The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1901-04-30

sufrer great alteration ~ the time ~
lor coon after, emission under the ar'
tlon " the steam sulphuroua vapor'
resident within the lavaa al the tim,
OF eruption. Through the action OF
these Imprisoned agents these lavas
have undergone such n radical altera-
tion, both IN chemical composition and
lcolor. as 90 mialead scientist M "a
their origin were II not for the presence
OF the living volcanoes on the island
Of Hawaii which permits OF special
study along these lines. DR.. Maxwell
has shown that lateral or 'tufa cones
exist all over the islands, and the la
vas therefrom have given soils widely
distributed all over the islands. These
soils are Inferior In fertility to the
dark red soils. Some OF them yield
well when first brought under cultiva-
ton, but depreciate rapidly In produc-
tivity In few years. requiring careful
and special treatment for maintenance
or restoration of fertility. There are
other large areas OF these soils which
are not productive due to the presence
OF ferrous sulphate, an active poison
to plant life. These can. by proper
physical and chemical amendments, be
made productive.
Besides the above which are found In
stu, there are considerable areas of sed-
imentary soils formed by denudation
and deposition mainly on the leeward
sides of the islands and In sections OF
small rainfall. The coral reefs which be-
girt the island have served as shelves
to catch the deposition produced by
falling rains in the mountain regions.
These sedimentary deposits have COW
cred the coral reefs from one to thirty
feet deep, and form today the most
fertile soils of the islands. and are used
mainly by the sugar planters, though
the details of the small valleys next to
the ocean are cultivated in rice by the
Chinese.
EXCELLENT SUGAR LANDS.
Large areas, marked by predomin-
ance of these soils, show that they have
been derived from normal lavas which
have undergone slow decomposition in
n hot climate with a small rainfall.
They are strong, deep Soils colored In
tensely with iron and darkened by an
Incorporation of vegetable matter. They
closely resemble pulveriZed bricks,
darkened by an admixture with vege-
table mold or humus. They are uni
formly fertile soils and are everywhere
highly esteemed as excellent sugar
lands.
"The soils of the islands are marked
chemically by low content of silica,
the larger percentage of which is SOL
uble. and by the presence of large
proportion of basic elements, against an
preponderance of acidic con-
stituents in American soils. The Ha-
waiian soils are geologically recent,
and have not yet undergone the change
OF structural composition and type
which characterizes the old and per-
haps permanent soils of Ameria.
"The dark red soils and the sedimen-
tary soils are credited with an aver
age production 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 quail
ity OF Juice.
"The coffee soils. found at elevations
OF 1000 to 5000 feet, are extremely rich
in nitrogen.
THE greater portion of the islands is
not susceptible to cultivation, being
covered with rugged lava and deeply
gulched, or with poor soils incapable
Of large production. The dry plains and
seacoasts are made fertile by irrigation.
The fertile valleys are highly produc-
tive, but of very limited areas.
"Only small portion of the islands |
IS capable of sustaining a dense popula- |
ton. The most fertile belts are near
he ocean. The interior Is mountainous |
and craggy, with a very thin soil, |
adapted in many instances to pastur-
age, but unfit for cultivated crops.
Many parts of the shore belt are bar
'en without irrigation. but extremely |
with an abundance of water.
other parts are covered with lavas not |
yet converted into soil. and still others
lre Eulched and carved into ravines so
deep and precipitous that access Is al
most impossible. Deep, rich soils at
ow attitudes form. probably. not over
one -fortleth of the islands. Thinner
Tolls, perhaps capable OF producing
profitable crops of some kind. are far
more abundant"
A HONOLULU CABLE.
Among the important measures
Congress will be called upon to con-
'ider next December" said Represen-
ative George w. Smith. of Illinois,
when called upon for what he thought
Nuulu De SOllle VI the llTSl measures
aiken up by the next Congress, will
De a bill authorizing the construction
If cable from San Francisco TO Ho-
lolulu and thence to the Philippine
Stands. 1t must be evident 10 every
,ody that a cable to the points named
$ of national Importance. In the Con-
,ress which adjourned on the 4th OF
March last there We're several bills on
he calendar of the House authorizing 4
he construction and maintenance of Il It
able from San Francisco to Hawaii, |,
md thence to Manila, via Guam. These
bills We're carefully considered by the
committee on inter state and foreign \
commerce. one of the bills passed the I
senate. They were not considered In |,
he House, however, because of the
ateness of the session and the pres
sure of other matters. There will be ,
TO occasion for delay in taking up this
subject next December, because the
House will have the benefit of the labor
IF the Interstate and foreign COM
nerce committee in the last Congress"
h. tksIn ]