The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-11-13

breaks; third, roadside or ornamental
planting; and, fourth, to extend anC
supplement the native forest in sections
where the forest cover is unquestion
ably of value as a means of controlling
the run-off and making available for use
larger percentage of the precipitation
either on the surafce or as an under
ground supply.
Let me speak of the last-named ease
first. AS typical example I have in
mind the Eva basin on this island
Practically all the water for the plan
! tations about Pearl Harbor comes from
streams draining the Koolau Mountains
or from artesian wells supplied by I'M
derground water from the same source.
! The rain that falls on the Waianae
Mountains is important as far as it
goes, but it is and always must be only
a fraction of what results from the pre-
cipitation on the Koolau range AS it
is now much of the rainfall on these
mountains gets away as flood water, and
escapes the duty it might be made to
perform, either by helping to fill the
high level irrigation bitches or as I'M
foreground water to assist in keeping
up the water table for a longer time
in succeeding periods of drought There
is belt above the cane fields and other
agricultural land in the Eva basin that
1t would pay to get back under forest
for the good it would do in holding
some of the water that now escapes.
The planting up of this belt is a case
where all three plantations could well
get together and cooperate. Needless
to say, the Division of Forestry would
be glad to assist in any way possible
in this or any other similar tree-plant-
ing project.
/ hope that in time the Division of
Forestry may have at its command
sufficient funds to begin tree planting
again on government land But at pres
ent | believe more good can be accom-
plished by expanding what money is
available in assisting private owners
and IN the way of plant introduction.
During the past year systematic rela-
lions of seed exchange have been es-
tablished with over one hundred botanic
gardens and other similar institutions
in various parts of the world. By this
means there have been received at the
Government Nursery the seed of numer-
Gus trees and shrubs new to the Terri
tory, some of which are sure to prove
of very considerable economic value.
To facilitate this work an experimental
garden has been made in upper Makiki
Valley where the plants started in the
specially constructed termination houses
at the nursery can be propagated for
distribution. AS soon as
practicable the new trees and shrubs |
will be sent out to localities on the |
other islands where from situation,
elevation and aspect they may be ex.
pected to do we'll In addition to the |
garden at Makiki, it is |
hoped to establish regular sub gardens !
On the other Islands, which shall evont- |
lally become centers of distribution. !
One such station is about to be made |
at Kalaheo on Kauai where Mr.. Walter |
D. McBryde has consented to cooperate |
with the Division of Forestry by over |
seeing the work The great interest in
tree planting that Mr.. McBryde has ale
ready shown, both by his own planting |
and by what he has got his neighbors
20 do, argues we'll for the success of |
this undertaking. Eventually I hope |
that similar gardens for the systematic /
rial and propagation of valuable exc.
tic plants may be established on each |
sland
Somewhat in line with this work is
The experimental tree planting on the
nigh slopes of Mauna Kea and Halea.
1ala about to be undertaken with the
of the Federal Forest Ser.
vice. The object of these experiments
s to try some of the conifers-pines,
ipruees and firs-of the temperate zone
1t elevations above the native Hawai-
an forests, with the expectation of OBJ
aiming data that will lead eventually
% the clothing of those now barren
slopes with a forest of valu.
lble trees. An allotment of Forest
Service funds made last year for this
work was later withdrawn. This year
he money $4,000 was again secured.
As soon as the necessary formalities
ire complied with the work of actual
PLANTING will be begun.
| said few moments ago that there
we're four main objects in tree plant
ng in Hawaii and proceeded to outline
What might be done under one of them.
let us now briefly consider planting for
commercial returns, which is far and
way the most important form of tree
'lanting in Hawaii. Every sugar plan,
alton in the islands needs constant
upply of wood and timber. Many
aust provide for supply of fuel as
veil. The price of all kinds of lumber,
ven of the ordinary rough grades, has
or some years been going steadily up.
rom the outlook on the mainland it ,
5 evident that a further rise is to be ,
expected. With the increasing demand
Dr all forms of wood and the steadily