The Hawaiian gazette., 1893-04-11
AN INTERESTING REPORT
BY a COMMISSIONERS.
Energetic Action IS Urgently
Needed to Eradicate the
Prevalent Blight.

explanatory:
His Excellency J. A. KING, ex-officio
President of the Bureau of Agri-
culture and Forestry;
SIR: Pursuant to instructions re-
ceived from the Bureau of Agricul-
ture and Forestry, at a meeting held
on the 29th of March, 1898, directing
your Commissioner to investigate the
present condition OF the forests and
nurseries planted by and now being
cared for by the Government. Your
Commissioner has examined the
same and begs to submit the follow
ing report:
The nursery on King street COM
prising about three acres of land was
first visited by your Commissioner,
and after careful examination j am
OF the opinion that the nursery as re-
CARDS the quantity and quality of the
land IS entirely inadequate to carry
out the purposes of the act under
which the Bureau was formed. Owing
10 the ravages of the blight now so
prevalent in Honolulu many of the
valuable trees are in poor condition
and some have died, and no effort has
been made up to the present time to
rid the nursery of this destructive
blight. Even the small plants grow
ing in boxes are affected, and unless
immediate action is taken much loss
will ensue. \ small amount of en-
ergy properly applied would have
prevented much of the damage al
plants from the nursery to the diff
ferent islands during the past five
years has averaged 4 little over 5000
plants per aunum, the island Of Oahu
getting q little over one-half the en-
tire amount. The record kept by the
gardener shows that the distribution
of plants has not been fairly appor-
toned, some parties getting Us many
as from 200 to 500 plants at one time,
and Others as low as ten. This needs
regulation and the attention of the
Bureau is called to this matter.
While there is no doubt but that the
distribution of 5000 plants during
the past five years has been Of great
benefit and use to the country, il is
quite apparent that this usefulness
can be greatly extended. The coun-
try is in great need of many small
and diversified industries, and these
can be greatly stimulated by the Gov
eminent bringing within the reach of
of the poorer classes variety of econ
omic plants that can be cultivated
with success on these Islands. To ac-
complish this purpose, new and more |
extensive facilities are required. The |
pTesent nursery Is entirely too small, |
the soil poor aud the location unfavor- |
able. In winter the garden is flooded, |
and some valuable trees have been |
lost from this cause. In summer the |
water supply is not sufficient TO keep |
the nursery in good condition. The |
trees now i'm the nursery are generally |
and DO not present the Wig |
orouS growth characteristic of trees /
grown in a rich soil. a new site for a
nursery is urgently need
ed, and your commissioner would ask
10 be allowed to make careful survey |
Of the Government land on the lower
slope of Punchbowl, running towards
the Luualilo Home, aud report on the
same rs TO its suitability for Govern
ment nursery.
THE MAXIM FOREST.
The planting of this forest was COM
menced eleven years since, aud con
area has been planted with
different varieties of forest trees, prin-
,ipatly eucalyptus, which is doing
we'll. The Au~traiian waffle is tree
which is apparently doing better than
any other of the forest trees. The
keawe tree is not doing well, being
more at home on the lower plains. All
he trees are planted very closely to-
yether, and the time is near at hand
when the whole forest will need thin-
ling. There is a good deal of under
growth in the forest, and ON the edges
lie lantana is growing vigorously.
While | do not think ii advisable that
he whole forest should be cleared of
until such time rs the
work Of thinning should be under
aiken, ii is important that the lantana
,e cleared from the roadway and out
kirts of the forest.
While ID was no doubt wise mea-
ure To clothe the bare slopes of the
ana with forest trees, aud equally
-ood policy to continue doing 50, it is
lot good policy to plant the rich val
eys with timber trees. They can be
nut to much better use; they should
,e planted with the best varieties of
itrus and other fruits, and with
he various economic plants which
Id so much wealth TO those countries
hat have climate and soil similar
0 these islands. To this end | would
trongly urge upon the Bureau to
auction the importation of several ,
hundred suitable trees to be planted
\ the rich valleys situated below
antalus, and from time to time, by
lrther importations, increase the
lumber of trees OF the character men, !
toned in very few years these would
rove an excellent source from which
, procure cuttings from which 10 en- Z
raft seedlings which could be started
soon as the necessary sets,is can be
rocured. Among the citrus fruits
here are but few stocks more har-
y than our own native orange but !,
he fruit itself can De greatly lmprov-
]. la 4 few Years time these valleys !
,uld be made 10 produce hundreds (.
thousands OF valuable young trees !,
y distribution 10 the different ISL :
lds 81 the group and particularly 10 :,
10 hOmeSteaderS and small land :
,lders. Ii Is u significant fact that !