77 



places, of the Guava for charcoal, and the occasional cutting of 

 trees for fuel or fence posts. 



When open areas have been protected for some time by the 

 fence, there are often dense mats of the Staghorn fern or Uluhi 

 (Gleichenia dichotovia), through which the Amau, and other 

 ferns and brakes, are gradually forcing their way — the first steps 

 in the return of the forest. On the exposed ridges and in places 

 where the Hilo grass (Paspalnm, conjngatiim) has taken a firm 

 hold a long time must elapse before the land can again be cov- 

 ered wdth trees. Where the ferns have not been entirely stamped 

 out the forest comes back again much more speedily. 



Examinations made primarily to determine the location of the 

 reserve boundary do not offer good opportunities for a careful 

 study of the typical forest of the reserve. They are concerned 

 with its borders — while to know the forest one must get back into 

 the mountains. The necessarily brief mention made in these re- 

 ports should therefore be considered only as introductory to de- 

 tailed studies of the several types of the Hawaiian forest wdiich it 

 is expected will be made after the more pressing work of creating 

 reserves and getting the system of forest administration under 

 way, is further advanced. 



TREE PLANTING. 



Mr. James A. Low, Manager of Honolulu Plantation, has made 

 a proposition to the Bishop Estate and other owners of land back 

 of his plantation, to plant parts of the area between the edge of 

 the existing woods and the upper line of the agiicultural land, 

 with forest trees. The exact details of this offer are not in hand, 

 but in general terms Mr. Low's idea is to systematically establish 

 a forest plantation on the open land now used for stock grazing. 

 The plan is perfectly feasible and the forestation of this section 

 would unquestionably be of material benefit to the Honolulu 

 Plantation. 



It need hardly be said that the Division of Forestry is keenly 

 interested in Mr. Low's proposal and stands ready to assist in 

 carrying out the plan in every possible way. 



In this connection I wish to record my appreciation of the in- 

 terest taken by Mr. Low in the establishment of the forest line 

 recommended in this report. By Mr. Low's direction a number 

 of points on the lower boundary of the reserve, back of the 



