BAN" AX A CULTURE IX HAWAII 13 
healed the stumps should be planted at least 8 inches deep, with the 
bud in an upright position. Stumps are said to be used in other 
countries where commercial varieties are grown on a large scale. 
CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS 
SOIL 
Practically all the agricultural soils of Hawaii may be made suit- 
able for banana growing. At the lower elevations, where most of 
the commercial varieties are grown, the soils are conglomerate de- 
posits formed from various decomposed lavas. 6 Productivity of these 
soils depends more upon their physical character than upon their 
chemical composition, although the latter must be given careful 
consideration. At elevations of 1,000 feet and higher, where the 
rainfall is sufficient for the production of natural forest growth, 
the soils consist of decomposed lavas with an abundance of humus. 
Such soils have excellent drainage on account of the porous nature 
of the lavas directly underlying them. Except for the clearing 
necessary, these forest lands are more easily brought into use, but, 
owing to their altitude, require a longer time to produce crops than 
the low-lying lands. They produce commercial bananas of excellent 
quality, and are well adapted to growing most of the native bananas. 
The virgin forest loam, where the rainfall is adequate, is the ideal 
soil for banana culture, but a great variety of soils may be success- 
fully used if their physical and chemical properties are improved 
by proper tillage, liberal applications of organic matter, and irriga- 
tion. Water-holding capacity and good drainage are among the 
essential requirements for banana growing. Moisture must be abun- 
dant at all times to insure good crop yields. It is estimated that the 
banana plant requires about 600 pounds of water for every pound 
of dry matter produced. 
PREPARATION 
Land at the lower elevations, where usually the forest growth 
is sparse, should first be cleared of all vegetation and stones. This 
may require some expense, but partial clearing preceding breaking 
the land is a doubtful economy. A well-cleared held means cheaper 
and better tillage. The banana lands at the lower elevations are 
largely sedimentary in formation, and rather firmly packed, re- 
quiring deep and thorough plowing. After weathering by exposure 
to air and sunshine the roughly plowed field should be harrowed 
and staked off for planting. The fields customarily are laid out 
with regularity in small areas of 5 or 10 acre blocks for conveniently 
carrying on the various necessary operations. The rows are laid out 
in ditches V/ 2 to 2 feet deep with high ridges between (pi. 5, B). 
The ditches are made by running a plow several times through each 
row, after which the loosened soil is thrown to the sides. If the 
subsoil is hard it should be broken up with a subsoil plow and 
the soil should be reduced to a fine state of tilth to furnish a suit- 
6 In some localities the lava- are mixed with calcareous material consisting either 
of coral sand brought in from the seashore by the agency of the wind or partly decom- 
posed coral reefs that have arisen out of the 
