The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-26


~ WTZH cz1LaZ5 AND F0ZE9
The Australian black waffle has /
been in cultivation in Hawaii for
about 90 years. trees OF about that age
existing in the Hamakua and Kohala
districts on Hawaii This leguminous
tree reaches its fullest development in
these islands. It grows on variety |
of soils. but thriyes best on rather
heavy soils at an elevation Of from
500 to 5000 feet above sea level. in |
districts where the rainfall ranges |
from 50 to $50 inches per annum.
IN January. 1905. the Hawaiian ex
pertinent station commenced to har-
vest the tan bark from sixacre
grove Of black waffle situated at the
lower edge Of the Tantalus forest.
The trees were growing on very
steep slope at an elevation Of from 500
10 500 feet above sea level TIE grove
had been planted about Is years In
addition to about two tons Of bark,
which was shipped to various tan
neries In the United States for expert
mental use, and for which no charge
was made. 36 tons of bark we're sold,
realizing $S29.44. Besides the tan
bark. 800 fence posts and So cords
Of frewood we're obtained The fire
wood was sold for $68925. so that the
total value of this grove of black wat
lies amounted 10 over Sl,600. The
total yield per acre was valued at
s25s84. Of which slS997 was for tan
bark and s114S7 fr frewood The
wood averaged s7SS per cord and the
bark s23.S1 per ton.
During the period from 1888 to 1898
there was a great deal Of interest
taken In waffle planting In Hawaii At
that time there was shortage Of Eu-
ropean tanning materials, which re-
suited IN a good deal Of activity
tending toward the substitution Of new
tanning materials for the valonia oak.
Tan bark doubled or trebled in price,
and many persons, not only here in
Hawaii but in Australia and South
Africa. looked upon waffle growing as
a very promising method Of quickly
achieving large profits. A. consider
able amount Of seed was secured and
distributed throughout the islands. so
that now there is hardly a district
where lull-gFown specimens Of the
tree cannot be found Although forest
planting was advocated. apparently
the only forest planted was that OF
the TantaIus ridge. The occurrences
OF 1893 and subsequent years divert
ed public attention entirely from the
development of this and other minor
industries to the more Immediately
profitable sugar industry. and no ex
tensiye planting of this tree was
made.
During the IL years from 1893 tc
1905, the trees In the Tantalus foresl
had reached their full development
During the four years that this station
has had possession Of this portion o
the forest about 20 per cent. Of th'
waffle trees died from various causes
mot only because many Of the tree
mad reached their limit Of growth, bn
On account Of injury from stock an
by Insects. It was therefore deeme
advisable to harvest the trees an
endeavor to make as much out {
them commercially as possible. in O.
der to demonstrate something {
what might be obtained in the way {
returns. provided this tree were to b
planted on a commercial scale.
Almost everybody In Hawaii
fully convinced that It would be we
from the aesthetic point Of view Z
we'll as the practical to extend II
area Of forests. The value Of fores
Is well recognized for water conserv
tlon and to a greater or less extent I
a source Of hrewood However. Iitt
thought has thus far been given
planting trees which win not on
make forest cover but viii yield
good investment on the money spel
for planting the trees and for CARR
for them during the early years, wh'
they require more OF less care.
II Is believed that by planting ia
bark trees. especially the black wattl
the cash values obtalnable at the er
ola given period will yield a large 7
turn Of profit # Is furthermore b