91 



In compliance with the appropriation for experimenting in 

 growing rubber trees on Government forest lands, and in response 

 to a general demand for information upon questions of rubber 

 cultivation, systematic work has been carried on in this work 

 during the year. The most important question in connection 

 with the establishment of the rubber mdustry in the Islands is 

 whether the trees will yield rubber in commercial quantities. 

 This is, of course, the vital point to be determined, and until it 

 has been demonstrated satisfactorily the industry must remain in 

 an experimental stage. The existence in the Islands of two 

 groves of Ceara rubber trees of a sufficient size for tapping is 

 very fortunate, and experiments will soon be conducted under the 

 joint direction of the Division of Forestry and the Federal 

 Agricultural Experiment Station to determine the production of 

 lac. 



One of the important events of the year relating to forest work 

 near Honolulu has been the progress towards the acquisition by 

 the Territory of the Coney Estate property on Tantalus, upon 

 which is the largest part of the eucalyptus forest. 



During the year several publications have been issued by the 

 division which, have been widely circulated. 



An interesting feature of 1906 has been the organization of 

 two koa lumbering companies on the Island of Hawaii. Actual 

 work has not yet commenced, but both companies have com- 

 menced preliminary steps for logging in the near future. 



During 1907 it is intended actively to pursue the policy al- 

 ready laid down in the past year. The creation of forest re- 

 serves will continue until the chain of projected reserves is estab- 

 lished. Cooperation with private owners will also be undertaken 

 in tree planting and in stimulating the movement where it al- 

 ready exists. 



REPORT OF FOREST NURSERYMAN. 



Mr. Haughs submits a lengthy report upon the work at the 

 Government Nursery, the Nuuanu Station and the Tantalus 

 Forest. Extensive assistance has been given to private owners 

 in the matter of growing and caring for trees. Much valuable 

 information has also' been imparted to visitors who have come to 

 the Nursery for advice. Nineteen special visits have been taken 

 to outside points at the invitation of private persons for the pur- 

 pose of consultation as to establishing a system of tree planting. 

 In each instance plans have been made to fulfill the requirements 

 of the particular case. 



Following Mr. Haughs' report are the minor ones of the Dis- 

 trict Foresters. These together occupy nearly fifty pages. 



The report of the Librarian concludes the part of the publica- 

 tion relating to the Division of Forestry. The use of the library 

 room for the meetings of other organizations has been largely 



