The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-05-15

Chief Justice Judd at a meeting
of the Social Science Club in 1891
delivered a paper on "Observations
and Changes in the Flora of the
Hawaiian Islands Since Their Dis
covery," which is given below Mr..
Judd states in his Introductory re-
marks that the paper consists in a
jotting down Of his personal obser-
vations that he treasured during q
life long residence in the country.
Owing to the attention that is today
being given in the schools and by the
general public to the fauna of the
country, the observations made by
Judge Judd will be read with re-
newed interest.
When these islands were discovered
in 177S they were peopled with bar
barian race which had for centuries
been without communication with the
outer world. This fact had limited the
flora and fauna to those plants and
animals which had been brought here
from the South at the various migra-
tions which populated this group, and
possibly to some trif1ing additions in
the way of seeds wind waited or swept
on to our shores by the sea. The sim
ilarity of the fauna and flora of one
island with another would indicate
that no important additions had been
made in this way, certainly not within
a period near the discovery of these
islands. But the additions made to
the flora and fauna of these islands
since they were discON cred have been
very great and have materially altered
the appearance of the country and the
character of its pursuits and have in
creased the comforts of its inhabitants.
In order to adequately realize the
changes produced we must picture to
ourselves the condition of these islands
when first introduced to the outside
world.
Honolulu was then a barren waste.
The only trees standing were the CO.
coanutS along the beach. The noun
taiDs of the Koolau range taking the
moisture of the trade wind clouds, the
showers fell further up the valleys and
ridges than they do now. The Kona
storms of the winter season wet down
the plains and induced a growth of
native grasses and weeds, which when
scorched with the summer sun died
down. Drinking water for the chiefs
and those who could afford to send for
it was obtained from the mountain
springs and brought down in Gala
bashes.S The early foreign settlers dug
wells which afforded hard water inn
pregnated with salts. This was used
for domestic purposes, cooking and
washing, and rain water collected in
large casks set up at the corners of
buildings supplied the drinking water.
There was no manienie grass. When
Introduced it was for many years the
greatest boon these islands had re-
ceived.
This grass (cynodon dactyIon) DR..
Hildebrand also calls the native ma
Dienie StenOtaphrum Americanum.
called Bermuda" or "couch" grass,
was already here in 1923 in few small
patches and by its quality of surviving
not only drought but keeping alive
though trodden by foot of man and an
imal, soon had its effect in clothing
somewhat the barren plains and hill
sides and keeping down the dust that
was we'll nigh intOlerable. On the other
hand there was no ''kikanla," no glue
(gum abic acacia), nor Hilo grass,
nor lantana. Kekuanaoa planted
some rows of hau trees along the prin-
cipai streets of Honolulu, and these in
time afforded a grateful shade. No
other trees would grow in Honolulu
without artificial irrigation. The ex-
pertinent was tried of planting kukui
and other indigenous trees in the Pal
ace yard and in other places, notably
on Kukui street-but none survived.
But in the forties a pipe was put in
leading from some springs Just above
the second bridge, and this water sup
piled shipping and few families, and
soon as the supply was enlarged its ef-
feet was perceptible on the appearance
of the town.
The tamarind, mango, pride of In
dia, pride of Barbados, broad leaved
kamani, brought here by Don Marin
(Manini), and in favored localities
kept watered, lived and were soon
spread over the islands. The algaroba,
q eguminOsa-mimos pro
sOpis julifiOra, of which one specimen
stood ia the Roman Catholic church
premises, brought here from Peru,
bore seeds which became disseminated.
This tree was called for years the
French tree, from its being on the
premises of the French mission. The
rapIdlty with which this tree has spread
on the lee side of Oahu is amazing. The
sweet pods eaten by cattle and horses
not crus hing the hard seeds enclosed
in a tough jacket are dropped in the