Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-08-19
FOREST pREsERvATI0E AND CULTI.
VBTI0E

Tho subject N forest preservation and far
est culture has for many years received spo-
oial attention IN Europe, the governments Il
Germany and France particularly maintaining
a regular system of fprest culture under au
organized staff II officials Long experience
in those countries, IA we'll 0s ia many ofiief
parts Of tic Old World, has proved without
the shadow of a doubt that the destruction II
tho forests ia any country viii be followod by
most disastrous results, IN tho shaps u fre-
qnenI drOughts atern1ied by devastating
fresbets. OF late years, this subject las
begun IN the United staies to receive gome-
what Of the consideration which il deserves,
especially IN tho Weston gtatcs, where tie
newspapers have devoted much space 10 tic
dissemination Of intelligence thereon, Con
csseg have been held for 'be promotion ol
forestry, and where a vast amount VI - stem
attic tree planting is now going on every year.
In California and Oregon too, tho yoice Of
warning has been raised md with reason
when II Is considered what vast amount oi
lumber is nov produced IN ihoso States, aud
the destruction Of forests Which must be tho
result
There arc mauy and weghiy reasons liiat
will readily be suggested why 40 ~ tljeso
Islands should DO especially careful lor the
preservation Of our forests. Tic press Of
Honolulu in former years bas done its ddty in
warning Of tho impending danger and Ia die
cnssing and suggesting remedial measures.
Through the influence thus exerted, the Legis.
laturo Of 1915 passed All Act for tie Pfotcc-
ton and Prescfyation Of Woods and For.
este," the preamble Of which sets forth ihai,
Whereas it 10 an established fact ihat tie
destruction Of forests IN any country tends e.
diminish the supply Of water" therefore il
wa. epactod that the Minister Of lie Interior
is authorized to set apart and csuse to DC pro.
tecIed such woods aud forests, being govern
nient properly, hs may be suited lor tie
protection OF water sources; 10 appoint
superintendent Of woods aud forests and defn-
ing duties, etc. The sixth section appropriate,
the sum Of - dollars for carrying oul Tic
provisinEs Of the Act-a blank which was
never filled by any sum. So FAR, tle oby on,
come Of this legislation has bern ilo acqpisi-
tion BY government aud the protection from
damage by trespass 81 aniBsl- of tile ui,i5er
portion Of Nuuanu Valley. The beneficial
results Of this solitary measure are sufficiently
apparent. And there are numerous other
localities on all the Ialands wioro the adpp-
tion Of a similar pulley now, would prove IN
years 10 come blessing TO the country. We
never see schouner load of frewood from
Hawaii or Maui landed ON our wlaryes, with
out regretfui feeling that we shall fnd. ere
long. that we are killing the goo,e that lays
the golden egg
II 10 gratifying however 70 know that, while
government officials may remain apalleiic on
the important subject Of forest cnltnre ard
preservation, private enterprise has in snmo
localities at least taken hold Of tie work with
laudable zeal and industry. An instance Of
this may bo Witnessed at Lihue, Kauai,
where the proprietors os ths, Houdsbiug plan
tation have had in operation fur over year,
system Of forest cultivation and conserva-
tion, in the hills back Of the Hanamlulu Mil.
They employ some twelve trained fnresiers,
brought from Germany for the purpose. and
have large and aourshing nurseries Of alga-
roba, pride Of India and other trees, besides
various species Of fruits This wise fore
thought OF the Lilne management, (where 80
much depends on an uninterrupted supply Of
water for irrigation) i. ali example which
others will do wolI to follow.