442 



the large panicles of fragrant white or pale yellow-green flowers 

 are very attractive. 



The wood of the Neneleau although soft and light and coarse- 

 grained is very tough and durable in the soil. It has been used 

 to advantage as ox yokes and has been found very serviceable 

 as fence posts. The trunks of sumach trees on the Hamakua 

 Coast on Hawaii have been found large enough to split into four 

 fence posts and when used for this purpose they have the quality 

 of being easy to split on account of their straight grain and 

 easy to transport on account of their light weight. 



With the idea of starting a small experimental plantation of 

 tlie Hawaiian sumach for the production of fence posts, a re- 

 quest was sent to Bro. Matthias Newell, Nursery Agent at Hilo, 

 for some seed. His instructive reply, which is as follows, calls 

 attention to the presence of a fungus disease which has dam- 

 aged the sumach and has been responsible for its decadence in 

 many regions : 



"I received your letter in which you ask for sumach seed. It 

 is practically impossible to procure such seeds for they are ex- 

 tremely rare. For many years I have looked for some but so 

 far have seen but very few and that only in one instance. Some 

 years ago the sumach had been attacked by a fungus disease 

 which killed all the old trees and still is destroying many of 

 the younger plants every year. Were it not for the sumach 

 reproducing by the roots, which are not attacked, there would 

 be none left by this time. The disease attacks the trunks and 

 branches, killing not at once but little by little. 



'T could send many young plants that come up from the roots 

 but that w^ould not be advisable on account of the fungus. 



"The sumach growls extensively on Maui, especially in the lao 

 Valley, where I have seen trees thirty and more feet high. 

 Whether the disease has reached there, I cannot tell, but it would 

 be well for you to investigate." 



Since the Hawaiian sumach may be propagated by layers, 

 root cuttings, or slips, an attempt will be made to start the pro- 

 posed plantation in this manner rather than by the use of seed- 

 lings. 



Division of Forestry 



Honolulu, Hawaii, November 13, 1918. 

 Board of Commissioners of Agriculture and Forestry, Honolulu. 



Gentlemen : — I respectfully submit the following routine 

 reports of the Division of Forestry for the month of September 

 1918: 



