The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-03
FORESTRY.
Successful Experiment I'm Tree Plant
Ing at Makikf.

winds that have prevailed for some little
time past has threatened the loss of many
choice plants and trees in and about
Honolulu, and caused inquiry to be made
as to how the trees planted by order of
the Government, under Mr.. A. Jaeger
supervision, were thriving this trying
season. The reply was, that the querist
would do well to see for himself, and
therefore last Saturday q representative
of the ADVERTISER accompanied Mr..
Jaeger and the Hon. a. s.. Cleghorn on
trip up the slope of Makiki hill, where
the experiment of tree planting is being
carried on.
The locality selected for this expert
ment has been chosen as one where, on
account of its exposed position, its dry
ness and poorness of soil, it is believed
that the &" survival of the fttest" trees
and shrubs for covering the now naked
hills of these islands, would demonstrate
their usefulness for almost any locality.
The whole slope of the hill, from ar eleva-
ton of about 500 feet up to 1000 or !, 100
feet, has been planted at different times
with a great variety of trees and shrubs.
For economy's sake, the work was COM
menced at the lowest point, Immediately
overlooking the LunalilO Home, and here,
on an area of ten or fifteen acres POSSIBLY
more) the ground was trenched, and
Seeding trees set out. 1t happened that
the very poorest of the soil was found at
the start, and out of the thousands of
trees, principally samang, very few have
survived. There was some re-planting
done, bat it was found that it would lie
best to move Il little higher up.
The second section, or belt of land,
| chosen for test, proved to be much better
for trees. The soil is richer, and is
| covered with dense growth of "Pele
| grass, which, being removed wherever
tree is to be planted, forms partial
| shelter for the infant plant, and when
| rains fall the thick, tangled mass of grass
retains the moisture for long time.
On this second section, which extends
upward to an elevation of 1000 feet, the
trees and shrubs set out have done re-
/
] be that so acres, running across from the
| steep slope on the east side to a gentle
| hollow on the west, is planted thickly
with a variety of trees. The following
| list OF those which have done the best is
| given for the guidance of persons who
may wish to cover with shade trees some
| like localities on the islands, The trees
are named in the order of their apparent
vigor. The eucalypti lead the host, and
embrace the globolus (blue gum), haemos-
toma (white gum), ooruuta (yate tree of
| southwest Australia), stuartiana (apple
scented), robusta, swamp mahogany and
| rostrata Cred gum. There are nine other
varieties doing well, but the above-men-
| toned are the best. Some varieties have
been tried and discarded, because this
locality was not favorable to them.
The acacias, known as % wattles,' tn an
| which there is no more beautiful or useful
tree, are doing well at Makiki. There are
| three varieties-the silver "a. dealbata),
black (decurrens), and the golden (moIis-
sima), the last-named being a ''sport,"
but very constant and handsome.
The koas, which it was hoped would
be a success lit being native tree), has
not done well here. 1t requires more
broken, rocky soil, and should BE- tried
wherever such is found. The samang,
called the "monkey pod" is doing re-
| markedly we'll on this second section of
land, and even now, looked at from be-
low, its foliage is quite conspicuous.
The Pride of IRdia, st. Johns bread
| (cervatosia zeliquai) and the iron wood
| (casuarina quadriva1ves) is fourishing,
| and the Japanese plum tree has apparently
| found home on the hillside, where it
| grows luxuriantly.
Mr.. Jaeger has had planted the arau-
| caria brazilcenses Zone of the most beau
tiful aruacaria known), and there is also
| quite large number Of pines, which,
| though of slow growth, will add much to
the beauty aud usefulness of the forest,
which bids fair to clothe, in few years,
| this now bleak hillside. One remarkable
| tree-or large shrub, rather-is a curious
| looking sparksiana, called in Europe the
guister. 1t has no true leaves, but its
branches run out into long, flexible, tough
cords and strings, as it were, of which
! baskets and mats are made. The plants
on Makiki are all doing well, and it may
prove q valuable addition to our products.
During Saturday the winds were high
and gusty, and the young plants seemed
! RI have q fOuoh time of If II shOnId he
understood that it is not practicable to
irrigate this hillside, and, indeed, if it
were, it would only be done very sparing-
ly, as the experiment Of planting here is
to test the hardihood Of various trees. At
the upper end of the area planted is a
small space roughly fenced in, and it is
here that the seeds are sown in beds pre-
pared in the ground. and when the plant