Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-09-15

fHr toRtSf rEonfpu
lhvrc is NO agricultural problem
more important tn the future Vi thes,
islands Than the regulation and pcrpct
uaiiun OF The water supply The eV
Ipcricn,c vt every nation under the sur
proves the vital necessity vt lorrsl
growth at the source, aud along IN,
courses NJ rivers and lcscr streams
II Is not so much that ucca condcns,
and pwclpitatc The moisture VI cloud
IN the iom vt rain. though II has been
pmvcn over aud over again that they
DO that hut trees and undcgtowith fe'
gulatc the rainfall compelling a hrgt
proportion 10 soak quietly mio the
gtound that would otherwise mn ufi
Nnothct important services performed
hy the roots ut trees and shuhhrn h
The binding together Vt soil and STONE
SOB ls tu prevent The washing away VI
sotl trom tive slopes of hills and the
banks ol streams On this important
topic uo one has written morc enter
hmly ut mure scientifically Than the
late Ccor.c T. Manh We quote the
beginning vi chapter on the
utrgu,Uf k.uoS ot mmrNtR.
uu, uc goU, the htephnbe, lbe appnllor
mts'hiDr witch have ahay rrult,d nui
threaten FOO rusuc on more extensive scale
huNuct, lolm tho mrd superficial dnnhgc,
ne W wupcfh geographical chmuor and
consist primary iu closiuu, displacement, and
tnnapuialiuu vt thrhupettfitl slmltN vegetable
aud mmeul ul the brrumrms so to speak.
with which n1Wu has Cluthrd the skeleton
framework ul the rlohc. II Is diHtull tu can.
wy hy description an tltn ul the dcsolbliun oi
The topiuus muat exposed to the n,apts ul tor
rent and pl lloDd and the thouhul., WIN,
Ia these day, NJ mvrl, ore whltlcl 10y steam
meas oi oven Though The theatres NJ these
,aiamilics, have hWt nro and imperfect optpr
taniucs oi observing the destructive cnuscs in
action. SIN mute ntrly can They compare
lhr past with The actual condition ut the pro.
uNcts IN question, aud taoc the wogt,ss Ol
theit conversion tfum forest, crowned hills,
uSuiiNnt pasture grounds, Nnd abundant corn.
fields tnd vineyards well Watcttd u, springs
Nnt icdilping dWlcs, io lMld mountain
ridges, rcky dcclvilies, and steep earth banks
huuw,d hl deep p,ines With beds nuw dD,
nov hlltd 10y torrents al fluid, mud and gravel
huIJing down ln spfrad themselves over the
PLAIN nnd blooming 10 everlasting tpucnness
The 30 cc productive fields, ln tmVesiug such
scenes, u IS dlhcult ta resist the impression
that nhtufc pronounced the curse of perpetual
NcttllN and duahlion upon these sublime hut
lrhfm WASTES, dihCult to believe th1t they were
once, and but lot the fully of man might sill
be, blessed with oil The natuml advantages
which Prevalence has bestowed upon the most
favored olmcs, linl the historical evidence is
conclusive ns to the distinctive ohhngrs uc.
casiuncl hy the agency VI monuppn The TANKS
OF the Alp~ the Aprnninrs, the ryrenuts, and
Other mountain ranges In lhc Ctntm aud
southern fu'opc, and the progress ol physi-
cal deterioration has been So rapid that in
some localities, single generation hs. witness.
cd the beginning aud the end NJ The mcan.
ehoy revolution,
II Is certain thai dcsolntion, like that which
has overwhelmed many once beautiful and fct.
tile regions OF Europe, awaits an important
part ot The territory oi The United States, and
ol Other comparatively nrw countries over
which European civilization IS now pNtendnG
lis sway, unless prompt measures a,e taken tn
check The action OF the destructive clus,w al.
ready IN operation, Il Is vain to expect that
legislation can do any thing eiiccmal to arrest
h
cepl e<'asus the slate is stll the proprietor OF
extensive forests, Woodnnds which have pass,
cd into private hands will every where he man
aged, IN spite oi legal feNrotions, upon the
same economical principle rs other pnssra.ians,
and every proprietor WILL as a general rule, fell
his woods, unless he believes that il will hc int
his pccuninly interest Ia preserve them. Few
al the new PROVINCES which the last three cen.
turics have brought under the control NJ the
European race, would tolerate any interference
by The law making power with what they &c.
glrd as most sacred OF civil rights the right,
namely, nl every man 10 do what he will with
his own, In the old World, even In France,
whose people, OF all European nations, love
best to hc governed and are least annnycd by
bureaucratic supervision, law has hccn found
impojcni tn prevent the dcstmclion ~ waste
ul economy, ot private forests and In many
ol the mountainous department ol that county,
man i, a this moment so fast laying waste the
face of The earth, that the most serious fears
nrc entertained, not only of the dupopulniion
pi those districts, but ol enormous mischicls
to the provinces contiguous to them. The
only lcgcl provisions from which anything Is To
hc hnpad, are snch ns shall makc il a matter
OF private advantage 10 the land holder to
spare the trees upon his grounds, aud promote
the growth ol young 'woo,l Something may
be done eNcmpting standing forests from tax.
alton, and by imposing taxes on wood lcllcd
for fuel OF for timber, something 10y premiums
ot honorary distinctions lor iudicinus manage.
mcnt OF woods. II would he difficult To in.
duce governments, general OF local. 10 make
the necessary appropriations for such purposes,
hut there can be no doubt that Il would he
sound economy in the end.