Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-11-20
What Hawaii Needs to
Save It's Forest Areas

or late years the area Of sugar cult.
walton has been considerably increas.
ed. and the fine healthy forest grow
ing on this land mas been cut down
and removed.
The second cause has been the ruin.
Gus policy of our local government in
opening up such large areas Of forest
land for homesteading purposes. Not
withstanding the reservation clauses
In the honesteaders' lease or sale,
great destruction has gone on. and to
such an extent that no commercial or
domestic use can be found for the
trees so cut down. The idea advanced
by some. that coffee trees or any 9TH
or green truck.garden produce grown
on that land. denuded of lis virgin
trees, takes their place. is too alto
gether ridiculous to take any notice
OF. The third anu last cause Is. of
course, the ravages of roaming cattle.
It certainly does not take them very
long, when confined to a limited area
Of virgin forest to Deat and trampie
down the ferns, vines and other un.
derbrush. and In a very short time
produce fine park like landscape.
with about fifty or so trees left stand
ing to the acre. which act as a fair
shelter for animals. but that Is all. for,
with the underground of the virgin
forest gone, and the closely eaten
grass only remaining, we have an ideal
waterproof carpet, from which the
rain, as 1t falls, quickly runs off into
the ravines, and when the rainstorm
IL over, so is the supply of water.
which under natural conditions would
last some time and We given off grad.
ually.
Should Plant Trees.
To sum up. the energetic extending
cane area sugar planter should be
compelled to plant at least five trees
for every one he cuts down. The
homesteader should be located on
open country, where there are no
trees. and be compelled to plant a
given number, according to the acre.
age he takes up. The rancher and his
cattle should be forever removed
from all lands having a semblance of
forest left. and confined to the open
| country, and he also would plant
groves OF trees for shade for his ami.
mails. Finally, everyone who has the
good and prosperity OF these Islands at
heart, should plant trees in ravines
and any waste places wherever found
BY such means sufficient water would
be assured to the householders, and
moisten to the agriculturist. who de-.
Ponds entirely on an adequate supply
of water to grow his crops and to sup
ply him with comfort and even exist.
ence.
kohala Tree Planting.
At considerable private expense
tree planting and in a small way for
est preservation has been practiced
here In Kohala for many years. The
efforts Of the pioneers in this good
work Is apparent today. Not only
have their homes been beautified, but
ravines and waste places give ample
testimony Of the good work done, and
being steadily done.
! regret to say this practice Is not
e3 general as 1t might be, and no
great or beneficial results will ever
be accomplished until this practice be.
comes universal and national.
Allow me to again urge the neces.
sity Of immediate steps being taken
to make forest preservation, re.forest.
Ing and tree planting generally a ma.
tional issue. In order to get the pub.
lie interested I would suggest the
formation OF an ArDor Day Society.
In every district on these Islands.