The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-06-07
DR.. WILCOX
(ContInued from page nlne.l

Molokai, Maui, Hawaii and Oahu. The
crops involved in these experiments
are pineapples, cotton, rubber, corn,
legumes, rice, sorghum, and num-
Der of miscellaneous forage crops.
These cooperative experiments have
in all cases moved along very smooth
ly, for the reason that the private
individuals concerned were intensely
interested in lettering their cultural
methods and establishing more extern
sive areas of cultivated crops, and
also, for the reason that highly in
telligent and reliable control was ex-
ercised over the management of the
experiments and the keeping of rec
ords. While cooperative experiments
on the mainland and elsewhere, in
many instances, cause considerable
annoyance to both the station and
the private individuals concerned, the
cooperative experiments in Hawaii
have been stirkingly free from such
troubles. So long therefore, as the
work can be carried on with relatively
little inference with the time and en-
ergy of the station STAFF, it seems
highly desirable to continue them
where satisfactory arrangements can
be made. 1t is a pleasant duty to ac-
knowledge the active and intelligent
interest which has everywhere been
shown in the cooperative experiments
thus far carried on by the station.
Rational Soil Program.
The soils of the Hawaiian Islands
are very different in several respects
from those which are familiar to
farmers and agricultural workers on
the mainland. In the first place, the
Hawaiian soils contain high percent
ages Of iron in various forms (say
from fifteen to thirty per cent?. In
addition to the high iron content, the
soils contain more titanium than
mainland soils, and in some localities
also a large amount (up to nine per
cent? of manganese. The presence of
the large quantity of iron in Hawaii
an soils gives them physical proper
ties which are seldom met with in
soils on the mainland. Wherever spe-
cial attention is not given to cultiva-
ton, the soils rapidly become imper-
vious to water and air and the iron
present in the soil is reduced to the
ferrous state. This, as is well known,
is injurious to plant growth and is in
strumental in preventing adequate
aeration of the soil. Moreover, when
the iron exists in the ferrous state and
the soil can not be aerated, the use
of fertilizers gives little or no benefit.
1t is therefore necessary to adopt
rational soil program, with the cen
trail idea that of securing a better
aeration and better physical proper
ties of the soil. Studies, which are
designed to throw light on the prac-
teal methods of accomplishing such
a result, are now in progress at the
station, and the suggestions, already
made by the station chemist, are be-
ing put into practice in a number of
localities. 1t may be truthfully said
that in many localities the chief soil
problems are concerned with the phys
ical rather than the chemical prop
critics of the soil. Improper aeration
not only causes the iron to become re-
duced to the ferrous state, but may
also prevent the utilization by the
plant of the plant food naturally pres
ent in the soils. The study of cultural
and rotation methods for securing bet
ter aeration of the soil will be con-
tinued during the coming year, both
in pot and field cultures.
Rice.
The chemical work on rice during
the fiscal years was concerned chiefly
with the study of the time or stage
of growth at which fertilizers should
be applied and the influence of vari-
GUS elements of plant food upon the
composition of the rice plant. 1t was
found during these experiments that
the program adopted by the growers,
in using fertilizers on rice, was some
what ill advised, as judged by the
physiology of the rice plant.
The importation of rice from Japan
continues to increase, and the pro-
duction of rice in Hawaii has slightly
decreased. In order to get further in
formation on the cause of this con-
dition, and to learn more in detail the
methods of rice cultivation in Japan
and the varieties used in that coun-
try, the agronomist visited Japan and
China during the past year. 1t was
found that the Japanese have de-
cided preference for certain varieties
of rice, which are almost the only
kinds exported to Hawaii for use by