The Hawaiian gazette., 1903-08-11
FORESTRY RENAISSANCE.

Probably II Is correct to say that the
earliest commercial resource of Hawaii
under civilization was its forest wealth.
It is now history the way in which that
wealth was squandered In the sandal
wood trade. Until score of years ago
no systematic effort was made at re-
forestation, while before and since that
turning point enemies overt and covert
Joined forces in preventing forest
growth to the extent that nature, I'M
hampered. might have effected. The
comparative Indifference to the extinc-
ton of commerce in Hawaiian forest
products which until lately has prevail
ed, in both public and private consid-
Grafton Is not hard to account for.
First, the piping times of prosperity
incident to the market for agricultural
produce opened UP suddenly in Califor-
MA on the gold discovery in 1s49, and
to the extensive whale fleet traffic that
took its focus in these islands, seem
to have obliterated all regret for the
sandal-wood trade as well as for the
almost total denudation of its source.
Next, when California became able to
feed itself and the whaling traffic pass
ed away, there had sprung up the
nucleus of a profitable sugar industry
which was destined under American
reciprocity to overshadow in impor-
lance even the dreams of prosperity
from possible return OF anything akin
to the departed resources.
Gradually, in these latter years, the
cause of diversified industries has been
making Roadway. Coincident with this
and part of 1t must be regarded the in
creasing interest in forestry. Just now
through Federal aid and cooperation
the efforts of a few successive govern
ments of Hawaii at systematic foresta-
ton of hitherto barren places and re-
forestation of tracts whose former
growth of trees fire and other destruc-
tive agents have laid bare are becom-
ing of great promise. There are few
countries in the world where the re-
wards of ee-planting are returned to
the tree-planter so quickly as here.
The old story of the benevolent grand
sire who planted an orchard for his
posterity has no point in this country.
One may establish a home upon bare
lot in Honolulu and within three to five
years have his table supplied with
many kinds of fruit from trees planted
after his house was built. Hardwood
suitable for manufacturing purposes
natures almost as rapidly, while trees
fit mostly for fuel develop branches so
fast that it is not necessary to cut
down the trunk for obtaining the fuel
the trimmings of a few trees being
enough to keep family cookstov go
ing.
1t is hardly necessary 20 advocate, |
for the benefit of the gentlemen COM
posing the Board of Agriculture and |
Forestry, the Importance of giving a |
large share of attention to the propaga-
ton and improvement of fruit trees of |
those varieties that have proved an |
easy success in raising here, in addi-
ton to the introducing of kinds of |
known desirability and commercial |
value from abroad. Neither are those |
gentlemen likely to overlook the merits
of Hawaii's indigenous woods suitable
for cabinet making and house-finish
ing purposes-such as the sandal
wood, the koa and kou trees. The day
will probably come when manufacture
ing power will be developed as cheaply |
here as anywhere else. and with our |
soil producing such splendid raw ma
terial as the woods mentioned the ex-
port of Hawaii's forest products, in the
future, should mainly consist of man
ufactured articles. Such trade would
be incomparaby more lucrative than
the oldtime export of sandal-wood,
withal having the wasteful element of |
that traffic obliterated.