The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-12-03

If the amount Of those elements taken from one acre
OF cane land IN Florida is already SO large. what
must il not be on our lands. where cane yields so
enormously, aud the most ignorant, by looking at
those reliable data, cannot wonder ut it when he sees
the richest soils becoming exhausted by a wanton
waste Of the most essential elements for the produc-
ton or good crops. The most profitable plan to keep
up and to enrich the soil appears TO me to be in let
ting the plough follow the cane cutters as close as
possible, to open q deep and wide furrow fer the recep-
ton Of the trash and the green tops; and this reminds
me Of the total absence on our plantations Of one of
the most useful implements, and one that would be
highly prizei by our intelligent planters, if once put
in use, I mean a double mould Hall plough. Such
q plough would not only open u broad and deep fur
row for the reception Of trash, &C., but it would be
found equally useful for opening burrows for planting
and for running bitches; aud here let me remark,
that L have seen too little attention paid TO this, one
Of the most beneficial operations of farming, judicial
ditching. The expenses and the labor in following
the above method would not be augmented. 1t would
be merely q shifting of the time of its performances;
but the advantage derived from ploughing under the
leaves and tops and trash in as green a state as posi-
bic, is obvious from the fact that nearly three
fourths Of the whole organic matter in this manner
buried into the ground has been derived from the
air. that by plOughing in the green matter the natu-
raj decay is much accelerated and ammonia and
nitric acid are to a great extent produced in the soil,
and that the escape Of the gases engendered by decay,
Isl powerful assistant to render the soil porous and
ready to receive and convey the required nourish-
ment to the roots. When it is considered that the
green leaves absorb carbonic acid from the air and
discharge the oxygen for the purpose Of s~ppropri-
ating the carbon, and that sugar contains AZ per
cent IF carhon m n can douht the ADVANTAGE IN
generate this carbon within reach of the roots to be
absorbed by them, either in a liquid state or in the
form Of carbonic acid. and also that the tender shoots
Of the rattoous will have the gases evaporating from
the decayinz matter ready and in abundance near
their thousands of pores to receive their food. their
existence, their vigor to raise tina: solid pyramid,
the sugar stock, that shall yield its generous juice for
the benefit of the planter, the laborer and the mil
lions Of consumers.
But I fear that l am becoming rather prolix in
remarks that may be little interesting to your read
ers. and I perceive from the length of my manu-
script the necessity TO move on, II l intend to leave
kaaai this year. The plantation above the mill is
divided by the river, the greater part lying on the
right bank. What pleases the beholder so much Is
the perfect level Of the whole plantation, a level so
perfect that the eye ut least cannot perceive any
elevations. This Of course saves a large amount of
animal power and will permit the laying down Of
wooden railroad tracks. that viii not only save labor,
Oale 4 II ilnc u u "a e MOUNT u expenses.
The river being the main thorOughfare and road
towards the mill. 20 which the cane is transported in
numerous scovs, affords at the same time the greater
facility for & perfect system OF %ditching. by which
the crops cannot fail to be greatly augmented. The
capabilities Of the plantation are so great, that |
would not venture TO make an estimate. l should
say that before long q thousand acres will bear lux
uriant cane. With q large area Of land, a soil I'M
surpassed, a level facilitating labor, perfect drainage,
. q Climate the most genial TO ripen cane within a
year, sheltered from every rude blast. the plantation
OF Hon. K c. Wyllie is. TO judge from my experience
IN many lands, without a rival. During my stay
there [ was favored with most pleasant weather. and
Il was on a beautiful morning, when the dew
sparkled like glittering diamonds in the rays of the
sun jsst rising over the hilltops, that | took my
leave from beautiful Hanalei and its kind inmates,
mounting higher aud higher along the winding road.
I'll at last the crest of the mountain was gained.
on my trip 20 KolOa 1 enjoyed the society of q most
pleasant compzgHOH de roydge in the person Of the
accomplished engineer of Priuceville, Mr.. Webster,
aud the large experience of this gentleman on sugar
estates In other countries made his society valuable
anu instructive to me. We took q last and a long
view over the gorgeous scenery OF the valley and
commenced our journey up hill and down hill, and
up and down innumerable times. What a broken
country this part Of Kauai is The soil almost uni