The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-04-08
HAWAIIAN
FORESTRY
Views oil OrllIiths,
Government
Expert,

The report made bs D. 81 Grmihs.
the GoNcrument forestry expert who
made an examination of llaWaus for
rsts. deals very largely with the result
of bis trip as published In The AdNer-
uscr just amer his return. Tho views
of Mr. Gr.mths upon the best plans for
forest protection are OF interest In
tnis connection ne says
Forest protection means not only in
Creasing the rainfall but more import
ant still conserving the water supply.
Upon the right solution OF this problem
depends 20 very large extent the tu-
ture welfare ana agricultural prosper
ity OF the Hawaiian Islands. sugar,
the backbone OF the Islands. comprising
over 80 per cent OF the exports. h abso-
lutely dependent upon a plentiful and
constant supply OF water. The planter
who does not depend upon the natural
rainfall but irrigates his cane rs apt to
think that forest protection does not
directly affect his business, but in
reality he should be far more solicitous
about the preservation OF the forest
than the planter who depends on the
rainfall, for whether he Is taking his
water from stream or an artesian
well his supply will be very quickly af-
fected by any disturbance of the forest
cover along the important watersheds.
Particularly is this the case where wa
ter is being taken from n stream whose
heudwaters lie within the forest belt.
which Is the case with most Of the
streams on the Islands.
"Fluming cane is by far the cheapest
means Of transportation, for this rea-
son to many plantations 1t Is OF vital
necessity that their supply OF water be
az least held constant and increased If
possible. The stockman or farmer and
those engaged IN growing rice or taro
are also dependent, though not to the
same extent as the sugar cane planter
upon a water supply which shall be
fairly constant through all seasons of
the year.
AS previously stated the denudation
OF the Hawaiian forests has been
brought about TO 4 very large extent
by the practice of pasturing stock in
the forests. Certainly this has been
admitted by those who have studied
the question and 1t Is believed that
fencing and the absolute exclusion Of
all stock is the only sure remedy. There
is no necessity for abandoning the cat
tie business In order to protect the for
ests, but the cattle must be confined to
the lower slopes.
1T is especially II Hortant that fences
should be built along the upper limits
OF the forest In order 10 prevent the
wild cattle sheep AID goats which at
present are ranging on the higher grass
slopes from working down into the for
ests
whenever fences have already been
built the reclamation of the forests Is
as surprisingly rapid az their destruc-
ton when stock are allowed to range
freely AS previously stated the first
effort should be to fence and protect
those forests along the headwaters OF
all the important streams.
In order to place the work upon n
thoroughly efficient basis IT will be nee
cssary for the government. planters,
ranchers and all others owning or leas-
ing land upon which water is the chief
consideration to cooperate and see TO
II that the forests are thoroughly pro-
teCted."