The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-31

| lands of the Alexander & Baldwin in
| terests, in several localities nea
| Haiku; in an inspection of a portion
of the proposed Makawao forest re
serve where there is a question o
forest planting; in a visit 10 the rub
| Der plantations at Nahiku: and in az
examination of certain problems il
the Koolau forest reserve. At Nahikl
saw in some detail the groves OF
| the several plantations and discussed
with the different managers variou;
matters in connection with rubber
| growing.
| RUBBER AT NAHIKU.
so far as the growth of the trees
goes, the outlook at Nahiku is most
promising and from all present indi-
cations a satisfactory yield of latex
seems assured. The problems of find
ing the best method of tapping and
harvesting the rubber, involving as
they do the training of skilled work
men, now loom large, but I am con-
fident that a satisfactory solution will
be found when the matter receives
careful attention. With the trees
growing at the present rate it will
not be long before the older groves
will be large enough to permit sys-
tematic experiments to be begun.
"KONA, HAWAII
"On September 10 I started on the
trip from which 1 have just returned.
Going first to the Kona district on
Hawaii, I made as thorough an in
spection OF the forested area from
Mt. Hualalai to the Kau district line
as is possible, without the cutting of
numerous and expensive trails through
the forest. Using existing trails
through the woods as a basis, I made
a general examination of the forest as
whole; including both government
and private forest lands.
ION this basis I am prepared to
make recommendations for the gov
eminent land, as well as to the sew
eral owners, as to methods of man
aging this area, in accordance with
the principles of forestry. Such re-
ports are now in preparation; they
will later be brought to the atten- |
ton of the board.
FOREST QUESTION IN KONA.
t'In this connection it seems to me
to repeat the statement |
made in former reports of mine, that |
the forest question in this Territory |
has two very distinct aspects. On the |
windward side of the islands, espe- |
cially Hawaii and Maui, in districts |
where there is living water in springs,
brooks or streams that is either made
use of locally, or impounded for the
irrigation of lands more or less near
at hand, the forest is mainly i'm
Dortant as protective cover, and as
such should be kept as nearly intact
as may be. On the leeward side of
he islands, on the other hand, where
he only living water is found in oc-
,asional springs, different treat
nent is indicated. Here the forest,
excepting always such areas as may
,e necessary to protect the living wa
er that does exist, is and ought to
,e considered in relation to it's com.
nercfal value.
so in the Kona district. having
arefully studied the situation on the
round, I am in favor of numbering
he mature trees, both koa and ohia,
or I believe that if the work in the
IOOQS IS properly QOn6 anu the areas
ut over are handled subsequently in /,
n intelligent way, not only will a
aluable industry be added to the
'erritory, but also that the forests
themselves will be in better condition
han at present.
"Over considerable areas in Kona |
he large koa trees are dying. and in
few years will cease to have value
ither as a forest cover or as CONNER
tally important wood. The wise thing
; to utilize this material while we
lay and then to manage the land on
-hich it grew for the purpose for
hich it is best adapted. Some of the
md now nominally under forest is {
of greater value for q
razing Part of it can best be used
,r growing trees. The problem pre-
,nted is to put it all to its best use, 0
it'll due regard not only to strictly W
tilitarian use, but also to the indi- c,
ct benefits which may result to the r,
strict from having a considerable
,dy of forest on its mountain slopes.
hese points will be brought out in 81
tail in my reports on the Kona f
nds. pl
EXPERIMENTAL TREE PLANT
ING. II
Following my visit to Kona I eC