The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-10-05
Federal Forester Has Completed His
Investigation of Island
Trees.
Sees Need of Reservation and Protection, and
Recommends Substitution of Commercial
Woods for Some Species Grown Here.

VIM. L. Hall, in charge of the division
of forest extension in the United States
Bureau of Forestry, returned yesterday
from Kauai, having completed his
tour of investigation of the five prin-
.cipal islands of the group. Reser-
walton and protection of forests, will
be the key note of the recommends
tions which Forester Hall will make to
the Board of Agriculture and Forestry
as result of his two months inspec-
tion of island forests.
'"The object of the examination of
Hawaii's forests by the Federal Bu-
reau of Forestry at Washington, was
TO advise with the Territorial Board
of Agriculture and Forestry on the
forest policy which ought to be adopt
ed for the islands," said Mr.. Hall to
an Advertiser reporter at the Hawai-
ian hotel yesterday.
'Tehave been here practically eight
weeks and have been on the five I'M
portant islands of the group, Molokad,
Maui, Hawaii, Kauai and Oahu. The
virgin forests of Hawaii are the most
beautiful I have ever seen-they are
unique in their beauty and attract
iveness, on account of the abundance
of ferns and mosses everywhere to be
seen. The forests are tropical to be
sure, but not exactly the same as the
tropical forests you find elsewhere, al
though many of the woods are similar.
''While I had not time to make
close detailed study, I visited all the
forests in the islands and studied them
carefully to determine whether they
occupy agricultural or non-agricultural
land, and to determine their character
that is, the kind of trees they are
composed of, and the nature and char
acter of the underground. The under
growth is as important as the trees
themselves in keeping the ground 'sha-
ded and conserving water.
'I studied, too, the condition Of the
forest as affected by fire, insects
grazing, etc, and for each forest area
visited I studied its Importance to Other
industries depending upon cit: as fol
instance to the plantations which de-
pend upon irrigation and obtain water
from forest regions.
I'm general the forests of the isl
ands have a very high value III equal
izing the rainfall, and in holding the
water in the soil, and frequently too
in causing rainfall; and since forests
have such great value in this protect
i've way, the Territory should make Il
its policy to maintain permanently IL
forest good proportion of each island
restricting the forests, of course, s.
far as possible, to the land not valu
able for other uses.
Several causes have worked serious
injury to the island forests in the past
Cattle, sheep, goats, insects, indiscrim
mate cutting, injurious grasses, winC
and fire have all at various times anC
places done great damage.
''The areas which are to be KEEP
permanently in forest, should be re
served and protected, so far as posi-
BILE, from these enemies. The protec
tion of forest lands can be accom-
plished by the Territorial government
alone in a number of cases, but il
many districts the government viii
have TO work in cooperation with indi
viduals and corporations. On thes
reserved areas it viii be necessary t,
* protect the forests from cattle anC
Asheep by fences or other means an,
1 it will also be necessary to exterminat
k>the wild cattle and goats which are a
present doing great injury to the for
ests of all the islands. 1t will also b,
necessary to devise means of destroy
ing insects. which are doing great dam