Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-11-20
Kukuihaele, Hamakua. Hawaii,

IL.
Honolulu, T. II.
Gentlemen: In submitting for your
consideration the following remarks
on forestry, it seems to me at this par.
ticular time more necessary than ever
to direct your attention to the ever
lessening area of natural forest on our
Island group.
Since the latter end of April this
year, some of the Islands have suffer-
ed from, ! may say. an unprecedented
drought; while the districts of Hama.
kua and kohala. in Hawaii, with which
] am most closely in touch. have prob
ably been victims to a greater extent
than any other. The result Is that to
date approximately some 10000 acres
OF healthy and partly denuded forest,
as well as other crops. have been fire
swept. Although both brains and
money were exercised in labor to sup.
press the fire. all efforts proved futile;
the best that could be done was to con.
fine its ravages within certain limits.
and await the long expected rains
which finally subdued the flames.
From time to time We have noticed
through the press views of both close
and casual observers on this forest
question, which. to say the least. are
conflicting. One says, Man has done
more to reduce the forest area,
through careless or willful fire rails.
ing. than any other agency at work.
Another claims That cattle or stock
are a means of protection, by theil
treading down any underground OF
ferns. vines. or grass which might of.
fer an attraction for fire. during those
periodical droughts to which we are
subject; while third writes. IF for.
ests were In their entirety protected
from the ravages Of cattle. fire could
not get sufficient hold to destroy any
great extent OF forest" With the
views Of the latter l coincide. Not,
however. as the bulk Of our Hamakuan
forest stands today; but. II II were. or
brought to be, in that condition of six.
ty years ago, q dense growth Of vege.
tation from the lower forest line to
high up the mountain slopes. we can
imagine the moisture which would be
precipitated and retained, through ito
ameliorating influence on the atmo.
sphere, sufficient protection from any
fire.
Cattle Forest Destroyers.
On the forest lands lying between
tne Valleys OF Waipio and Waimanu OF
hamakua, Hawaii, where up to the
present no cattle have been allowed
10 roam, the forest, though OF scrub.
Wy nature ana apparently growing on
SOL OF later formation lnan that Of
tne Eastern Hamakuan slopes, de.
monstrates the impossibility OF fire
ever Deing lts rum. In July OF this
year hre started close by the path
ieadihg from valley to valley. either
.nrouen tne careless or malicious ma.
ture OF some passer,by. For several
Ways th,s nre burned br1skly, confn'
ing user, however, TO the coast line.
where mere was suinciency OF dry
sass anu umoer 10 oHer II induce
neht; 30 soon as II reached the tim
ues nne proper, CONDITIONS changed
sne surIaee ID MOIST ana vegetation
Tha.n s 1meIns no iootno.. Tor nre
do nTse La, .anliiar WIN the district no
a aUu vii say tnst tnis only could be
III IN such place. aDounding
vii VII wafer spr'nss anu streams. TO
~. u ou' say anu douDt II not,
;s.as ~ ~ Tue past similar conditions ex.
49,. sons ne Hamakua coast
non wa.p,I 70 ookaa,, wnere the nu.
.ho, o.s su'ches' now dry, Indicate that
49, hV' always tnus, or made
pai Ieshets carrying on
S SUI nuous wafer WINE the rains FELL
~ ou' ,a nav "a a. alstant aate moved more
1 ah year Iounu. ms chUsed
TO- ~, ~ y, anars can only account
an, me .on,hueu srazng OF cattle
a nu 'l s s.oek, 10 tne detriment and
.h ueSoh Vi Iorest on all OF
the wa sa.i e,eva.,ohs which formed
me TS Water conserves:
other stock has now somewhat become
stale subject, and In our limited
sphere much written OF question.
Inc rahcher is ever glad for the pro-
tectioh OF ms hooks, to grasp the idea
,nat bugs, Deeties' ants or some other
ihsects are the main causes Of forest
dying on; or & may be that. like his
STOCK. the forest needs renewing by
introduction OF new blood; to certain
extent this may be 80. To satisfy him.
SELL however. that stock are the chief
cause OF forest depreciation, let him
turn MS 4.year-olds loose In a patch
OF young forest Just knee high, and
watch the result. 1t Is not 80 much
tne damage done to older trees by cat
We that exhausts our forests, but the
kiiiing out OF seedlings by cropping or
treading them down. besides a gener.
al Killing out OF tree and other ferns,
which by Keeping the Hilo grass under
control. act as foster parents to any
young seedlings appearing under their
nursing shade; thus preventing young
trees from establishing thamsolvas m