199 



Note : — It is with pleasure that the foregoino^ letter is printed, 

 for on account of his long- residence in these islands and close 

 study of forest conditions ^Tr. Munro's opinions and the results 

 of his observations are worthy of careful consideration. 



Discussion on this important subject is also welcomed in the 

 hope that practical suggestions will be offered for the solution 

 of the grave problem of giving our important w^atershed forests 

 greater protection. 



On some points in his letter we must perforce differ from 

 Mr. Munro, for he seems to have in mind only the healthy wet 

 Hawaiian forest in the pink of growing condition. We accept, 

 without reservation, his statement that the grazing of stock has 

 a tendency to injure the forest growth and strengthen the grasses. 

 Examples of this are unfortunately too abundant and may be 

 seen in almost all of our foothill country. Where, however, the 

 native wet forest in the back regions has begun to decline, not 

 because of injury resulting from stock grazing, but from sundry 

 other causes, such as poor soil conditions, improper drainage, 

 or exposure to unusual winds, it is firmly believed that the re- 

 cuperative powers of the forest are often not sufficient to over- 

 come the extra burden of crowding out Hilo grass introduced in 

 seed form by the feet of trampers and inadvertently scattered 

 in the exposed soil along a cut trail. 



In such a decadent forest the trees have begun to die out and 

 are too far apart to form a complete crown canopy. As a result, 

 the ferns are not given the protection they require for the healthi- 

 est growth and consequently they lack the strength and vigor 

 necessary to crowd out an introduced grass. The trail serves as 

 a germinating seed bed for the Hilo grass, with the supply of 

 seed replenished by each new party that goes over the trail, and 

 from this seed bed the grass spreads where it will through the 

 partly opened forest with very little hindrance. The decadent for- 

 est growth has not the required vigor to stop this invasion and 

 the triumph of the native> vegetation is turned into ignominious 

 defeat. 



An excellent example of this may be seen near the summit of 

 the Koolau Range on Oahu, on the steep upper slopes of Palolo 

 and Manoa Valleys, where no livestock ever trespasses, but where 

 a cut trail is serving as the focus for the spread of Hilo grass into 

 the adjacent declining native forest, and this trail was in the 

 mind of the author of the article mentioned in the first paragraph 

 of Mr. ]\Iunro's letter. 



The wailful breaking of branches and shrubs and the thought- 

 less crushing of ferns by picnic parties, while deplorable, results 

 in damage which is insignificant when compared with the natural 

 damage caused by the spread through the forest of Hilo grass 

 which has been brought in unintentionally in the form of seed 

 on the feet of trampers. 



If we are to retain our forest cover in its most effective condi- 



