The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-12-10

/ 10 Honolulu. The red appearance Is easily accounted
for by the most extraordinary amount of oxides of
! iron. Although in itself this element enters but
sparingy into the composition Of plants, when rightly
handled it has injurious influences upon soil,
as Its decomposition gives place to number of the
most useful combinations with organic and inorganic
substances. | observed a number of organic sub
stances nterarded with the soil. At present there
be no lack Of those elements, but injudciOus
course Of farming will soon exhaust them. No soil,
IN my opinion, requires n more conscientious course
Of under plOugbng of the trash in green a state
possible course of green manuriDg, to retain
and augment not only the organic elements but also
scltes and lime the supply Of both of which is very
limited, than the soil of Lihue process of lining
would perhaps be of great advantage. Whenever
an earth brought in contact with acid produces
on efervescence, may be certain that it contains
a sufficency of lime The Lihue soil produces
efervescence. But LINING put on the land consider
ed as q manure, without under -plOughing of the
trash might for few years, as long there remain
ed suficency Of organic matter in the soil, produce
good effects, but the activity would be Fictitious
one, that would be followed by sterility. -
The difference in the color of the unbrOken soil
from the cultivated is very distinct. The latter is
much darker and shows that tlllage has brought
forth already beneficial changes, in changing the
protoxide of iron into a peroxide. If lime is not
wanting, such soil will grow productive, as 1
know from experience. In the virgin earth more or
less Of this iron is united with sulphur, forming
mineral of bright yellow color, iron pyrites sui
pburet of iron. Tillage decomposes these and the
oxygen combines with the sulphur, forming phuric
bine with the sulphuric acid forming gypsum
suphate of lime, the best of all compounds of sui
phur and most valuable for the soil of Lihue
Another change occurs by means of tage and mois
ture. While the protOxide of iron is converted into
peroxide, water is decompOsed, and while the oxygen
changes the iron, the hydrogen combines at once
with nitrogen in the atmosphere, always present in
soils, and forms ammonia Such few Of the
changes which produced by tiage in those soils,
and every succeeding year adds their productive
ness if rightly managed II the soil of Lhde be-
Comes sterile it is the fault Of bad management and
that alone.
Next morning while roal to Koloa, paid.
our respects to Hon. Judge Wdemann. Here We
remained few pleasant hours and were shown the
mandatory of oil from kukui nuts. There
time when this oil made considerable item in our
exports. To Mr. W. belongs the honor to ave
vved this extinct article of home Ifacture.
Where many nuts grow wild all the group, it
ia singular that this industry has remained very
limited. At D distance of n mile from Mr.. w. stands
very neat church. The houses here are generally
about n mile apart This is g the City of Miles
On our road TO Kolol we passed through some fine
tracts of land The road presents a feature in
being supplied with regular milestones. There can
be doubt that the roads Kauai the best kept
of any have seen. Bridges put where want
ed and kept in repair. Early in the afternoon
arrived at
The Plantations of KoIoa.
Here enjoyed the frank and kind hospitality of
Mr.. Burbank, the efficient manager Of this the old
est sugar plantation on the islands The fields are
very extensive the looks well and the crop
ing in promises well. The plantations are at great
distances from the mill, and still farther extend
ed. The soil has n more favorable aspect than that
of Lihue and rains said to fall more plentiful
We had the pleasure to meet Mr.. Thomas Marshall,
the present efficient Sheriff of Kauai His Numerous
friends will be pleased to learn that Mr. NJ looks
healthy and well, which Is in good measure owing
to much exercise. Mr.. NJ having become a most
expert equestrian account of his many official
journeys delights in this health giving exercise and
its pleasant incidents.
We also made the acquaintance of the Messrs. Hol-
lister, who have introduced the culture and manu-
facture of tapioca, with the most decided SUGGEST
Their field of tapioca looks extremely well, and we
ture by applying machinery. Mr.. ii. very kindly
RECALLED with two samples of home manufacture
The first a wine, if it may be called so. made from
the orange; the latter kind of cider made from the
guava. The first is in appearance and taste some
thing like Rhenish wine. the latter very pleasant
cderlike and cooling beverage. Both articles would
not only find a ready market Honolulu but if once
known ready sale abroad, and add largely in the
culture of orange orchards in the gathering of
guavas the limited industry of native popua-
ton. But . humbug Hawaiian legislative wisdom ,
proftless expense 10 the people, dead weight TO
every enterprise and home industry, curse to the
country
The houses at Koloa are numerous but are as
irregularly built and great distances from each
other if some giant had scattered them broadcast
over the ground. Kauai is undoubtedly one OF the
best jewels in the Hawaiian rich in productive
soil and richer still in water power Thousands of
hands might be employed in manufactures, thou
sands till the grateful soil, thousand hearthstones
send their curling smoke aloft but alas ! where
the people? On three days journey
met a single traveller the lonely road Kauai,
the beautiful, the fertile, the desolate May
better day dawn over this island, was our sincere
wish in taking leave of Kauai and its kind and hos
pitable inhabitants.