THE FORESTS OF HAWAII 



165 



The nuts yield an excellent quality of "wood-oil," but the expense 

 of gathering the crop has retarded commercial exploitation. 



On the lowlands the introduced mesquite or kiawe, {Prosopis 

 julifiora), has been widely spread through the agency of cattle. 

 The tree forms extensive groves and thickets, and the sweet 

 pods are relished by live stock. The pods or "beans" are handled 

 commercially as stock feed, and several local companies grind 

 them, as this process breaks the hard seed coats, and greatly 

 increases the nutritive value. The kiawe is also important as a 



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Fig. 2. Ancient kukui or candlenut trees. 



local source of firewood, and large quantities are shipped to 

 Honolulu. 



The prime value of the native forest is as a watershed; pro- 

 tecting the steep mountain slopes and ridges from erosion by the 

 torrential rains, and conserving the water supply. Large areas 

 on all the islands are now included in the government forest 

 reserves, under the control of the Territorial Bureau of Agri- 

 culture and Forestry. These reserves are being extended from 

 year to year. The fencing of the reserves to keep out cattle; 

 the enforcement of trespass laws; and the extermination of the 



