99 



a considerable part of the preliminary detail has been attended to 

 regarding other proposed fencing projects on Hawaii. 



Forest PlcDiting. 



On March 18th an agreement was signed with Messrs. Alac- 

 farlane & Robinson of Paumalu, Oahu, to plant with forest trees 

 a portion of the Pupukea Forest Reserve, formerly known as 

 "Water Reserve A," in return for the temporary use of the land 

 for growdng pineapples. The actual tree planting does not take 

 place for some time, but when it is done the trees will get the 

 benefit of the cultivation given the land while under pineapples. 



The planting of the slopes of Mt. Sugar Loaf, above IMakiki, 

 Oahu, has continued steadily during ]\Iarch. The block of Koa 

 at the head of the sub valley below Round Top has been prac- 

 tically completed. During April a stand of Kukui trees will be 

 put in on the lower slopes, to round out the planted area. 



Routine Adiniiiistration JTork. 



A considerable part of my time during ]\Iarch was given to 

 attention to the details of various projects now under way in the 

 Division of Forestry and to matters referred to me by the Com- 

 missioners. About the middle of the month I devoted parts of 

 several days to assisting the Land Office and the Survey Depart- 

 ment in a revision and retabulation of the List of Government 

 Lands. Towards the end of the month I dr^w up for the use 

 of the Board a revised estimate of expenditures for the remainder 

 of the present fiscal period, to conform to the reduction made 

 necessary by decreased income. 



Distribution of Basket JVil!o7VS. 



The L^. S. Forest Service having become interested in the ex- 

 perimental planting by this Division of basket willows from the 

 Azores, sent us during ]\Iarch for distribution and trial, cuttings 

 of five species of American basket willows. Part of the consign- 

 ment has been planted at our experiment garden in Makiki Val- 

 ley. The remainder of the cuttings have been distributed to cor- 

 respondents of the Division in different parts of the Territory. 

 This experiment is one that is worth watching for there appears 

 to be no good reason why a considerable industry should not in 

 time be built up here through the manufacture of various articles 

 from basket willows. 



As usual I transmit herewith the report of the Forest Nursery- 

 man, recounting in detail the work at the Government Nursery. 



Very respectfully, 



Ralph S. Hosmer, 

 Superintendent of Forestry. 



