The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-15
WILL STUDY
OUR SOIL.
Mr.Dorsey,Expert,
Is Coming to
Hawaii.
WILL MAKE MAPS
OF THE ISLANDS
Survey Of Soil Will Give Character.
Depth and Source of Water
Supply.

Jared G. Smith. chief of the Agricui-
tural Experiment Station, has been
notified by A. c. True, director of Ex-
pertinent Stations at Washington, of
the intended visit to Hawaii of Clar-
ence W. Dorsey of the Bureau OF Soils.
How soon this visit will be made Is
not known, as Mr.. Dorsey will first
conclude his examination of the soils
of Porto Rico, though he may be ex-
peeted in Honolulu within few
months.
The contemplated survey of soils In
Hawaii is of the greatest importance to
the people here. Director True wrote
to Mr.. Smith few months ago in
curing whether, in his opinion, such
study was needed here, and in reply
Mr.. True was notified that the survey
might be carried on with profit to the
sugar and coffee and general agricul-
tural industries of the islands.
Such a survey, as it is the intention
OF the Bureau of Soils to make in the
Territory, is exceedingly valuable 1t
will cover the entire group and soil
map of each island will be made sep
arately. These will show in colors the
various sorts Of soils making up the
whole, Its depth, and to wnat crop 1t Is
best adapted. For instance, there are
probably thousands of acres of sugar
lands In the Territory which are ulide-
veloped. The survey will show exactly
where each section of sugar land is To-
Gated, where the best coffee land can
be found, and what soils are best COR
the cultivation of small farm products
and fruits.
Jared Smith stated yesterday that
such soil survey would be of more
value to Hawaii than to the average
State, because the lands here are of so
many different kinds; broken up into
ridges and valleys.
. The sugar men now make chemical
analysis of the soil, but this does not
take into conSidera ton anything blu.
the particular land which it is proposed
TO cultivate The physical analysis to
be made by Mr.. Dorsey may be classes
as midway between a chemical survey
and geological survey. 1t will take IN,
moreover, large tracts of land which
have never been opened, or whose cul-
tiyation has never been attempted.
While it is hardly to be expected that
the mountainous regions will be in
cluded, yet 1t is the intention to sur
vey them to such heights as success
full cultivation of any crop whatsoever
might be attempted
In the field classification of soils all
features are taken into consideration
which appear in any way to influence
NI,xaN al
ifcation is based mainly upon the physi-
cal properties and condition of the soil
as determined by the soil expert. but it
is not based solely on this. and any
chemical feature. such as deposits OF
NATL of highly calcareouS soils, or OF
highly colored soils, is considered, as
well as the character of the native veg
citation and the condition of the crops
The topography of the country is often
a very safe guide in outlining the boun-
daries of soil conditions, and such soil
maps VIII be made of Hawaii. They will
be TO a scale of one inch to "a mile, local
variations in the soil of less than one
fourth of 4 mile in extent are generally
ignored, unless this variation constitutes
very prominent feature. such as a strip
of meadow land along stream or unless
there are number of small areas by
which a certain character is given to the
district.
Besides a SOIL map, an us4ueTSrouiiu
water chart will be made.
This chart will show all the sources OF
water supply in the Territory, and will
be extremely valuable. "A chemical an
alysis of soils will also be made, cleo
trical apparatus being used for the pur-
pose. Behring'S will be made all over the
Islands, and the soil will be studied be-
meath the surface, also. TO ascertain Its
physical properties.
Clarence w. Dorsey who Is 10 make
the soil survey In Hawaii, is In charge
of the western division of the Bureau OF
Soils the dividing line being the Miss!s-
sippi river. He will probably be accom-
panied here by several subordinates to
assist in the work. The expense of this
survey will be borne by the National
government. It can be done at very
moderate cost; from thirty to forty cents
per acre Is the average. The Bureau of
Soils is one of the new departments or
the Agricultural Department. having
been established last July. According to
a report recently made by Mr.. Dorsey.
the object of the soil survey is to class
ify and map the soils according to any
condition which might influence the char
acter of the vegetation the kind of crop
adapted to the land, and the quality as
vel! as the quantity Of the crop grown.