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FIG. 18. VIEW ON MAUNA KEA, AT ABOUT 10,000 FEET, looking south, a small crater in the foreground, Mauna Loa in the distance, a cloud bank between.

in a sharp barbed point by which they easily penetrate the clothing of those who walk over it.

A common grass in lawns, parks, and dry open ground generally, is Bermuda or, as it is called there, manienie (Capriola Dactylon). An equally common but worthless grass in the wet regions is Hilo grass (Paspalum conjugatum). Both species are introduced.

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FIG. 19. VIEW OF MAUNA LOA FROM THE UPPER PART OF MAUNA KEA, a cloud bank

between.

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FIG. 20. SMALL LAKE NEAR SUMMIT OF MAUNA KEA. Altitude about 13,000 feet. Because of the porous lava soil lakes or ponds are rare.

HAWAII

The second island visited was Hawaii, the largest and southernmost of the group. This, the youngest geologically, presents greatly diversified examples of lava. We landed at Hilo, the largest town on Hawaii and the second in size in the islands. The rainfall here was excessive and the first thing done was to purchase a Chinese umbrella to protect ourselves against the frequent showers. In the low land along the coast in the vicinity of Hilo is a forest of puhala or screw-pine (Pandanus odoratissimus), a monocotyledonous tree with branched

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FIG. 21. SNOW BANKS NEAR THE SUMMIT OF MAUNA KEA.

stems, aerial roots, and great compound fruits like pineapples (Fig. 17).

We went by rail to Kukaiau where we were met by Mr. McAllister, manager of the Kukaiau Ranch, who took us to the ranch on the northern slope of the island. On account of the lack of running water rainwater is collected by means of large sheet-iron roofs supported on posts, and conducted into tanks or

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FIG. 22. A SNOW BANK NEAR THE SUMMIT OF MAUNA KEA.

ponds. The ranch runs well up on the slopes of Mauna Kea. At the upper stretches, 4,000-8,000 feet, many of the common meadow and pasture grasses of the United States are thriving. Among these are blue-grass, orchard-grass, meadow fescue, meskit or velvet-grass, and Italian rye-grass. Natal-grass (Tricholaena rosea) was common at lower altitudes. Paspalum dilatatum is giving excellent results as a pasture grass.

The next stage of our journey was the Parker Ranch, the largest ranch in the island. Our headquarters were at the residence of the manager, Mr. Alfred W. Carter, near Waimea. The Kohala Mountains near by are very wet, but much of the land in the interior is dry. The great interior plain between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa is covered with grasses, composed largely of species of Eragrostis (E. atropioides, E. hawaiiensis). Through the courtesy of Mr. Carter we were able to visit the summit of Mauna Kea. There are two high moun

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FIG. 23. A KOKIO TREE (Kokia Rockii) IN FOREST ON LAVA FLOW NEAR PUU WAAWAA. An ally of the cotton with large red flowers. Endemic in this region and consisting of rather few individuals.

tains on the island, Mauna Kea to the north, 13,825 feet altitude, and Mauna Loa to the south, 13,675 feet altitude. These mountains slope rather gradually from the sea to the summit. They form an immense cone rising from the floor of the ocean 18,000 feet below the surface, or about 32,000 feet altogether. We were taken by automobile to the Humuula sheep-station on the south slope of the mountain at an altitude of about 6,700 feet. The following morning we ascended the peak on horseback. The upper stretches, consisting of cinder slopes, are tiresome to travel over, but not dangerous. At about 9,000 feet we rose above the clouds which now lay as a billowy white ocean between the two mountains (Figs. 18, 19). The upper forest consists largely of mamani (Sophora chrysophylla). At about 10,000 feet the trees disappear and the sparse vegetation consists of low shrubs and bunch grasses. The latter consist chiefly of three species, Agrostis sandwichensis, Deschampsia australis,

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FIG. 24. HALAPEPE TREES (Dracana aurea) ON AA (ROUGH) LAVA, PUU WAAWAA, The leaves are eaten by cattle.

and Koeleria glomerata. Not far from the top there is a small lake of clear palatable water, an unusual sight, as lakes are rare in the lava soil of the islands (Fig. 20). There are many banks of snow in protected places among the cones on the summit (Figs. 21, 22). There is considerable snowfall in the winter and many banks persist throughout the year.

Our next stop was at the Puu Waawaa Ranch in North Kona on the western side of the island near the Hualalai Mountains. This ranch is owned by Mr. Robert Hind, through whose courtesy we visited the top of the Hualalai Mountains, the highest peak of which is 8,269 feet. The ranch takes its name from an isolated hill or old volcanic cone fluted with deep gullies, the top covered with forest. All the water upon the ranch of over 150,000 acres is rainwater impounded in large tanks, several of which hold 100,000 gallons each. Mr. Hind has a fine meadow of Rhodes grass which yields crops of hay several

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