The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-07-24

an eAC6llenJ Iu6l WOOu may not lduh
high as a fence post tree, because its
wood may not be durable; and so
with the other uses. The selection
of the proper species for the desired
purpose will require a knowledge Of
the qualities of the different euca-
lypts. A brief description of the uses
of the leading species is given in the
appendix.
Fuel.
The most immediate need for plant
ing trees in Hawaii is to furnish the
extensive plantations with an ade-
quate supply Of fuel. The sugar
mills are invariably run with bagasse
or cane pulp left after the juice has
been pressed out. in a few cases
there is a slight excess of cane refuse
which is bundled up and used as
domestic fuel, but with this unimpor-
tant exception all the fuel used for
domestic purposes is either wood or
coal.
The plantations usually agree to
furnish their laborers with the nee
essary shelter and firewood. The
fuel thus consumed averages, roughly,
about half a cord of wood per per-
son per year, counting not only the
laborers, but also their families
With the average population on
plantation figured at 1000 persons,
the annual consumption is about l, 200
cords of wood The present price OF
cordwood delivered at the plantation
varies from about $3.50 per cord for
kiawe or algaroba and young blue
gum to $1,000 or more per cord for
slabs of ihia lehua, the fuel value
of the latter ranking very high. The
fuel expenses to the average planta-
ton amounts, therefore, to at least
$500 and may run as high as $4,000
per year. On some plantations it is
impossible to obtain wood at reason
able price, and the laborers are sup
piled with coal or oil for fuel. The
problem of obtaining an adequate fuel
supply is therefore of great impor'
lance to the plantations, and deserves
careful consideration, for it must be
remembered that the price of wood
is constantly rising.
, Fence Posts and Ties.
Next to the need for fuel the great
he fe1 nf1- &c.
fence posts and ties. A consider
able proportion of the fence posts
: and almost all the railroad ties usec
in the Territory are at present i'm
ported from the coast, at a cost aver
aging about 80 cents per post ant
so to 70 cents per tie. There is NJ
reason why the demand for this
material should not be supplied
. locally. Many of the eucalypts, be
cause of the great durability Of thei
wood when in contact with the sol
. are well suited for ties and posts.
, Lumber and Timber.
- The greatest value of the eucalypt
- lies in the general usefulness of thei
timber which, with the gradual disal
10 pearance of the American hardwood
70 is becoming of even greater impo
e. lance Among the eucalypts may b
d found some of the most valuable tin
IL Der in the world, though the specie
Is differ in the strength, weight and du
is ability of their woods.
Sc Watershed Protection.
al An abundant and regular flow
nj water is essential to the successf
is raising of crops in Hawaii, since,
spite of heavy rainfall in certain
calities in the islands, large propc
MS ton of the cultivated land is und
I'm irrigation. Many of the richest sug
ar cane fields are absolutely depende
IN on an adequate supply of water dl
Ia ing the dry season.
re, A systematic artificial reforestati
nd of denuded slopes on importa
lite watersheds is already receiving
ire tention, and the interest in this wo