The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-27
DR.. STUBS
ON HAWAII
Tells of the Origin
of the Island
Group.
FLORA BROUGHT BY
OCEAN CURRENTS
A Large Proportion of the Plants
Growing Here Found No.
where Else.

WASHINGTON, April 12.-In a re-
port on the agricultural resources of
the Hawaiian Islands William q
Stubbs director of the Louisiana Exper-
iment Station, discusses at some length
the geology and soil of the islands.
In writing of the geology of the is
lands Mr.. Stubs points out their vol
basaltic lavas, with here and there a
/ few remnants of elevated sea beaches
composed of consolidated coral sands.
The islands extend from northwest to
southeast, showing that through a ifs
sure in the earth's crust volcanoes have
( been built up. Botanical and geologi-
cal evidences go to show that the age
| of the different islands increases as one
proceeds from east to west. Kauai,
the most northwestern, is always men
toned as the oldest island, and Hawaii,
/ the most extreme southeastern, as the
youngest. The eroding forces of nature
have produced greater destruction upon
the only active volcanoes in the group
are found on Hawaii.
Judging, therefore, said Mr.. Stubs,
from the greater disintegration of its
soils, the much heavier denudation of
+ its slopes, the presence of numerous
running streams, of precipitous falls
and cascades, the greater abundance of
vegetation, both in quantity and varie-
-, ~
/ that Kauai is the olde- of the islands.
Rightly considered, it proves only that
volcanic activity ceased here earlier
than elsewhere, but it does not show
that it began here earlier than in Ha-
wall. Which island first lifted its
head above the ocean there is absolute
/ ly no way to determine"
REEFS EXTENDING TOWARD JA-
PAN.
! Continuing, Mr.. Stubs says:
"Northwesterly of the Hawaiian
group there is succession Of reefs and
low, uninhabited islets extending for
distance Of 80 degrees longitude, near
ly half way to Japan, revealing mar
row band of elevated sea bottom with
ian average depth Of not over 1000 faith
oms, as is shown by the chart of this
portion of the Pacific. These are all
/ in the continuation of the main axis
/ of the Hawaiian group, along the same
assures of the earth's crust, and are
doubtless the coral-crowned peaks of
submerged volcanoes, antedating in ac-
tivity those which have produced the
present islands. Doubtless volcanic ac-
uvity began at the northwest and grad
llally moved southeasterly, terminating
in Hawaii, with subsistence of the older
formation.during the progress. The ex-
/ -ensive western end of the raised sea
bottom is still removed by a great dis
( lance and enormous depth of soundings
( from the nearest land, Japan. That
this great gulf between Japan and Ha-
wall has always existed is shown by
! the absence of any affinity between the
/ fora of the two groups Of islands
/ Between San Francisco and Hawaii
( the soundings have given nearly uni
form depths of 1900 fathoms, while far
Their south 2 degrees or more is found
/ one of the largest depressions in the
ocean, which extends nearly to the low
/ lying islands of Jarvis, Christmas
Palmyra and others wIlicl trend in the
direction of the Society sroup. There
rs therefore, no evider c. to show a
terrestrial immigraticn of plants to
these Islands in forme mes.
FLORA BROUGHT b OCEAN CUR
RENTS
Ocean currents, however slight may
be the positive evidencs, must be as
sumed as the vehicle of transportation
OF the flora found originally on the
islands. The northeasterly current Of
the Pacific, which strikes the continent
OF America, and is DETECTED southwark
after contact, deposits driftwood in
pine logs upon the islands. This de-
Aected current is reinforced by feeder
on It's southern boundary from Mexico
and Central and South America, and
bears with 1t the drift Of these coun-
tries.
a review of the island flora shows
oniyone or two inhabitants of Cali
fornia, and they from the highest noun
Ialns, while the Andean fora is quite
abundant. The equatorial counter cur
rent may, during the long continuance
OF the southwesterly gales, which fire.
quently prevail in winter. have deposit
ed drift on the islands.
PLANTS FOUND NOWHERE ELSE.
This isolation of the Hawaiian Is
lands has given them a peculiar flora,
.'htaining large proportion Of plants
round nowhere else. The peculiar char
acteristics Of the islands contribute
largely to such results and aid in multi
plying varieties. The traveller. may, In
single day. pass from the tropical
neat OF the coast to the region OF per-
pstual snow, and If he crosses from the
"lndward over to the leeward side OF an
sIand he. viii encounter climate
: with varying rainfall from 300 inches
annually to less than 30. There Is q