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extreme northern and western portion, and the steep slope extend- 
ing from Mauna Loa northward to the sea. The soil is residual 
in character. Unfortunately there is no feasible way of bringing 
water on this part of the island. It is at present used for sheep 
ranches and cattle range, being covered by a fine growth of nu- 
tritious grasses. 
The finest body of agricultural land on the island is situated in 
the great gap, and has an area of about 14,000 acres. The prin- 
cipal problem of the water supply of the island is how to bring the 
water' from that part which receives an abundant precipitation to 
this arid portion containing the rich soils. This area of gently 
rolling hills is covered by a deep-red soil unexcelled for purposes 
of sugar growing. To a great extent it is a sediment soil, as 
shown, for instance, along the western plantation fence near 
Mauna Loa Creek, where it follows the cane planted January, 
1900. At this place a depth of from 20 to 30 feet of fine soil and 
disintegrated washed gravels is observed, resting on basaltic lava. 
This formation no doubt underlies a large portion of the cane 
lands. A part, however, of the eastern area on the rising hills 
is covered by residual soil derived from rock in place. 
In regard to vegetation, the southern side of the island may 
be separated in several zones. There is first the immediate coast 
fringe, distinguished by coco palms and algarobas ; the barren 
zone ; the belt of the grass lands, and finally the high forests. 
The southern coast is fringed by a narrow, bright-green zone 
of thick and luxuriant algaroba trees which furnish excellent fire- 
wood. The abundant bean pods of the tree are used as forage 
for cattle and horses. This strip is only a few hundred feet 
wide, but extends from Kawela Creek, almost without inter- 
ruption, to a point a few miles west of Palaau. 
The barren zone of rough lava bowlders, with only a few bushes 
adapted to a dry climate, extends along the south coast, from the 
western point of the island to beyond Kamalo on the east. At 
Palaau it reaches an altitude of 200 feet; at Kaunakakai, 1,000 
feet ; and at Kawela, 2,000 feet. Toward Mapulehu the grasses 
reach sea level. 
The pasture lands are covered by a thick carpet of manienie (a 
variety of Bermuda grass) or delicate tufted Pele grass. Above 
a certain elevation (about 500 feet on the west end) these give 
wav to annual grasses. Almost the whole of Kaluakoi, or the 
west end, is covered by pasture land ; likewise the gap, excepting 
the arid strip near Palaau. Both of these areas are practically 
treeless. During the arid season the. grass dries up. In the 
creeks and canyons east of the gap are found groups of kukui 
trees, with their smooth trunks and yellowish-green foliage bright 
with an almost silvery sheen. 
As the elevations increase the grassy ground becomes more 
swampy. It should be observed that all forests on the island 
grow on swampy ground. Open forests with trees growing on 
