The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-10-18
PLANTERS AND FORESTRY

On the subject of forestry. the Plan
tiers through their organization, have
received a number of very valuable re-
ports One of these was presented by
committee consisting of A. Moore, w
M. Giffard and j. Hind as far back as
November 1894. In some of it's state
ments, this report was almost prophe-
tic. Some of its conclusions and rec
concentrations are so apropos of pres
ent conditions as to make it seem al
most as If they were given for the
present time.
Some of the most pertinent sugges-
tions presented in this report are as
follows:
1T being but few years since land
was hrst cleared for agricultural pur-
poses at the islands, the effects of the
great change that has taken place in
the proportion between forest and
cleared land has not had time to be no.
tlced. In some districts we may have
arrived at the point where the euuili-
brium is disturbed, if we have not, how
many years, at the rate we have been
reducing the proportion, will be requir-
ed to cause parts of this country, now
under cultivation, to become so dry
that they will have to be abandoned for
agricultural purposes?
we have all been thinking and
working for the present, never thinking
of the effects in the future. Up to the
present time, but little has been done
to preserve any of our forests, or to
permit new growth to replace that
destroyed, on lands at present useless
Tor other purposes.
In view of the great importance of
this subject to the country and all who
are. or may in the future be connected
with IL, your committee recommend
that a special committee be appointed
from the Planters Labor and Supply
Company to urge upon the Government
the necessity of making such laws, as
may be needed for the maintenance of
our forests for not only the present,
but future welfare of the islands.
Should this Government see fit to
legislate in this matter and form
FOREST Department" in connection
with the present Bureau of Agriculture
we would further suggest that the in
fluence of the Planters Labor and
Supply Company be used to the end
that the Government restrict adms-
sions to the Department, to those who
have become conversant with their
work before responsibility is entrusted
to them. 1t certainly will not pay to
proceed by rule of thumb" or at best
upon such acquaintance with the sub
Ject of forestry as could be acquired by
study of publications relative to the
science as produced by the Govern
ments of other countries. Such per-
sons would have to learn their business
at the expense of this country, it being
impossible but that many very expen-
sive mistakes be committed by them.
In view of this fact, it would, therefore,
be imperative that in order to ensure
success none but the best trained for
esters be allowed admission to the de-
partment. Abiding to the attachments
necessary to constitute a thoroughly
efficient forestry officer, Mr.. Vincent in
his report on the forests of Ceylon
says: Forestry is like all other pro-
fessions; proficiency in it does not and
cannot come by intuition 1t involves
not only questions to be dealt with by
the scientific Arborculturist, but others
of a purely economic character, the
knowledge of which can only be ac-
quired by study under those whose ex-
perienCe has been large and varied I"