The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-11-16

algeroba been started purely as a COM
mercial proposition, and each tree
| planted, and did not re-seed as rapidly
as it does, how many acres of algeroba
! forests would we have had? 1t is DOS
sible with very slight expense to ex-
tend with algeroba forest cover within
| a few years over tremendous areas
which are now practically waste lands.
At present, we leave II entirely to
nature and the cattle to extend our
algeroba forests. We are particularly
| fortunate in having the algeroba as it
is prolific with seed and sets forth
every effort to reproduce Many of
the trees we are planting take years
before they bear seed and reproduce.
A few years ago, it was thought that
the algeroba would only grow a few
| feet above sea level. On the island
of Hawaii, in the dry district above
Kawaihae, l have found the algeroba
growing at an elevation of 1000 feet
and seeding. Why not make a con-
certed effort to cover our waste slopes
so far as possible with this hardy,
ready growing tree which in itself is
an ideal forest and not depend en-
tirely upon nature and the cattle for
the distribution of it's seed?
do not belittle commercial tree
planting nor the results which would
accrue therefrom but l do believe that
our greatest problem so far as the con-
| servation of the resources of this
country,-water and land-can best be
| served is by the extension of forest
cover. Forest cover does not neces-
sarily mean the tree. 1t may be grass
es or shrubs or vegetable growth of
any character which will hold the soils
against erosions. There is some place
in this world where there can be found
vegetable life of value that will
grow upon our higher levels rapidly
and within much shorter period of
time than can possibly be accomplish
ed by commercial tree planting to re-
cover our denuded areas.
The two great natural resources of
this country are land and water. To
protect one and develop the other, the
aid of forestry must be invoked. In
few agricultural countries is the duty
of water for irrigation purposes as
! large per unit area as in this Terri
tory especially in the production Of
sugar cane, and every effort should
be made by the government and our
agricultural interests to extend our
forest cover, preserve our soils and
develop our water supply to the point
of their greatest beneficial use.
The island of Kahoolawe presents
one of the best illustrations as regards
the destruction of forest cover. Some
| time since, I accompanied Governor
Frear and Mr.. Frederick Newell on a
tour of investigation of this island.
Mr. Newell made the statement that in
all of his experience in the so-called
arid west he had never seen such des-
truction as was apparent on this is
land through the denudation of the
forest cover Nature is on a delicate
balance in these islands and it takes
but little to upset and destroy the
equilibrium, with the result that
wastes take place with marvellous "a
pidity.
The process of soil making is slow
and takes countless ages, and nature
to protect and hold the soils, supplies
the vegetable cover. In these islands,
through carelessness and preventable
causes, we have destroyed the vege-
table cover over tremendous areas
These islands rising as they do abrupt
ly from the deep seattle material
which is eroded by wind and water is
carried to the sea and lost forever
there being no alluvial deposits of any
| great area on the islands.
We have a tremendous obligation
and responsibility and there can be no
division. The government cannot bear
the entire burden and each individual
and corporation must bear it's respec-
tive share. Our territorial legislature
should be extremely liberal in appro-
priations for the purposes of conser-
walton and l hope to see within the
near future a most perfect co-opera-
ton between the Federal and Terri
torial governments, the planters, the
graziers and the individuals for the
conservation of our natural resources.
Other speakers of the afternoon
are: Governor Frear, on the subject
of Conservation the Practical Thing,
r. s. Hosmer, The Part Played by
the Forest in Conservation" publish
ed in full elsewhere IN this issue) DR..
p. V. Wilcox, on, '"The Making Wise
Use of Our Lands; DR.. w, c. Hobby,
"The Conservation or Health; What