The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-12-03
Paper Read by Prof. Maxwell Be-
fore Planters Association.
ANALYSES OF VARIOUS KINDS.
Climatic Effects on Cane Throughout
the Islands-Elevation and Rainfall
Treated in Connection With Growth.
Product of Sheltered and Low Lands.

Following is an abstract of the re-
port on soils, read by Prof. Walter
Maxwell during the first days session
of the Planters Labor and Supply
Company:
The study of soils is a subject which
requires to be divided into several
lines of observation. First, there is
the chemical composition, which is
shown to us by the processes of the
laboratory. These processes include
the determination of all the constitu-
ents present; the measure of avail
ability of those special constituents
without which plants cannot live or
grow; the presence of the bodies that
are injurious to the health of crops;
and the trial, by experiment, of means
and methods whereby the essential
elements of plant food may be brought
into better state of use and the pois-
onous compounds rendered harmless.
Again, there is the geological
branch of the subject, which means
the examination of the formations
and rocks for which our soils have
been derived. And in relation to the
soils of these islands this branch of
inquiry is of primary Importance; for
while the soils of adjoining planta-
tiOns may closely correspond in chem
ical composition, their relative fitness
to grow crops, which may be termed
the state of maturity of the soil, will
vary with their relative ages, the one
being derived from an eruption which
occurred at time outside our cOmpu-
tatiOn, and the other from "how'
whose date is preserved by the tradi-
tions, and even by the memories of
living men. Moreover, there were
the physical conditions, such as tenn
perature, under which those erup-
tiOns took place. The full significance
of these phenomena in the history of
the formation of our soils | do not, at
present, pretend to comprehend.
Further, we have the different
climatic conditions under which our
soils are forming or were formed. Not
only do the islands vary in their res
pective receipts of rain, the conditions
on the same Island differ in as great
degree. On the upland or "mauka"
lands the soils are forming under COM
paratively lower temperatures and
greater falls of rain. The lower or
"makai" lands have a higher heat,
but the rain is notably less. The
effects of these differing conditions
will probably appear to us in the ex-
Limitations as we proceed.
Now, in looking over these several
anes of observation which make up
the study Of soils 1t is seen that while
one part of the Investigations is con-
Quoted in the laboratory, a compre-
hensiOn of the whole work involves in
addition exact and extensive observa-
tions in the field. Therefore, when
our institution was established in
A pril of this year the first act was the
fitting up of the Laboratories, after
which | went out to the Islands, in
specting each plantation, at the same
time taking and sending in samples
of soil for examination.
In proceeding to the review and in
terpretatiOn of the analyses which
have so far been made, | will explain
that there are two uses which the
analytical data are required to serve:
First, the immediate practical purpose
of enabling fairly correct advice 20 be
given concerning fertiliZing and the
treatment of soils.
This is a subject of detail, and con-
Germs each individual plantation in
matters of personal communication
with this bureau. Secondly, the fur
nishing of information by the under
standing of which we may come to
some knowledge OF the soils of the
Hawaiian Islands as a whole We are
dealing with soils of volcanic origin,
and there are volcanic earths upon
most divisions of our globe. Just now,
our crater is still; but soil materials
are at tins moment pouring forth from
the lips of Nesuvius. They are the
same internal forces Of the earth
which to-day are operating in Italy,
and possibly next year will be active
on Hawaii And the soils finally
produced by these operations, al
though differing in composition, are
formed under the same physical con-
ditiOns. Consequently, the knowledge
we obtain for the use of these Islands
may oe directly available for the use
of other parts of the world.
These conditions, however, impress
US with the scope of the undertak king,
and require that we shall not proceed
with our theories in advance of the
actual work. | therefore shall limit
myself now to a presentation of the
work of the laboratory up to this date
com bined with observations in the
field.
At this point Professor Maxwell
went into most exhaustive discourse