The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-20

| Indicate that they were not always thus
or made by periodical freshets carrying
off superfiuous water while the rains fell.
but have at a distant date flowed more
or less all year round. This changed
condition of affairs 1 can only account
, for by the continued grazing of cattle
and other stock to the detriment and
final destruction of forest on all of the
higher elevations which formed the wa
ter-conserves.
This denuding of forest by cattle or
other stock has now somewhat become
stale subject. and in our limited sphere
much written Of question. The ranch
er is ever glad FOR the protection of his
! fiocks. to grasp the idea that bugs,
beetles. ants or some other insects are
the main causes of forest dying off; or
| ii may be that like his stock the forest
needs renewing by introduction of new
blood; to a certain extent this may be
so. To satisfy himself however that
stock are the chief cause of forest de-
probation. let him turn his four-year-
olds loose in a patch of young forest just
knee high, and watch the result. 1t is
not so much the damage done to older
trees by cattle that exhausts our forests,
but the killing out of seedlings by crop
ping treading them down, besides
general 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 themselves
to replace maturing and decayed mon
archs we find throughout any well grown
forest.
The greater extent of our forest lands
are owned by government, and ! may
say with the exception of those set apart
| for homesteads, are let 10 the rancher.
and in most cases under n long lease
for very nominal rental. To the heads
of our local government much credit Is
due for some of the provisions anent tree
planting included in those land grants,
and If those agreements are strictly en-
forced will, to a great extent, preserve
part of the forest which otherwise would
disappear; while they also have done
much to improve the beauty Of the hill
slopes adjoining Honolulu, in addition to
saving their already limited water sup
ply. 1t seems, however, a case of Paul
planting and Apollos watering. while the
Federal authorities come along and pluck
1t out" on seeing the late depredations
committed on the higher slopes of Tan
taluS. This sphere of usefulness has
been limited TO small area and we look
for the time when our forest department
will be able to extend its work over the
group setting aside reservations for for
est culture. introducing to these reser-
vations class of trees, more than orna-
mental, establishing and maintaining
these Plantations lIOIl their start ny
business like methods, under the control
of an experienced forester, then the re-
suits will eventually prove to those In
terested a paying investment.
Looking to the high rate of lumber i'm
ported to these Islands, it seems time
that land owners realize the necessity
of being beyond the present control of
man.puIators in this branch of Island
trade Trees can be grown on the ISL
ands TO supply our demand for lumber
in all it's uses. Already the rapidity with
which the silk oak (Graevfllea Robusta)
irouwood (of sorts Causirinia), eucalyp-
tus and wattles in variety have grown
is demonstrated; trees OF sixteen years
growth measuring at twenty feet from
the base fourteen to sixteen inches In
diameter, and can at maturity undoubt-
eddy replace the hardwoods presently
used for implement or carriage manu-
facture. Again, Of later introduction, We
have the lCryptomeria Japonica) and
(Cupressus Macrocarpa) conifers. which
from every Indication are likely to prove
a success. and may in the future sup
plant the pinewood presently used ~for
general building purposes? How many
more varieties of this useful class of
timber can be grown on the different eIe-
vations with success. has yet to be prov
en-, although I doubt not there are an
endless variety, as well trees and
undergrowing shrubs useful for their
gums and resins.
Apart from the value of forest u, a
timber producer We have On the Islands
been more accustomed TO look at 1t from
the agriculturist's view its bearing on
the moderating of temperature, shelter
to crops and adjustment of or regulating
water supply, without which our main
industry would be poor indeed Nth
this in view the Importance Of combined
effort of the government and agriCul-
hoo oh
vital question almost complete de-
struction of our finest Hawaiian forest,
can be seen. Saving where practicable
what vet remains OF Acacia Koa, San
dalwood, etc, and planting up either by
seed or seedlings of exotic trees, the
spaces too large for the work of natur-
al reproduction to progress rapidly. the
result is not far TO look for from gov
eminent view. Arabic lands will have
a higher taxable value. while the tillcr
will be better able TO pay such taxes
from the higher fertility of his soil.
shelter from parching winds ana washihG
of lands when an exceptional ralnsto!m
falls on the higher elevations. or in
short. not so entirely al the mercy Of the
clements as they would he If the country
continues TO become treeless waste. 1t
is especially worthy OF notice the lntei-
est being taken in forests by some OF the
Island sugar planters. notably that on
Maui hy Mr.. Baldwin, who has planted
out. and still continues to do so, many
thousand young trees on the higher lands
adjoining his plantations. as well as the
fencing Of large areas. in order 10 LEI
nature have its way UnmOlested 10y cattle
or any other stock 50 detrimental TO
young seedlings In the Hamakua dis
trict OF Hawaii the Pacific Sugar NH
have for many years taken an active IN
t-r-st in forest protection. and when op-
prrtUn.ty offered have from time 10 time
purchased large tracts Of land for the
sole purpose Of raising or increasing thr
area OF forest in the neiEhhOrhood or its
cane lands and water sources. Again we
have n kohala an example Of what can
Dee dom in tree growing 10y visiting the