The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1889-03-20
OAHU VINEYARD LAND.

Ep1roR BULLETIN Attention has
been called to the suitability of the
red mesa lands of Oahu for the sue
ccssful culture of the grapevine,
and the following remarks are in
tended to supply additional inform
alton and corroborative evidence of
the fact.
What l mean, and what is usually
meant by mesa lands, are those ele-
waited tracts of country that are not
susceptible of irrigation and which
are above the flow of artesian water.
The mesa lands of California are of
this character; but, unlike the
mesas of Oahu, they are dry for
many feet from the surface owing to
their soil being light sandy dust,
and also in consequence of an ex-
tremely dry atmosphere. Mesas of
that kind are sterile, and must re-
main so owing to the impossibllity
of irrigation or other means of
moisture supply.
The Oahu mesa lands are of quite
q different character from the mesas
of Southern California, h,asmuch as
they contain n fair proportion of
alumnia and silica, and very large
proportion of iron oxide as seen in
the dark red color of the mold.
These conditions give moisturc-
retaining power to the soil which the
California mesas do not possess;
and, besides, Oahu has much
larger and more regular rainfall.
| Those persons who have seen
vineyards in Southern California,
Australia and South Africa, know
that the grape vine requires but Il
small portion, comparatively, of
moisture from the soil; and pro-
duces the best fruit in the most arid
climates, provided the nature of the
soil is suited 10 its peculiar needs.
The very best grapes of California
are produced in Santa Barbara and
Ventura counties, without irriga-
ton, in a drier and warmer climate
and less suitable soil than the mesa
lands of Oahu. In Australia there
is the same experience. Albury
district, one of the driest on that
continent, produces the largest
quantity and best quality of Aus
tralian grapes without irrigation,
whether for the table or the wine
press. We have similar example
in the great Constantia vineyards of
South Africa which are situated in
the middle of desert. 1t has been
found, without any doubt, that the
grape vine will thrive as well in dry
weather as the melon family or even
the cactus. The large leaves of the
vine gather from the atmosphere
much of the necessary nourishment
and needed moisture, in a similar
manner to that performed by the
leaves of melon or pumpkin.
Having shown that the grape vine
does not require more moisture thar
the mesa lands of Oahu supply
) naturally; 1 will now remark briefly
upon the suitability of the soil TO
grape culture. As l said, there is ;
: very large supply of iron oxide, ant
fair quantities of alumina and silica
These constituents of the soil ar
all valuable to the vine; and, al
though the aluvium is not rich il
/ potash, yet there is enough to brinI
: grape vines to luXuriant growt
and full maturity. BY judiciou
top-dressing the quantity of potas
can be increased to any extent re
n quired; and, when this is accom-
n plished, no better climate or so
4 can be found in the world for sue
= cessful grape culture than the mes
= lands of Oahu. / have used tn
n term "mesa" throughout this articl
e for the sake of comparison; but le'
II the term should not be general
understood, | may now explain th,
the rolling, elevated, and broke
. country is meant-especially til
IS areas too far above sea level to /
a easily irrigated. There are abo,
IT 200 square miles of such lands Wis
:, BILE from LeilOno mountain, and the
:, extend northward from Moanalu
IL valley, all at present devoted
'e cattle raising,
" Regarding market for I'll
w grapes, the local market would /
sufficient for large quantity, bot
in the green state and dried /
II raIsins. Made into wine the expo
re market would be only limited by Il
st supply of saleable wines.
p j. NJ, MACDONALD.
a. a. ST. LOUIS COLLEGE ENTERTAIN