warm or enervating; the native laborer is capable of learning any agricultural operation, under proper discipline. But, unfortunately, our natives hold entire control over their masters. The subject of labor, however, is set apart for the consideration of a separate committee. The observation of your committee has been confined to one island, that of Kauai, on which they submit the following remarks:

Kauai has the reputation of being the oldest member of the family group, of which, however, no very convincing proofs have been advanced. It is true, without dispute, that a longer time has elapsed since volcanic action has taken place, than on either of the islands; in proof of which the argument usually made use of in regard to its age may be adduced. We may also in addition remark as evidence, the great number of rivers which find their way to the sea. Upon the windward side averaging one per mile, on the leeward, one for every three miles. They are evenly distributed and several of considerable size. The inference to be drawn is, that the decomposition of the rocks must have progressed farther, and the quantity of soil formed greater, so as to cover more evenly the surface and prevent the water from escaping through the veins and caverns, as it must undoubtedly do on the other islands.

There appears to have been on Kauai but one centre of volcanic action, from which all the ridges of hills, with their enclosed valleys and rivers diverge regularly to the sea, with the exception of one or two low irregular spurs. If the accounts of the natives can be relied on, the larger rivers such as Hanalei, Makaweli and Hanapepe, have their source at the same spot, on the ridge called Waialiali at a wet place called the "black waters," from whence within a few feet of each other, they start on their way to the different sides of the Island. The whole geological formation of the Island is basaltic. Near the sea in several places, the beach sand has become hardened and cemented by the action of the sea water, assisted perhaps by the heat of the underlying lava, so as to admit of being cut and quarried for building purposes, but not to any extent. In several places the basalt has taken a regular columnar structure, the chrystals as perfect as those of the far famed Giant's Causeway. In diameter about one foot. The terminal planes are even however, and perpendicular to the axis.

Their regularity in shape had attracted the notice of the natives, as our guide informed us they were the Kapa sticks of their old Gods

The basalt is usually of light color, yielding readily to disintegration by the action of the atmosphere and moisture. Its constituent parts and their relative quantity we are unable as yet to furnish. With their chemical character you are no doubt acquainted. They contain more of the fertilizing elements of soil than any other class of rock. In fact it would appear as though they were the result of the boiling together, most of the other rock formations, the granitic, syenitic, limestone, sandstone, &c., containing greater or less proportions of all the alkaline salts, more particularly in the form of silicates and nitrates. Their agricultural capabilities depend in a great degree on the quantity of lime they hold.

In caves on different parts of the Island, on which there is an extent of overlying rock, the carbonate of lime is found encrusting the roofto the depth of one or two inches, associated with several varieties of zeolites. On breaking open the harder varieties of the basaltic rocks, it is also found lining the vesicular cavities, together with stilbite, apophyllite, and other varieties of the zeolite family; forming small geodes. From the rapid and luxuriant growth of tobacco, the presence of nitrates, more particularly that of potash, must be inferred. The oxide of Iron is everywhere abundant. It exists in the soil originally as a protoxide, soluble and of course injurious to all vegetable growth. It will be noticed, particularly on our plains, that the soil undergoes a change in color, soon after being turned up, becoming a brighter red, which is occasioned by the absorption of about 9 per cent. of oxygen from the atmosphere, which changes also its properties, being now an peroxide, and insoluble, and thus rendered innocuous. Thorough cultivation, pulverizing the soil well, will therefore obviate any injurious effects from the super-abundance of iron.

The silicates also, which are the source of the most fertile parts of our soil, must have the benefit of thorough cultivation and exposure to the atmosphere, before they become fit for assimilation by the plant By such treatment they are disposed to combine with the carbonic acid of the atmosphere, forming carbonates, and are thus rendered soluble, with the exception of the silicate of alumina which remains unchanged. On Kauai, this salt is much more abundant than either of the others.

On those parts subject to drought, its value is very great. It not only has a tendency to absorb moisture from the atmosphere, but also appropriates every drop it gets hold of to the best advantage. In the case of occasional showers, it stores away a supply in the sub-soil, which cannot escape until the plant has need of it. During such seasons as the two last, its effects are very perceptible, for without its agency, little or no cane could have survived. On soils where it abounds to the injury of the plant, an application of lime will correct it, in the shape perhaps of beach sand, if most convenient, which is made up of comminuted shells and corals. It will not take proper effect under 3 or 4 years probably, after it is applied.

On the subject of manures no reliable advice can be given, until the deficiencies of the soil or excess of certain parts is known. It is evident however, that on exposed situations, animal or vegetable manure can render but little service. On coffee plantations for instance, where the trees have arrived at a size sufficient to protect and shade the soil, the application of suitable vegetable or animal manures may be advisable, but generally speaking, the fertilizing qualities of animal manure, which consists in its ammonia or nitrogen, will be dissipated by the strong heat of the sun, and the rapid decay of vegetable matter, prevents any part of vegetable manure uniting with the soil. The addition of vegetable matter to our soil, must be therefore very slow even where the ground is heavy.

This statement would hardly seem to agree with the occurrence of what appears to be deposits of vegetable matter on our plains here and there. But it is no doubt the case, that the growth of trees has been greater, covering over more of the Island formerly, than at present. The kukui groves of Huleia, were united at one time with the woods mauka. At Makaweli also, the growth of trees and underbrush extended very nearly to the sea. Now they are confined to the hills, a distance of three miles inland. They were destroyed by fire. The remains of large trees are now to be found charred. In the valleys they have been met with at the depth of six or eight feet below the present surface.

From the shade and shelter of trees, our planters and farmers might derive great assistance, in the growth of all our crops. They deserve more attention than they have heretofore received. Affecting the tem

perature of the atmosphere in their neighborhood, they favor the deposit of moisture, as well as shelter plants from the drying winds.

On manures in general, your committee would remark, that it would appear as though the want of proper effect in their use, was compensated for in some measure, by the greater richness of the soil in tropical countries, possessing in their volcanic formations all the elements of fertility in abundance.

In conclusion your committee would express their conviction that experimental research, guided by science, is the true basis of improvement in agriculture. They would therefore respectfully recommend, that a standing committee on soils be appointed, whose duty it shall be to report to the Society, a plan of a series of experiments on all our crops and products, adapted to different soils and localities; after passing the consideration of the Society, to be given out to those members for trial, to whom they are now particularly suited. Should they involve any considerable expense, it should be borne by the Society. It should also be the further duty of said committee, to collect the result of such experiments, whether successful or not, and report them in detail to the Society, together with such other information as they consider of value.

All of which is respectfully submitted by your committee.

COMMUNICATION UPON THE SUBJECT OF CAUSING THE SUGAR CANE TO BEAR SEED.

To the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society:

GENTLEMEN,-I feel much honored by having my name enrolled amongst the earliest corresponding members of the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society; it is agreeable to me to take my stand in the dawn of knowledge, anywhere. You request from me a communication, if possible, touching tropical agriculture; a subject which-from having, nearly all my life, resided in northern countries-I have not much studied. There is, however, one point which appears to me of some importance, to which I wish to draw your attention; and for the

elucidation of which, your climate is, probably, better suited than any other.

It is the idea of causing the sugar cane to bear seed, that some endeavors may be made to raise better varieties than those now in cultivation.

The state of knowledge, on this subject, at the present time, is as follows:

There are only about from five to seven varieties now in cultivation, in all parts of the world. I will not enumerate them, because there are many doubts respecting their identity. The Tahiti cane seems to be one of the richest, and most productive in juice, but is not well adapted to every country.

Like almost every plant which undergoes the same process, and which, like the sugar cane, has two methods of propagation-seed and offsets the constant propagation by the latter method has obliterated the faculty of seed. No variety can be originated by offsets, it must be by seed; and as there are varieties, there must once have been seed.

If the arrows of the sugar cane are examined with a lens, the seed will be found dried up, or abortive, incapable of vegetating. There may be two reasons for this-first, the want of pollen, to fructify the seed; and second, the want of the proper materials in the earth, to furnish the ingredients necessary either for the seed or the fruitful pollen.

An attempt has been made to supply the first deficiency, by using the pollen of the Guinea corn and the maize, under the idea that, all being grasses, the pollen of the latter might render the seed fruitful. The attempt, however, as might have been expected, failed; the Guinea corn and the maize being too widely separated in their natures, from the sugar cane, to produce this effect. The only chance of success would have been with the pollen of a grass called Erianthus, growing in New Holland and Oceanie; or another, Pleuroplilis, growing in Japan.

As neither of these can be obtained, the second method is the only chance of obtaining seed. I will therefore give my ideas as to how the experiment should be conducted:

A piece of sandy poor soil should be chosen, which should be manured with finely ground bone dust, in small quantity, about 1-20th of