ti.ne of transplanting being two feet or more high. The nuts will grow if only placed on the ground, but to give stability they are covered. Within from four to six months, weeding becomes necessary, all the ground being cleared with knives. From now on, keeping the weeds from the trees within a radius of — say four feet— is about all that is necessary, the people planting bananas, taro, etc., sparsely among the trees and keeping the ground clear. Part of our plantation is situated on the abrupt side of a mountain, overlooking the ocean to good effect. Not only is a fine sea-view afforded, but to passing vessels the light green of the clearing, framed by the darker forest, presents a striking sight, which will be greatly enhanced when ^he cocoanut palms shall have reared their heads to the accustomed altitude. At the present writing, a bunch of natives come each morning from the three or four neighboring villages and join forces with our own men in the chopping campaign. With their shining Part of the plantation is situated on the side of a mountain.

THE EVOLUTION OF A COCOANUT PLANTATION. 55 brown bodies bared to the waist, and in differently colored lava- lavas, or shirts, fastened at the waist by some mysterious sort of careless twist, and invariably of straight, erect, dignified bearing, they are an interesting study. And this interest doubles itself when in <t mental picture one is car- ried back to the wilds of South America, some two and a half thousand years back, and he sees the rebellious division of Father Lehi's family cursed with a dark skin for their perversity and general misbehavior. As their indolent,fierce course is traced until a subdivision branch is found in the Samoan of to- day, one is lost in wonder at Within from four to six months, weed- the Creator's designs in bring- ing becomes necessary. ing it all about. Pago Pago, Samoa. If I Should Die. If I should die tonight, the eyes that chill me with averted glance, Would look upon me pityingly, perchance, And soften in a kindly way; For who would war with dumb, unconscious clay ? 0 keep not your kindness for my cold, dead brow ? My path is lonely — let me feel your kindness now. Think kindly of me — I am travel-worn; My faltering feet are pierced with many a thorn; For friendship and for love I plead — When dreamless rest is mine I shall not need The sympathy for which I long today, To give some brightness to my weary way. — Selected.