Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-11-30

many cases potash is deficient in Hawaiian
soils, and there is now a tendency toward
an Increased use of potash. This is notably
the case In the Hlo and Hamakua districts
OF the Island Of Hawaii, where the potash
In the fertilizers often reaches 10 per cent
and even higher. Where muriate OF potash
is applied to the soil the chlorine unites
with the lime, and this being soluble, il
washed out by the heavy rains. This would
tend to deplete the land OF lime, and for
that reason muriate Of potash is not used
to any extent In regions Of heavy rainfall
Sulphate Of lime resulting from the applica-
ton OF sulphate Of potash is not so solub,s
and for that reason is now generally used.
Ammonia-Nitrates, by reason OF their
solubility and tendency to wash out, evident
ly cannot be used with safety. Sulphate
Of ammonium is not open to the same objec-
tons, but most of the planters Of Hilo pro.
fer. and we believe with reason, to derive
the greater part Of the ammonia from or.
ganic material. Bone meal In past years has
been used In large quantities. both alone
and In connection with other fertilizers. Tho
writer believes with DR.. Maxwell and Ger.
tain Of the plantation managers, that II IL
the ammonia and not the phosphoric acid Of
the bone meal that does the greatest good
to the cane. Following this idea up we have
recommended that tankage and fish scrap
containing large percentage OF ammonia
be used instead OF bone meal. :. lie most ra-
tional method Of fertilzing with this A.
ticle would seem to be the following:
Tankage OF 10 per cent ammonia and 10
per cent phosporic acid. or IL per cent AM
monia and per cent phosphoric acid, 10 ap-
piled In the furrow with the seed. After
the cane Is growing this Is followed up w
q top dressing Of high grade fertilizer con-
tanning large percentage Of potash In the
form Of suiphate Of potash. a smaller guam
tity each OF phosphoric acid and ammonia
In readily available forms In this way tho
most insoluble part Of the fertilizer. the
tankage. becomes well Incorporated with the
soil. and at the roots Of the plants where
II Is most liable to be acted upon by tho
plant acids. Moreover. whatever particles
OF bone or flesh are not taken up by the
crop Of plant cane are In q position to be
taken up by the second or rattoon crop. In
this way It will be In contact with the
roots OF the cane for two years or mors,
and in that time all OF the available insre-
dents should be utilized. The high grade
soluble fertilizer is applied only to the
growing crop, and In such condition as 10
be taken up at once. We might add hers
that this method in a modihed form has
been tried on one plantation with good re-
suits and is now being tried on others.
hamakua District-The rainfall. besides
being rather small for a sugar crop, Is very
uncertain. Some years are very dry while
others have ample rainfall provided II come
at the right seasons. Occasionally there
are very heavy rains which. because Of the
very porous condition OF the SOIL would
tend to wash out all soluble ingredients not
held by the soil ITSELF Cane is planted all
the way from near sea level to 1900 or 1000
feet elevation. The uplands here as IN
most Hawaiian lands have q heavier rain
fall than the lowlands.
Hamakua soils tHawaiian Elk. Sta) aver