The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-08-13
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY /
HENRY M. WHITNEY.

for their growth and support. And SO of others.
For practical purposes, soils may be known and
named after the names of their predominating
compound, viz:
l. A silicious or sandy soil is one where sand
gravel greatly abounds This soil is light, fri
able, readily absorbing moisture, and as readily
yielding it up to drying winds or the heat of the
sum- The surface of such soils is easily movable
by winds or foods of water.
2. Aluminous clayey soils are heavy, adhe-
sive, cold, and when dry, very hard. They are
valuable when mixed with silicious or limey soils,
alumina tends to give body and tenacity to the
lighter soils.
8. A limey soil is one where limestone or sea
shells greatly abound. 1t is often rich for GER
tain vegetables.
4. A due mixture of the above materials with
due proportion of animal and vegetable matter
constitutes what is termed loan, a black or dark
colored, soft, mellow eartf. If decayed vegeta-
bic substances greatly predominate, it is called
vegetable mould.
1t should be understood that whatever mate
rials may enter into the formation of a soil, a
proportion of water moisture is essential to the
growth of any vegetable.
:. The beau ideal, !" therefore, ' of fertile SOIL
is one which contains such portion of decom-
posing matter and of moisture as to keep the crop
growing upon it always supplied with food in a
state fit for introsusception. yet not so super
shpndantly as to render the plants too luxurant.
1t is in the ade FloP5Pton therefore, of the fore
going analysed materials, that soil suitable for
gardening or agricultural purposes may be pro-
duced
Thus far our remarks viii apply to soils in gen.
eral all over the world. But it is Of great inn
portance to the agricultural interests of these
islands that definite, specific information
should be disseminated among cultivators respect
ing the sbils they cultivate. But here, the writer
dares not hope that he can give any information.
There are obviously great variety Of soils on the
Hawaiian group, but to understand their nature
either chemically or for the purpose of practical
agriculture, will require careful investigation and
repeated experiments; for nothing is COM
mon than to see vegetation growing luxurianty
in one location, and almost entirely refusing to
grow in another not far distant.
As for the first ingredient mentioned in the
formation of a soil, viz: silica or sand, that is
pulverized flint stones, there is probably very lit
tie if any on the islands. What is called sand
on our sea shores is mostly made up of broken
coral, shells and lava. Mr.. Richards once caused
quantity of sea sand to be melted. The result
was large cake of black friable lava; showing
that the lava preponderated.
A few things only can be submitted relative to
the soils of these islands. 1t will not be disputed
that the islands originally of volcanic origin;
that either when thrown up into their present
form, or previously, they were in a fluid or semi
fluid state In this condition once were all these
mountains, hills, ravines, depressions and plains
They must then have been destitute of every veg
etable, from the fact that there could have been
soil for their production or support All was
rock, lava, scoria and Stag. But the winds, rain,
and heat of the sun, would make impression.
The surface Of the rocks would soften, and some
parts would fall off; the lava, still softer, would
begin to disintegrate the scoria and Stag would
crumbIe, fall into masses-would oxydize and,
acted upon by winds ard rain, the crevices of
rocks would fill up, smoother appearance would
follow, seeds of vegetables and trees would be
brought-would grow, die, fall down and decay.
From time to time quantities of decaying matter
from the mountains and hills would be deposited
in the ravines and valleys and on the plains.
This mixed with decayed animal and vegetable
matter, would form a soil below. Now, from the
tops of the mountains 10 the shore there would
be soils of different kinds, according to the vari
GUS operations of nature In difsSent locations
and under different circumstaHD8, and these soils
would be adapted to }sssSent products according
to their d4Eerssss comp positions. If we 60 the top
of Hal ala, on Maui, we shall find it nearly
dez<.e of vegetation because, as fast as the
winds and rain decompose the rocks, the lava and
tbox -s,,1r 1rsv nd fbo aspa
wash all the movable particles down the mountain
till some obstruction prevents them, or till they
reach the plain. As we descend lower, where de-
composition has been going on aided by what
was received from above, we find different kinds
of vegetation, and so on till we arrive in dense
forest, where a rich loamy soil may be found,
soil adapted to potatoes, corn, wheat, and other
vegetables.
If. on the other hand, we descend on the wind
ward side, the wind Indeed, drives nothing down.
ward, but with the 4. p it helps dissolve all the
soft parts of rocks ann lavas, helps decompose
vegetables till, withoutA very deep soil, dense
forest of heavy timber found, and perennial
preenness is seen even to the sea beach.
Such, in few words, may be the theory of
soil-maling on these islandA 1t appeSrs that
most of the soils where cultivaceq hasyb at
tempted are located either on Of-srrf the sea
beach. say from ten to seventy feet t<-<,se the
level of the sea, on the leeward sides of tne-
islands, linen passing oser ocAe, iAs'.o ,' o'A
attempted till we gain the height of l,5OO to
$500: this is the region of sugar cane, wheat
and Irish potatoes. The soil near the beach on
the leeward sides of the islands may be denomi-
mated an alluyiaI or a washed soil, having been
brought from the mountains by winds and rams
and mixed with the sand of the shore, which, as
before, is composed of broken lava, coral and
shells. together with the decayed vegetable and
animal matters. This soil Is generally rich, dry
and warm, and needs artificial irrigation.
On the windward side of she islands, where tne
-.;, ba. been the more efficient agent, the soil is
perhaps not.eo deep but from more decayed veg
etable matter is more moist and more productive,
and cultivation may be extended from the shore
to any convenient height
High up the mountains the suneoil appears 70
consist of half decomposed lava, containing large
ouaptitiee of the red oxyd of iron. Some ioca-
tons, however, contain more or less alumina or
clay. .,
Ill