The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-02-08
A RANGER is NEEDED THE HOGAN SALARIES
EXPERT r. M. GRIFFITHs FIN
ISHES HIS INSPECTION.
Water Question Lies Largely in the
Hands Of the Farmers Them
selves.

/
Edward NJ Grlniths Of the forestry
bureau, who has stopped over in Ha-
wall for a six weeks preliminary sur
! IVey of Hawaiian forests and arbOricul-
ture, While en- route to his position of
assistant to Captain G.. =. Ahern. 9th
Infantry, now head of the Forestry
/ Bureau in Manila, has practically COM
Ipleted his work here and will occupy
his time before he leaves on the China
! In desultory inspection of Oahu for
\ ests,
He was agreeably surprised at the
IgCod condition of Hawaiian forests and
would have liked to have spent consid-
/ cradle more time in the neighbOrhood
o. Hilo but his departure on the China
/ H. imperative Especially loud are his
praises for the work done by Eben
Low for the preservation of Havaii's
trees. The forest on Tantalus he also
declares to be in excellent condition
and endorses the system of planting
lnaugurated by territorial forester
Haughs which was at first somewhat
severely criticised for too close plant
ing Kauai will probably not be visit
/ ed this trip, only the four islands of
oahu, Hawaii, Maui and MOlOkai hay
/ ing been taken in This is however,
| as Mr.. Griffith explains, merely a pre-
urinary trip. Many recommendations
viii be made in the report to Washing
ton, prominent among which Will be
the establishment of a forestry bureau
ana forestry rangers. The chief enc
my, from Mr.. Grifith's reasoning.
which seems practically to coincide
with that of the local experts, lies in
the cattle being allowed to wander
near the head springs of the water
supplies.
Aside from the actual damage to the
hnw
result of their trampling the under
brush into matted tangle which effeC-
tually prohibits the life of the young
lseeds. He explains the value of forests
as a water preservatiVe, showing how
the underground and the retarding in
huence of the trees themselves act as
la retainer of the moisture and allow it
to percolate slowly through the ground
and not WaterlOg the top surface and
then run off freely, as on treeless
ground.
The preservation of the forests and
the consequent conservation of the wa
ter supplies, says the expert lies main
ly with the planters and farmers them
selves. If cattle are allowed to Craze a
long the unfenced edge of forest clear
lings the resulting injured trees rapid
lly form home for insect pests. II
the underground is preserved the in
scCts will be kept at bay and the en-
ter Of the forests.
Mr.. Griffith had a long talk with
Governor Dole yesterday to whom as
well as to Secretary Wilson of the Bu-
reau of Agriculture, he will present his
final report. He is now busted in gath
ering data and getting maps and sur
veys of the islands to complete his
work. Considerable time has been
Ispent with Jared Smith of the expert
ment station and also with Commits
sioner of Agriculture Wray Taylor to
whom he has given valuable infOrma-
ton and suggestions with regard to
forage plants and other matters, which
Ideas will be scrupulously carried out
by the commissioner
Commercially the only wood eStimat-
&c to be of value here by Mr.. Griffith is
the kOa, for furniture. He has of
course found examples of many species
OF woods growing here that would
make excellent furniture timber but
the quantity, as with the sandal wood,
lis not considerable enough to be seri-
Ously dealt with.
Certain species of pines will be sent
here at the intanCe of Mr. Griffith for
| trial i'm this climate. He speaks most
highly of the hospitality which has
been extended to him throughout his
Istay. On Monday he makes a lengthy
! visit to MOanalua, where he will be
piloted by E. S. Damon, and Tuesday
| Wednesday and Thursday VIII visit the
end of the island at Waianae and the
! IneighbOrhood.
| On Thursday evening Mr.. Griffith
| will give a talk on Forestry" in the
Y. NJ. c. A. hall at 8 o'clock, invita-
! tions for which are being sent out
freely by Wray Taylor to the Wahi-
ava colony and all those interested in
the subject The general public are
welcome and the talk promises to be
a most interesting one. Mr. Griffith,
! in conjunction with his wide expert
ence in America and the timber of the
temperate zone, has now become ac-
IOUainted with a sub-trOpical forest and
| the differences and comparisons should
prove both interesting and profitable
! from a local point Of view
| The local department of Agriculture
| has received a book illustrated conf
Iously with colored plates and entitled
Compilation of Noes of the Most I'm
Iportant Timber Tree Species Of the
! philippine Islands," by Captain G. p.
| Ahern of the Forestry bureau at Ma
nila. Captain Ahern passed through
here on his way to Manila some months
| ago. Wray Taylor has also received
number Of specimens of lava and sui
phur from the volcano which will be on
IpXhibitiOn in his office.