The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-08-06
80 roRgsr currIne.

= AAA -e Naa 4NiAs wen - lftAfc4 a
little BIZ Of the forest OF Mount ian
talus FOR the purposes Of that inztitu-
ton Of The Federal Government. Tic
station was established for the making
OF experiments IN tropical agriculture
and horticulture. with a view OF de
terminlng what products in either
line. calculated TO BE- profitable fcl
raising. might De grown IN different
soils and conditions as to moisture.
etc. as well as at various elevations.
in these islands. Mt Smith had a
sort OF Hobsous choice for the lands
20 be used near Honolulu. There was
not much government land suited 10
his purposes. The Tantalns fores;
consisted OF species Of trees more
suitable Tor frewood than anything
else. yet IL had demonstrated that
trees would grow there. And here
comes IN the fckleness Of public opin-
lon. Before the Tantalus forest had
attained fun growth. say ten or twelve
years ago. the wiseacres were talking
Of the folly Of having planted a forest
in this country without any fruit
trees, There was an answer then. as
Mr. Smith IS able to account for his
action today. and il was that the land
having been desert from time i'm
memorial only the hardest species of
trees we're likely to grow upon it. The
original objects Of the planting Of the
forest we're to improve the appearance
OF the mountains back OF Honolulu
and 10 stimulate the rainfall in ar
cordance with q theory widely promal-
gated There is no doubt the former
object has been attained. but, as &c
the latter. there is probably as much
reason to believe that the rainfall on
Mt Tantalus promoted the forest as
that the forest has increased the rain
fall.
However that question may be set
tied now In the minds OF the theorists.
one thing is certain and that is that
trees have grown on the mountain and
luxarisntly It is known that when a
forest OF one predominating species
has been wiped out--by IRE for In
sSanee-a forest Of another species Is
liable to succeed Il without artificial
aid providing that other species exist.
10 windward whose seeds may be ca
ried to the place By prevailing winds.
Indeed. the succession Of arboreal
growth has been puzzle 10 investi-
gators. Il seems an effort OF nature
At rotation OF crops. The inference
Is easy that fruit trees would thrive
better in this country succeeding non
frait-bearing trees than they would IL
planted en- the bare mountain sides
where. Ia the memory OF more than a
generation. no trees have grown. II is
weli-known here that the not over
beautiful irOnwood trees covering Ka.
piolani park were planted because
nothing else. unless the tiresame
though useful algegoba. or perhaps the
slow-growing eoeoanut. could be made
To take root in that seabeach sand.
Possibly after the soil has been devel
oped a few years by that growth. all
manner Of tropical fruit trees may
End ample nutrimens therein.
The ares eiehrea by Director Smith
on Tantalus looks big Of itself in one
patch. Yet the clearing has no, sposl.
ed the forest scenery as viewed from
town and. compared to the entire tract
~ forest. Il amounts to a tribe. Many
kinds OF tropical fruit trecs are mar
veieasly rapid Ia growth--yes. and or
namental trees also-so that before
the adverse critics OF Mr.. Smith arc
done With their fault aading the clear
"a ares will be more beautiful Tran
ever. The writer sndulges IN one Of
hts favor.te fruits every morning. from
trees planted with seed by his nttis
daughter not three wears sgo-the
trees being al the same time as high
as his house. Al ornamental tree on
the came premises that had 70 n
avoided as = seeding after dark. less
than Eve years $50. for fear Of
sIamplins Il dowu on approaching the
house. woald row sustain a mans
weishs at the height Of ageen "
twenty feet
Director Smith need soi mind the
hsSs made aoout his clearing OF
little pateh q asewooa. Tor there is
10 douht he win hare something Ia
show for 4 before sys yesrs which
~id make The knockers ashamed 10