The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1898-04-29
LAVAS AND SOILS
Valuable Treatise By DR..
Walter Maxwell.
Results of Exhaustive Investiga-
tIons-Their Application 10
Agriculture.

Lavas and Soils Of the Hawaiian Isl
ands. pp. 1S6. by Walter Maxwell,
Director and Chief Chemist.
The publication OF this book makes
q distinct period in the limited Tier
azure Of these Islands. Many books Of
travel have been written regarding
the geological and botanic features of
the Islands. many more or less valu-
able accounts Ct The history Of the
people that have sived on u1eSe Isl
ands
But for the first time since the dis |
covery by Capt Cook, and the estab-
Iishment OF civilized institutions here,
z treatise Is before the public, which
deals rigidly and in the true scientific
spirit Of accuracy win the lavas and
soils Of Hawaii, that Is, its surface
geology- L Is written with the true
spirit OF inductive philosophy. the col
lec1ng and grouping OF facts, in the
first instance, followed by q judicial
reasoning and determination Of their
value and practical use. L is q single
and broad study Of the history OF our
lsyss and soils. and a presentation Of
the laws which have modified and
changed them. The changes and Sc
queuces are considered, which take
place from the moment the internal
earth forces eject upon the surface
the molten lava and its concOmitants
down 10 The operations of atmOs
pheric and chemical agencies until il is
ready FOR the production OF forest fruit
and vegetables.
While this treatise has a practical
aspect, OF the highest value, from an
economic standpoint and concerns
profits OF agriculture, manufacture and
commerce. It has 10 the student the
larger and more far reaching use in It's
contribution 10 geology from the stand
point Of the study Of freshly created
soils, down 70 the late period, in
which these Islands came into exist
ence.
The author states that Hawaiian
soils are derived from volcanic lavas.
These have the composition OF normal
basaIts in some cases. while in others
the same compositions have altered
through chemical and mechanical &C
ton into radically different substances
and vary in color. In these transfer
nations, the author shows al length
the action Of steam acid Yapors and
OF -weathering."
The action OF steam is described as
one Of the powerful agents in the
changes OF conditions. On page u, he
states what seems 10 be a fact of i'm
pcrtance that the absence Of chlorine
in water obtained by condensing steam
al the crater indicates that the water
Of the ocean has not penetrated within
the rims OF the Islands during vol,
canic action.
T1e author makes q geological
classification Of the soils into tbs
dark red, formed by the simple
weathering OF normal layas, the
yellow and red light soils, in the for
nation Of which steam and sulphurou
vspors have mainly acted, and also IN
sedimentary soils, whioh are derived
from the decomposition Of laTas a
higher attitudes, and have been re
moved 70 lower attitudes by rainfalls
There Is, again, a climatic classifi
cation OF the upland soils, formed at
lower temperature, containing large
percentage Of organic matter and nj
Irogen, and with lower percentage o
plant food in an available state, an
the Iowland soils formed under highe
temperatures, and lesser rainfall, con
tanning less organic matter and nitro
gen than the upland soils The per
centage Of available plant food
larger, owing 10 aecumulations froI
The upper lands, and the smaller rain
fan upon the lower levels.
The conclusion Is, and in this
scientific research becomes eminentl
useful and practical, that the dark re
soils and sedimentary soils have NOR
fertility than the yellow or light re
soEs. Tables of analysis are set fort
which justify this conclusion.
The author gives TO US q clear de
initiOn and origin Of ''laterites" whic
are ne red earths or ochres, foun
widely distributed over the surface {
she earth in many places. Lyell, Dal
win and others have described thes
silieates OF alumina and oxides {
iron, as they are found at the Giant
Causeway, in ireland, and in Indii
and North America. The indefnit
views OF these observers as to thei
formation, lying upon basaltie or ira
rocks, have been explained by u
author OF this treatise, who has ha
the rare advantage of watching the a.
rual formation, OF seeing the gree
natural laboratory in operation
this respect this treatise is a valuab
contribution 10 knowledge.
The author als9 treats Of the proce:
OF "weathering." and the resultar
soils.
One portion Of the authors invest
CATION viii excite much interest anon
the American biologists. His analysis
show that soluble silica in the Hawa
ian soils is just double the amour
found in the American samples. Tn
fact has a valuable economic aspec
L is one OF the indications Of Il
gresser fertility Of Hawaiian soil, an
irs capacity for sugar cane produ
ton
The author, however, is able TO sho
by mis- observations Of recent Yolcan
action in Hawaii, that her soils are
their youth. while those of the Unit