The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1909-09-11
Conserve
Our Resources
Doctor J. Gilmore Lectures
on Soil Fertility.

Doctor JOhn Gilmore Ot the Col.
lege of Hawaii delivered a most in
tprestng lecture ON soil fertility at
the"Town Hall Thursday evening of
last week.
He said in part as follows:
There has been considerable agita-
ton during the past year with re-
ference to the conservation of our
natural resources and some action
has been taken looking towards the
saving of those of our natural re-
sources that are in danger of ex-
haustion through iniudicious use
and wastage.
Nearly all of these agitations and
discussions have been with reference
to our timber, minerals, water
supply and soil. 1t is not to be
questioned but that these resources
are being exhausted ut II rapid rate
and adequate returns from them are
not being obtained. Both minerals
and mineral oils are being taken
from the earth and put to uses which
are in the main, not most economi-
cal. Our timber lands are being
denuded without adequate measures
| for their rcfOreStation and as con-
sequence of this river beds are being
filled with soil, devastating floods
result, and water power becomes in
termi,tent. - In connection with
these wastes, it is pertinent to note
that the most important of all of
our natural resources, the fertility
in the soil, has not received ade-
quatc attention. When our Goals
and oils are exhausted, it may be
! that other fuels or motor agencies
will he found. When our timbers
are all used up, it may be that sub
Stitutps for wood will be developed.
When. our mountains are all washed
into the valleys there will still be
| lands to cultivate; but these things
cannot bc said with reference to the
fertility that is in the soil. This can
| be and is being exhausted through
out the country through injudicious
methods Of tillage, cropage and CON
sumption. 1t is true that our lands
are yet new, but it is also true that
if we continue to supply the world
or large part of it, with produce
from the soil its inherent fertility
will not last. 1t is therefore, that
along with our agitation for the saw
ing of other natural products and
resources, we include the saving of
our soil's fertility. The permanent
maintenance of the productive capa-
city of the soil is a subject which
transcends all other subjects in its
Importance to the American people.
For the production of products from
the soil requires more capital and
results in the accumulation of more
wealth than any other industry. 1t
also engages larger percentage of
our population, and is most funda-
mental to our physical well-being
The ultimate position or the final
destiny of the America nation does
not rest so much upon the main
tenance a large navy standing army
nor upon commanding prestige
among the nations of the earth so
much as it rests upon the question
whether the crop producing power
of our soils shall continue undeplet-
ed or shall be augmented. We
must therefore, get away from the
idea that the soil upon which we
tread and from which we derive our
sustinence and growth, is mere dirt
and dirty, and look upon it as the
mwificient bank of Nature from
which we draw the interest that
supports our families our commune
ties, and our country However
these funds will not pay interest
lCnnfinnrd on pane 2 y