The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-18

ed % nature.
Il viii be well for US. II we make
haste slowly in striving for our ideal:
for until we restore our local climatic
conditions such as existed in this VAL
lev before the hardy native forest was
destroyed. We must content ourselves
with growing the more hardy classes
o. trees.
One of the best species for breaking
the force Of the wind currents that
| flow down this valley. is the casuarina
commonly called ironwood. There are
! several varieties. c. QuadrIvalvis and
! c. Equisitifolia being the best. There
is a prejudice against this tree With
some who call Ii funereal in aspect:
/ We can not agree with this idea: the
stately size takes 1t out OF the class
/ of cypress. etc, associated with ceme-
| terry decorations. It reminds us % the
stately pine and cedars. especially with
| the wind signing through it's pine-like
1 foliage. When planted with other trees
that thrive in similar conditions we
/ consider ii one OF our really ornamen-
! tai forest trees. and withal. one OF
the most useful; none OF our exotic
trees have proven more suitable for
windbreaks. to say nothing of the val
liable timber 1t produces.
! The Grevillea robusta stands the
wind well and makes a good tree, but
from its habit of continually shedding
! its foliage has earned the reputation OF
being dirty tree" 1t has the ad-
vantage of not being such soil rob-
/ Der as the various eucalyptus, etc:
most other plants and trees will thrive
/ close up TO it. which is of great i'm
portance on small places. A small lot
surrounded by eucalyptus trees has
! slim chance for growing anything else
/ within its confines.
The Eucalyptus family is probably
used more extensively than any one
class for windbrakes: this is owing to
| its rapid growth especially while
/ young, There is no tree that will
make a show" as quickly as this viii,
and this feature appeals to the plan
! ter especially the amateur improving
| his first piece of land. Many OF the
varieties of this great family are de-
ceptive as to their true value for wind
brakes, on account of their habit or
shedding the lower branches after
few years growth. While this is de-
sirable in forest culture, II is a dis
qualifying characteristic for ornament
tai and protective planting. The COM
mon blue gum, in localities where IL
thrives, is one Of the best for pro-
tective planting. f. Calophylla. with
white flowers, and f. Calophylla Rosea
with PINK flowers are both useful and
very ornamental when in flower. e
Ficifolia. with crimson flowers borne
in magnificent trusses we'll above the
foliage is the most ornamental OF the
whole family. very suitable for street
planting and does not attain very large
size, having handsome ficus like foli-
age.
rhe Eucalyptus family is large one,
supplying many types for selection TO
those who admire them.
The Ficus family, which includes the
banyans, supplies us with number
of varieties with spreading umbra-
geous foliage, being very useful and
ornamental, but require abundant
room for development. The Chinese
banyan is one of our most handsome
large trees, and can be kept within
reasonable bounds by cutting off the
air-roots as they develop. This tree
will stand this treatment with less
injury than the broad-leafed Indian
banyan, which should never be limit
ed in this way IL 1t is to develop its
greatest beauty. If proper space could
be had for planting a banyan grove
or park, 1t would become a great at
traction. No tree OF the islands IS OF
more interest TO the tourlst--a park
where these trees could be allowed 10
develop naturally would in time be-
come the center of interest 10 travel
ers who come this way.
The Eugenia family, several varie-
a.
lands, have handsome clean foliage
and stand the wind we'll, but their
prolific fruiting dsbars them from
sidewalk planting, owing. to the guam
titles of fruit falling TO be tramped
upon. They are, however, very suit
able for planting on boundary lines;
besides making good windbrakes, the
fruits supply food for the birds. keep
ing them from being so destructive 10
the more valuable fruits. Allow me 10
say: We should not begrudge our bird
friends a living; we must not expect
that they will not take toll from that
which they help US to produce by de-
stroying multitudes of inserts. Even
the saucy minah does raore good than
harm in most localities. q
Many of the palm families are de-
sirable to plant along avenues, bue
should be planted ten or more feet in
side of the property line, not on the
sidewalk margin. When thus planted
they give a widening effect 10 our
narrow streets, as well as creating the
much desired tropical effect we should
not lose sight Of. Our tropical foliage
is our great asset. and should not fail
to be planted where conditions are
suitable.
The royal palm should be planted
extensively. 1t is one Of our most dis
tinctive tropical trees. The phoenix,
orAFa ate palm. family are very attrac-
tive when planted properly. The beau
tiful specimens Of Phoenix Tennis and
p. Canariensis that may be seen in
Pasadena California, are one Of the
city's attractions. on a recent visit
there it was with considerable salts
faction that / beheld specimens twelve
or more feet i'm height. with their
graceful fronds dipping nearly TO the
ground, which / had planted from seed