Evening star., 1901-04-30
THE RESOURCES OF HAWAII
TEXT OF BULLETIN ISSUED ny DE-
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
Review of the Island Flora and Esti-
mate of the Capabilities
of the Soil.

THE Agricultural Resources and Cana
bilities of Hawaii is the subject of the
latest bulletin issued by Secretary Wilson
of the Department of Agriculture A part
of this follows:
A review of the island fora it is stated.
shows only one or two of the California
species, and they from the highest noun
tains. while the Andean flora is quite
abundant. The equatorial counter current
may, during the long continuance of SOUTH
westerly gales, which frequently continue
in winter have deposited drift on the
islands,
The isolation of the Hawaiian Islands
has given them a peculiar fora containing
large proportion of plants found no.
where else. The peculiar charact eristics
of the island contribute largely to such re-
suits and aid in multiplying varieties. The
traveller may in a single day pass from
the tropical heat of the coast to the re-
glon of perpetual snow, and if he crosses
from the WindWard over to the leeward
side of an island he win encounter a eli
mate with a varying rainfall from 300
inches annually to less than thirty There
is a wonderful diversity in Temperature
rainfall elevation and barOmetric pressure
The soil, however, is quite uniform derived
from the baSaltic lava, with narrow ba nd
of coral limestone encircling the islands
on the coast, These soils are extremely
them, sinking into the artesian reservoirs
made possible by the encircling belt of
coral, which furnish the potable and irri-
eating waters of the islands
The soils of the islands are marked chem
ioaiiy by low content of silica. the larger
percentage of which is soluble, and by the
presence of large proportion of basic
elements against an enormous preponder-
ance of acidic constituents in American
soils. The Hawaiian soils are geologically
recent and have not yet undergone that
change of structural composition and type
which characterizes the old and perhaps
permanent soils of America.
Two Classes of Soils.
One writer divides the soils of the islands
into upland and lowland. Under the former
he includes those which have been
formed under lower temperature and great
er rainfall and distinguished by a large
content of organic matter and nitrogen
and by low content of the elements of
plant food in an available state, these ele-
ments having been removed by rainfall.
Under lowland are soils formed under high
er temperature and smaller rainfall, and
distinguished by low content of organic
matter and nitrogen and by higher con-
tent of the elements of plant food in a state
of immediate availability, which is due in
part to the receipt of soluble constituents
from the upper lands and to a smaller rain
fall over the lower levels.
The dark red soils apd the sedimentary
soils are credited with an average produc-
ton of about five tons Of sugar per acre,
while the yellow and light red soils give
only a little over three tons, but the latter,
which grows the least cane, produces the
best quality of juice.
The coffee soils found at elevations of
1000 to 1900 feet are extremely rich in
nitrogen.
The greater portion OF the Islands is COW
cred with rugged lava and deeply gulched,
or with poor soils incapable of large pro-
1n cfi Thea dry MIA aitc nd CT 20
made fertile by irrigation. The fertile val
leys are highly productive, but Of very
limited areas.
Only a small portion Of the islands is
capable of sustaining a dense population.
The most fertile belts are near the ocean.
The interior is mountainous and craggy,
with a very thin soil, adapted in many In
stances to pasturage, but unfit for cult
waited crops. Many parts of the shore belt
are barren without irrigation, but extreme
ly productive with an abundance Of water
Other parts are covered with lavas not yet
converted into SOIL and still others are
gulched and carved into ravines so deep
and precipitouS that access is almost i'm
possible. Deep, rich soils at low attitudes
form, probably, not over one-fortieth OF the
islands. Thinner Soils perhaps capable Of
producing profitable crops of some kind,
are far more abundant.
Semi-TropicaI Climate.
The climate is more semi-tropical than
tropical, and to a visitor Is quite enjoyable
though permanent dwellers complain of
lassitude, which the monotonous climate
produces after sojourn Of few years on
the islands.
The windward and leeward sides of the
islands vary also in temperature and rain
fall. The eastern or windward sides of
the islands are constantly swept by strong
winds, which produce heavy rainfalls and
lower temperatures. while the western or
leeWard sides are comparatively calm, dry
and warm. On the former farming OF all
kinds can be carried on without irrigation,
while on the latter, especially near the
coast, irrigation is essential for the pro-
duction of maximum crops. Even upon the
leeward side the rainfall varies with the
altitude, beginning on the coast with about
twenty inches annually and increasing as
one ascends the mountains. Frequently on
a plantation of varying attitudes the RAIN
fall Will be abundant for crop purposes on
a part Of 1t, while on another part 1rri-
cation will be absolutely necessary to grow
most any kind Of plant successfully.
The heavy rains falling upon the wind
ward side Of the islands have clothed the
mountain slopes with dense forest and
cut into them numerous deep and precipi-
tous ravines. On the leeward side q less
vigorous growth Of plants is found, and in
many places near the sea none at all. The
islands are said to be exempt from the ter
rible cyclones which SO frequently deFas-
tate the central Pacific.
SOIH is SIoWH III COnS1ueTdDle
upon one or two of the islands. There is
a spirited controversy as to the best sea-
son of the year to plant this crop. 1t will
probably never be grown largely on the
islands, since it requires practically SIM
liar conditions for growth as sugar cane,
and the latter, as long as present prices
obtain, will always occupy all of the
available land.
Wheat was once extensively cultivated
and exported to California during the gold
fever of 1S49 but was discontinued when
the latter state began to grow its own
wheat, and rendered importation unprofit-
able.
Rice Is now the second crop in the
islands In quantity and value. The culti-
walton began in 1850. Now every available
acre of land adjoining the sea capable Of
cultivation and susceptible of being watered
is under cultivation. Only Chinese are en-
gagged in this industry, paying for rent
$40 to $40 per acre. Ehey grow two crops
per year on the same land After the field
Is once prepared and watered it Is never
permitted co be unoccupied. As fast as
one crop is harvested another is planted.