The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1873-09-27
The Algaroba. No. 2.

The Algaroba.- No. 2. .
MIR. EDIToR-I now propose, with your permission.
to submit a project for planting our favorite tree on
other of the too many waste and shamefully neglected
lands which have so long impaired to the vicinity of
Honolulu its character for sterility aud barrenuess.
There are tracts of land to which ! now propose to
call attention, and of 4 very different character from
the fertile plain to which my former letter was
limited, and which seem to be by universal consent
considered as hopeless and impracticable deserts. so
much SO that my suggestion to convert them into
luxuriant forests may perhaps subject me to the inn
putation of being an enthusiastic visionary; but as |
have carefully and practically examined the matter
and become thereby convinced of the soundness of
what | am about to submit, | am not deferred even
by so grave n peril from giving publicity to my views
in the hope that I may make at least a few converts
whose example cannot fail to secure abundance of
followers.
The large and very repulsive tract of land, COM
mencing at Benefits " What Cheer House, - and ex-
tending westward to and beyond Kaihi bridge in
one direction, and from the sea to the mSantain in
the other, over which a copious and abundant crop
of CHASTITY volcanic rocks has been sown broadcast
presents unquestionably as forlorn and uninviting an
aspect as it is possible to conceive, and has been
hitherto considered and treated as utterly yalueless
and incapable of being applied to any useful purpose.
This desolate and prescribed tract, however, in the
eye of those conversant with soils ana their nature
and treatment, offers remarkable inducement for its
conversion into a prosperous Algaroba forest. 1t is n
fact recognized by all those who understand the sub
ject, that the in~terstices Of rocks such AZ these we
are describing are generally filled with rich and fer
tile mould, composed of decomposed lava, and that
the soil underlying the rocks is to some extent Of a
similar character, and those who may take sufficient
interest in the matter TO induce them to examine it
as carefully as / have done, will find that this tract
is no exception TO that rule. Moreover such large
rocks and stones serve the useful pupose of protect
ing and sheltering the earth from the parching rays
Of an almost vertical sun, retaining a constant sup
ply of moisture which greatly encourages the young
tlp-roots of the tree and its lateral feeders to pene-
trate the soil in search of the element which it is
their province to absorb and supply to the tree,
thereby promoting it rapid and vigorous growth. In
short, this fact goes the entire length of establishing
the claim of these deserted and much wronged lands
to an actual superiority for the culture and growth
of trees, over these plains which are by almost uni
versal consent called prominently rich and fertile.
There are several other large and equally neglected
tracts of rocky land of exactly the same character as
that we have been discussing in this v~icinity-for
instance, that vast and dismal breadth at Moiliili,
near the telegraph, and another lying at the extreme
maikai end of Manoa Valley and of the Metcalf land,
and abutting on the plain beyond Punahou, to all Of
which the foregoing remarks are entirely applicable.
Moreover the last named furnishes me with direct and
clear proof of the soundness of the position | have
toI-o, IaoouOa - hoe already actually prn1uca1 uoup
fine healthy specimens of the Algaroba, Of various
ages and sizes, the seed of which were probably
dropped by birds casually among the rocks, without
any protection or care, and certainly no moisture,
other than that retained in the earth by the agency
of the rocks, 10 which / have alluded. This fact
seems to me to set the matter at rest as to adaptable
ity of these rocky lands for plantations, and oughtto
inspire confidence in the minds of the owners Of all
the tracts sufficient to induce experiments on them,
which of fairly made cannot fail to bring conviction
and serve as become to guide others in the same d-
r~ection. l understand that the Kalihi tract is in the
hands of the Commissioners Of Crown Lands, and /
cannot allow myself to doubt their ready and jealous
cooperation in the good work. The milk merchant
who has leased it expresses his readiness to assist as
far as he can in it. 1t would be superhuous to dilate
on that marvellous revolution which would be worked
both ornamentally and economically by converting
these now so very unseemly localities into verdant
and outrageous forests which would in a few years
Weld q supply of excellent frewood Of infinite value
to our citizens, now that the supply from without is
becoming diminished in quantity and enhanced in
value, which must continue to increase till other
sources of supply can be found.
There really is nothing here more startling or more
to be regretted than the reckless vandalism with
which the fine forests of Hawaii mel have been wan
tonIy and cruelty sacrificed to lucre, without any
attempt, except on o very meagre scale, to restore
or make substitutes for them. Moreover, if these
large bald and sun baked tracts about Honolulu
and elsewhere we're covered with foliage, the natural
consequence must follow, in the increased humidity Of
the atmosphere with occasional refreshing showers,
so that the landscape would lose its present ~unsightly
and re~pulsive aspect and assume a refreshing YER
dancy, than which nothing can be more grateful to
the senses; and l earnestly hope that those who viii
be the recipients Of all these benefits may be induced
to use their influence to persuade the too ~apathetic
owners Of those bare u~nsightly lands to set about a
reformation so largely beneficial and so cheaply at
tainable. The utter neglect and Indifference Of the
land owners of all classes to the lamentably bleak
and repulsive aepect Of this vicinity which could
have been so easily and economically obviated, IS
another of the very striking but not fattering
incidents in the career Of our community. Let us
hope that even at the eleventh hour, those who have
the means Of doing so will wake up and shake of