The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-10-15
Low ORGANISMS ARE GENERATED
Some Evils Resulting
From Too Much Water.
DR.. MaxWells Experiments Valu-
able for Maintaining Good
Lawns.

DR.. Maxwell has been conducting
some interesting experiments in irri-
CATION for some time past. They were
primarily for the use of the plantations,
but the scientific use Of water is prob
ably as necessary to preserve and
properly stimulate the growth Of the
grass and plants in private lawns and
gardens, as it is to secure a good crop
of cane The yard boy usually manipu
lates the hose on the principle that
unless the water is to be seen glisten-
ing on the grass, the roots are burn
ing for the want Of it, while possibly
the roots may be abundantly supplied
and more water simply washes the
nutriment from the soil.
An Advertiser representative called
on DR.. Maxwell yesterday morning and
said: eve hear that you are making
experiments in irrigation at the ex-
pertinent station to determine the
proper amount of water to apply to
get the best results, and not to waste
the fertility of the soil. Is it so?" DR..
Maxwell replied: ''Yes. In applying
water in our experiments, every gallon
is measured, so that we know pre-
cisely when we use enough, and the
bad results from using an excess. And
1 may say that your question leads me
to speak of the way in which water is
used generally in this city on private
grounds. In many, and perhaps most,
cases a large excess of water is applied
in private gardens, grounds, etc., and
the bad results are several, of which
may mention the following:
Excess of water induces the growth
of the cOarsest weeds and grasses, and
the destruction of the finer grasses.
AS an example, you may see piece of
ground on Beretania street where the
city water is allowed to run from the
faucets more or less continuously. AS
result, the fine maniania grass has
been crowded out by the coarse Hilo
grass. This is very striking illus
tratiOn of what l mean.
again, every gallon of water put on
the ground, in excess of what is re-
quired, just helps to wash out so much
of the fertility of the soil. Again, too
much water is distinctly inimical to
health where it is applied near Or
around dwelling houses. The air is
thus kept too moist and the growth of
low vegetable organisms, which require
much water, is encouraged.
"Just as a palpable example of the
unthinking way in which water is ap-
piled, l may repeat that after the rain
Of four weeks ago, when 21a inches fell
on the Sunday afternoon, next morning
I noted down in my book several cases
where the people were irrigating their
gardens as though no water had fallen
for month.
"NOw those people are not only in
juring their gardens and risking their
own health, but it is quite clear that
waste is being made of the city's
water"
"On your ground, DR.. Maxwell, after
the fall of the rain of which you speak,
| how soon did you irrigate?"
81 did not let my Chinaman apply
any water for a week after the rain,
and my trees and grass were the bet
| ter for it.
|
| only that the gardens shall not suf-
| fer, but especially in the interests of
health, and because there are large
questions behind the personal ones in
the matter. You see, when excess OF
water is put on the higher grounds
it simply drains down to the lower
lands and this is one of the causes ol
the formation of swamp places which
if we don't mind, are going to give us
trouble.
'The results of scarcity of water are
so bad and uncomfortable that people
very easily go to the other extreme
when the water supply is ample"
As an illustration of the amount o
fertility which is washed from thu
soil by an excessive amount of water
Dr. Maxwell showed bowlful of fines
plant food material obtained by col
lecting the water previously applied t.
tho coil